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2nd Navigation Warfare Squadron
Space Force unit managing GPS constellation

The 2nd Navigation Warfare Squadron (2 NWS) is a United States Space Force unit responsible for operating the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite constellation, which provides global navigation, time transfer, and nuclear detonation detection. It is a component of Space Operations Command's Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Integrated Mission Delta (Provisional) and headquartered at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado.

The squadron is augmented by reserve personnel from the 19th Space Operations Squadron, part of the 310th Space Wing.

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Mission

The squadron performs the command and control mission for the Global Positioning System satellite constellation. GPS is the world's premiere space-based position, velocity and timing system, capable of providing precision navigation and timing capability simultaneously to an unlimited number of properly equipped users. Continuous GPS availability and unprecedented signal accuracy has resulted in widespread integration of the technology; numerous military, commercial and international users have embraced GPS.1

History

The squadron was originally constituted as the 2d Surveillance Squadron and activated on 16 January 1962 under North American Air Defense Command. It was then organized on 1 February 1962 at Ent Air Force Base under the 9th Aerospace Defense Division, under which it operated SPACETRACK, the USAF globe-spanning space surveillance network, from 1962 through 1967. The squadron was inactivated on 1 January 1967.

It was redesignated the 2d Satellite Control Squadron as the first operational squadron of the 2d Space Wing. It was activated at Falcon Air Force Station on 1 October 1985.

The squadron has controlled the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System satellite constellation and managed the Nuclear Detonation System in support of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty since 1987.

On 30 January 1992, as part of an Air Force reorganization, 2 SCS was redesignated the 2d Space Operations Squadron.

On June 18, 2004, a 24/7 user focal point, the GPSOC, was established.

In late 2005, several National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency monitor stations were integrated into the network to improve navigation accuracy and signal monitoring.

The unit had one geographically separated unit, Detachment 1, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. It was responsible for maintenance of a GPS Ground Antenna, Monitor Station, and various operational test assets. It is now discontinued, though contractors remained to perform the mission.23

On 15 October 2024, 2 SOPS was redesignated as the 2nd Navigation Warfare Squadron when the PNT Delta (Provisional) was redesignated as Mission Delta 31.4

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 2d Surveillance Squadron (Sensor) and activated, on 16 January 1962 (not organized)
Organized on 1 February 1962 Discontinued and inactivated on 1 January 1967
  • Redesignated 2d Satellite Control Squadron on 16 Jul 1985
Activated on 1 October 1985 Redesignated 2d Space Operations Squadron on 30 Jan 19925[needs update]

Assignments

Stations

  • Ent Air Force Base, Colorado, 1 February 1962 – 1 January 1967
  • Falcon Air Force Station (later Falcon Air Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base), Colorado, 1 October 1985 – present8

Decorations

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

  • 1 June 1964 – 31 May 1966
  • 1 December 1987 – 30 November 1989
  • 1 September 1990 – 31 August 1991[needs update]

List of commanders

  • Lt Col Steven C. Stadler, October 1985 – April 19889
  • Lt Col Barry R. Springer, April 1988 – April 1989
  • Lt Col Michael E. Shaw, April 1989 – August 1990
  • Lt Col William L. Shelton, August 1990 – June 1992
  • Lt Col Harrison C. Freer, June 1992 – June 1994
  • Lt Col Frank M. DeArmond, June 1994 – January 1995
  • Maj Thomas A. Shircliff, January 1995 – March 1995
  • Lt Col Roger C. Hunter, March 1995 – October 1996
  • Lt Col Joseph P. Squatrito, October 1996 – July 1998
  • Lt Col James K. McLaughlin, July 1998 – June 2000
  • Lt Col Daniel P. Jordan, June 2000 – July 2002
  • Lt Col Scott A. Henderson, July 2002 – July 200410
  • Lt Col Stephen T. Hamilton, July 2004 – uly 2006
  • Lt Col Kurt W. Kuntzleman, July 2006 – August 200811
  • Lt Col DeAnna M. Burt, August 2008 – August 201012
  • Lt Col Jennifer L. Grant, August 2010 – June 201213
  • Lt Col Thomas Ste. Marie, June 2012 – July 201414
  • Lt Col Todd Benson, July 2014 – June 201615
  • Lt Col Peter C. Norsky, June 2016 – 1 June 201816
  • Lt Col Stephen A. Toth, 1 June 2018 – June 202017
  • Lt Col Michael K. Schriever, June 2020 – 6 July 2022
  • Lt Col Robert O. Wray, 6 July 2022 – 21 June 202418
  • Lt Col Jeremy Parr, 21 June 2024 - present19

See also

Citations

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

References

  1. Graff, Garrett M. (26 June 2018). "The New Arms Race Threatening to Explode in Space". Wired. https://www.wired.com/story/new-arms-race-threatening-to-explode-in-space/ ↩

  2. Buchanan, Maj John (8 May 2008). "Deactivation ends two decades of service on Cape Canaveral". 45th Space Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2017. https://www.patrick.spaceforce.mil/?id=123097920 ↩

  3. Staff writer, no byline (7 May 2008). "2nd SOPS inactivates Det. 1". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 21 April 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20140421053454/http://www.schriever.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123097651 ↩

  4. "Mission Delta 31 - PNT Integrated Mission Delta". https://www.spoc.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/3878190/mission-delta-31-pnt-integrated-mission-delta ↩

  5. Robertson, Patsy (1 December 2008). "Factsheet 2 Space Operations Squadron (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 3 April 2017. http://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433453/2-space-operations-squadron-spoc ↩

  6. Robertson, Patsy (1 December 2008). "Factsheet 2 Space Operations Squadron (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 3 April 2017. http://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433453/2-space-operations-squadron-spoc ↩

  7. "Space Force begins transition into field organizational structure". 24 July 2020. https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article/2287005/space-force-begins-transition-into-field-organizational-structure ↩

  8. Robertson, Patsy (1 December 2008). "Factsheet 2 Space Operations Squadron (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 3 April 2017. http://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433453/2-space-operations-squadron-spoc ↩

  9. Robertson, Patsy (1 December 2008). "Factsheet 2 Space Operations Squadron (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 3 April 2017. http://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433453/2-space-operations-squadron-spoc ↩

  10. The Newsletter of the MIT Security Studies Program: "SSP Welcomes New Military Fellows", Oct 2004 http://mit.edu/ssp/Publications/Early%20Warning/Oct04EW.pdf ↩

  11. Martinez, SSG Daniel (5 August 2008). "New 2nd SOPS commander returns to Schriever". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 21 April 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20140421054001/http://www.schriever.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123109421 ↩

  12. Martinez, SSG Daniel (5 August 2008). "New 2nd SOPS commander returns to Schriever". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 21 April 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20140421054001/http://www.schriever.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123109421 ↩

  13. "New commander navigates GPS Squadron". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. 20 August 2010. Archived from the original on 14 September 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200914171815/https://www.schriever.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000331644/ ↩

  14. "2 SOPS Changes Command". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. 23 July 2014. Archived from the original on 14 September 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200914180844/https://www.schriever.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/735865/2-sops-changes-command/ ↩

  15. "2 SOPS Changes Command". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. 23 July 2014. Archived from the original on 14 September 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200914180844/https://www.schriever.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/735865/2-sops-changes-command/ ↩

  16. DeWitt, Christopher (28 June 2016). "2 SOPS changes command". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20160630180859/http://www.schriever.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/816999/2-sops-changes-command ↩

  17. "180601-F-WR604-0032". Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190603195347/https://www.afspc.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2001927701/ ↩

  18. "2nd Space Operations Squadron Change of Command 2022". https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7355159/2nd-space-operations-squadron-change-command ↩

  19. "2nd Space Operations Squadron Change of Command 2024". https://www.dvidshub.net/image/8498016/2nd-space-operations-squadron-change-command ↩