6 Space Operations Squadron (AFRC)

Lineage. Established as 4000 Support Group and organized on 1 Feb 1963. Redesignated as: 4000 Aerospace Application Group on 1 Jan 1973; 4000 Satellite Operations Group on 3 Apr 1981; 1000 Satellite Operations Group on 1 May 1983; 6 Space Operations Squadron on 31 Jul 1992. Inactivated on 30 Sep 1998. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Oct 1998.

Assignments. Strategic Air Command, 1 Feb 1963; 1 Strategic Aerospace Division, I Jan 1966;  1 Space Wing, 1 May 1983; 2 Space Wing, 1 Apr 1986; 50 Space Wing, 30 Jan 1992; 50 Operations Group, 31 Jul 1992-30 Sep 1998. 310 Space Group, 1 Oct 1998; 310 Operations Group, 7 Mar 2008.

Stations. Offutt AFB, NE, 1 Feb 1963 30 Sep 1998. Schriever AFB, CO, 1 Oct 1998.

Commanders. Lt Col Gordon C. Hannaford, 1 Feb 1963; Col Eugene L. Hudson, by 23 Jul 1963; Col Ardelle W. Frenk, by 11 Aug 1966; Col Ivan P. Kirschman, 1 Dec 1971; Col Gerald J. Winchell, 7 Apr 1975; Col Richard D. Youngflesh, 6 Jun 1977; Col Norman A. Degenhardt, 25 May 1979; Col Lester J. Weber, 24 Aug 1982; Col John N. Shults, 6 Jul 1983; Col James C. Wheeler, 26 Jun 1985; Col Carl M. Hatlelid, 19 Jul 1988; Col Kenneth D. Riley, 10 Jul 1991; Lt Col Michael L. Jamilkowski, Jr., 17 Aug 1992; Lt Col Neil R. Wyse, 7 Sep 1994; Lt Col John E. Hyten, 21 Aug 1996 30 Sep 1998.
Satellites. Defense Meteorological Satellites, 1963-1998.

Operations. Commanded and controlled satellites in earth orbit and collected and retrieved data from those satellites in support of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program from Feb 1963 to Sep 1998. Served as the program's backup facility since Jan 1999 after its activation in the Reserve in Oct 1998. First organization to control more than one satellite at a time.

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. None.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1964 30 Jun 1966; 1 Jul 1966 30 Jun 1968; 1 Jul 1969 30 Jun 1971; 1 Jul 1971 30 Jun 1973; 1 Jul 1974 30 Jun 1976; 1 Jul 1976 26 Jun 1977; 1 Jul 1977 30 Jun 1979; 1 May 1981 30 Apr 1983; 1 May 1983 30 Apr 1984; 1 Apr 1987 31 Mar 1988; 1 Sep 1988 31 Aug 1990; 1 Sep 1990 31 Aug 1991. 1 Oct 2000-30 Sep 2002; 1 Oct 2002-30 Jul 2004; 1 Aug 2004-31 Jul 2006; 1 Aug 2006-31 Jul 2008.

Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 16 Nov 2010.

Commanders, Satellites, and Operations through 30 Sep 1998.

Emblem. Approved on 10 Nov 1964; modified on 14 Jan 2008.

Supersedes statement prepared on 22 Sep 2000.

Prepared by Robert B. Kane.

Reviewed by Daniel L. Haulman.