The 10th Space Operations Squadron (10 SOPS) is the United States Space Force unit responsible for operating the Mobile User Objective System and Ultra-High Frequency Follow-On satellite constellations, providing global communications to the United States Armed Forces.
History Navy (1962–2022)
The first military space operations command in history, the Navy Astronautics Group (e or NAG) was established on May 22, 1962 under the command of CDR J.C. Quillen, Jr. Tasked with operating the Navy's satellites, the unit commanded the Navy Navigational Satellite System, also known as Transit, the world's first satellite navigation system. The Navy Astronautics Group was redesignated as the Naval Satellite Operations Center (NAVSOC) in June 1990.
Space Force (2022-present)
In September 2021, it was announced that NAVSOC would be transferred from the Navy to the newly-independent US Space Force under Space Delta 8. On 6 June 2022, NAVSOC was formally disestablished and 10 SOPS assumed its mission, personnel, resources, and heritage in total. According to Space Delta 8, the squadron was given its number to honor its heritage under 10th Fleet.
Constellations The unit has operated various types of military satellites, including: Constellation Abbreviation First launch Purpose Transit NAVSAT or NNSS 1959 Navigation Fleet Satellite Communications System FLTSATCOM or FLTSAT 1978 Communication Geodetic Satellite GEOSAT 1985 Earth observation Ultra High Frequency Follow-On UFO 1993 Communication Geodetic Satellite Follow-On GFO 1998 Earth observation Mobile User Objective System MUOS 2012 Communication
Command Structure Headquarters, Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, California Detachment A, Prospect Harbor, Maine Detachment C, Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, Dededo, Guam Detachment D, Schriever SFB, El Paso County, Colorado Former site: Detachment B, Rosemount, Minnesota (disestablished August 1997)
List of commanders
Lt Col Jason Sanders, 6 June 2022 Lt Col Jesse Diaz, 10 June 2024
References
External links