Mission Delta 4

Mission Delta 4
Emblem of Mission Delta 4
Founded24 July 2020; 6 years ago (2020-07-24)
Country United States
Branch United States Space Force
TypeDelta
RoleMissile warning and tracking
Size1,200 personnel
Part ofUnited States Space Force Combat Forces Command
HeadquartersBuckley Space Force Base, Colorado, U.S.
MottosLatin: Videmus Mundum, lit. 'We see the world.'
Websitewww.buckley.spaceforce.mil
Commanders
CommanderCol Aaron L. Cochran
Vice CommanderLt Col Randall E. Carlson
Senior Enlisted LeaderCMSgt Kyle T. Mullen
Insignia
Guidon

Mission Delta 4 (MD4) is a United States Space Force unit responsible for providing strategic and theater missile warning and tracking to the United States and its international partners. It operates three constellations of Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) satellites and two types of Ground-Based Radars (GBRs) for the purpose of conducting strategic and theater missile warning and tracking. Additionally, DEL 4 provides tipping and cueing to missile defense forces, battlespace awareness to combatant commanders and technical intelligence for further analysis and manages weapon system architectures and ensures operations are intelligence-led, cyber-resilient, and driven by innovation, while postured to operate in a contested, degraded, and operationally-limited environment.

Activated on 24 July 2020, the delta is headquartered at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado. On 31 October 2024 it was redesignated Mission Delta 4 and gained sustainment responsibilities, along with organic cyber defense and intelligence forces.

History

DEL 4 was based on the previous 460th Operations Group, 460th Space Wing and 21st Operations Group, 21st Space Wing.

In lineage terms, the delta was originally established as 460 Operations Group (460 SW) on 2 August 2004. It was activated on 19 August 2004. It was redesignated as Space Delta 4 on 24 July 2020. Its status changed officially from a unit of the United States Air Force to a unit of the United States Space Force on 21 October 2020.

In 2023, Space Delta 4 assumed control of the U.S. Army's Joint Tactical Ground Station. On 31 October 2024 it was redesignated Mission Delta 4 and gained sustainment responsibilities, along with organic cyber defense and intelligence forces.

Structure

Emblem Name Function Headquarters Spacecraft and ground-based radars Detachments
Squadrons
2nd Space Warning SquadronMissile warning, missile defense, battlespace awareness, and technical intelligenceBuckley Space Force Base, ColoradoDefense Support Program
Space Based Infrared System
3rd Satellite Communications SquadronMilitary communicationsBuckley Space Force Base, Colorado
5th Space Warning SquadronMissile warning and space domain awarenessBuckley Space Force Base, ColoradoJoint Tactical Ground StationDet 1: Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy
Det 2: Qatar
Det 3: Osan Air Base, South Korea
Det 4: Misawa Air Base, Japan
6th Space Warning SquadronMissile warning and space domain awarenessCape Cod Space Force Station, MassachusettsAN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning Radar
7th Space Warning SquadronMissile Defense and space domain awarenessBeale Air Force Base, CaliforniaAN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning Radar
Long Range Discrimination Radar
10th Space Warning SquadronMissile warning and space domain awarenessCavalier Space Force Station, North DakotaAN/FPQ-16 Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System
11th Space Warning SquadronMissile warning, missile defense, battlespace awareness, and technical intelligenceBuckley Space Force Base, ColoradoDefense Support Program
Space Based Infrared System
12th Space Warning SquadronMissile warning and space domain awarenessPituffik Space Base, GreenlandAN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning Radar
13th Space Warning SquadronMissile warning, missile defense, and space domain awarenessClear Space Force Station, AlaskaAN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning Radar
AN/FPS-108 Cobra Dane (Operating Location)
Long Range Discrimination Radar		Operating Location: Eareckson Air Station, Alaska
Operating locations
Operating Location – FylingdalesMissile warning and space domain awarenessRAF Fylingdales, United KingdomAN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning Radar

List of commanders

No. Commander Term Ref
Portrait Name Took office Left office Duration
1
Richard L. Bourquin
Bourquin, Richard L.Colonel
Richard L. Bourquin		24 July 202015 July 2021356 days
2
Miguel A. Cruz
Cruz, Miguel A.Colonel
Miguel A. Cruz		15 July 202121 July 20232 years, 6 days
3
Ernest R. Schmitt
Schmitt, Ernest R.Colonel
Ernest R. Schmitt		21 July 202316 July 20251 year, 360 days
4
Aaron L. Cochran
Cochran, Aaron L.Colonel
Aaron L. Cochran		16 July 20251 July 2026350 days
5
Brandon L. Davenport
Davenport, Brandon L.Colonel
Brandon L. Davenport		1 July 2026Incumbent132 days

Notes

  1. ↑ This detachment location is inferred based on the locations of the detachments of the 1st Space Company, 1st Space Battalion of the U.S. Army, of which there were four. This unit is what was absorbed by the Space Force to become the 5th Space Warning Squadron. This detachment was previously known as JTAGS-Qatar under the Army.

References

  1. 1 2 "CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT TAMMIE D. GAUDU". Buckley.spaceforce.mil. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  2. ↑ "DEL 4 Motto". Archived from the original on April 25, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021 – via Facebook.com.
  3. ↑ "RANDALL E. CARLSON, PHD". Archived from the original on August 11, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Chief Master Sergeant Kyle T. Mullen". Buckley Space Force Base.[dead link]
  5. 1 2 "Buckley Air Force Base Units". Buckley Air Force Base. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. 1 2 Harpley, Unshin (October 5, 2023). "Space Force Takes Over JTAGS Mission from the Army". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Buckley Air Force Base Biographies". Buckley Air Force Base. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. 1 2 George, Ashley D. (October 31, 2024). "Two DELs transition to fully-integrated Mission Deltas". Spoc.spaceforce.mil. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  9. ↑ Space Force Organisations Take Shape Archived August 11, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, July 24, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Space Delta 4 - Missile Warning". Buckley Air Force Base. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Space Delta 4 (SpOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Space Delta 4 - Missile Warning". Buckley Space Force Base. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Space Delta 4". Facebook.com. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  14. ↑ Culbertson, Kelsey (November 9, 2023). "U.S. Space Force Detachment Activates in Italy". DVIDS. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  15. ↑ Rognstad, Aaron (April 6, 2020). "JTAGS initial entry course teaches missile detection". U.S. Army. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  16. ↑ Williams, Sarah (November 9, 2023). "5th Space Warning Squadron keeps eyes in the sky". DVIDS. Archived from the original on December 17, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  17. ↑ Gordnier, Trevor (November 17, 2023). "5th Space Warning Squadron Detachment 3 activates". 7th Air Force. Archived from the original on December 17, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  18. ↑ Bolfing, Brieana (October 26, 2023). "JTAGS mission transfers from Army to Space Force". 5th Air Force. Archived from the original on December 17, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  19. ↑ "COLONEL RICHARD L. BOURQUIN". Buckley.spaceforce.mil. Archived from the original on July 10, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  20. ↑ "DEL 4 receives new commander". Buckley Space Force Base. July 15, 2021. Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Space Delta 4 welcomes new commander". Buckley Space Force Base. July 21, 2023. Archived from the original on July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Ernest R. "Bobby" Schmitt". Buckley Space Force Base.[dead link]
  23. ↑ "A Changing of the Guard for Missile Warning Guardians". Archived from the original on September 8, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Aaron L. Cochran". Archived from the original on December 7, 2025. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Colonel Brandon L. Davenport". Buckley.spaceforce.mil. Retrieved October 12, 2026.