1st Space Brigade
| 1st Space Brigade | |
|---|---|
 Brigade shoulder sleeve insignia | |
| Active | 2005–present[1] |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Type | Brigade |
| Role | Space operations |
| Part of | United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command |
| Headquarters | Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. |
| Website | www |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | COL Donald K. Brooks |
| CSM | CSM Kelly M. Hart[2] |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive unit insignia |  |
The 1st Space Brigade is a United States Army unit. Assigned to the United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command, it is responsible for providing space combat power support to Army units. Activated in 2005 as a TOE unit after being provisionally active since 2003, it is headquartered at Colorado Springs, Colorado.[1]
The 1st Space Brigade (Provisional) was activated in May 2003, with the 1st Space Battalion, the 1st Satellite Control Battalion (later to become the 53rd Signal Battalion), and the 193rd Space Battalion (Colorado Army National Guard).[3] Since 2019, five missile defense batteries have been assigned to 1st Space Brigade including two in Japan and one each in Israel, Turkey, and Qatar.[4]
The mission of 1st Space Brigade is to "conduct continuous, global space support, space control and space force enhancement operations in support of U.S. Strategic Command and Supported Combatant Commanders enabling the delivery of decisive combat power." [5]
53rd Signal Battalion (SATCON) conducts payload and transmission control of the Defense Satellite Communications System and Wideband Global Satellite Communications System constellations.[6][7]
Friendly force tracking (actually tracking both friend or foe) is one of the basic functions of the SMDC.[8]
Structure[]
The brigade is composed of the following battalions and separate batteries:[1]
- 1st Space Battalion, Fort Carson, Colorado
- 2nd Space Battalion, Colorado
- 10th Missile Defense Battery, Shariki, Japan
- 11th Missile Defense Battery, Turkey [9]
- 12th Missile Defense Battery, Qatar
- 13th Missile Defense Battery, Israel
- 14th Missile Defense Battery, Kyogamisaki, Japan [10]
The 117th Space Battalion, Colorado Army National Guard has a training, readiness, and oversight (TRO) relationship with the 1st Space Brigade but is not actually part of it, as of 2021.[1]
List of commanders[]
 | This list is incomplete; you can help by . (October 2021) |
- COL Timothy R. Coffin, 27 July 2006[11]
- COL , 10 July 2008[11]
- COL Eric P. Henderson, 30 June 2010[12]
- COL James R. Meisinge, July 2012[13]
- COL Thomas L. James, 11 July 2014[14]
- COL Richard Zellmann, 21 June 2016[15]
- COL Eric D. Little, 13 July 2018[16]
- COL Brian C. Bolio, 1 July 2020[17]
- LTC Whitney Hall, ~2020 (acting)[18][19][20]
- COL Donald K. Brooks, 5 March 2021[21][20]
See also[]
- U.S. Army Satellite Operations Brigade
References[]
Media related to 1st Space Brigade (United States) at Wikimedia Commons
- ^ a b c d "1st Space Brigade". www.smdc.army.mil.
- ^ "A change of Hart at 1st Space Brigade". DVIDS.
- ^ "The Eagle" (PDF). May 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2013.
- ^ Judson, Jen (11 October 2021). "Multidomain ops drive change to Army's 1st Space Brigade". Defense News. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ (11 April 2003) SMDC activates 1st Space Brigade (Provisional)
- ^ Dottie White (June 11, 2018) 53rd Signal Battalion conducts change of command
- ^ Sean Kimmons, Army News Service (March 18, 2019) Satellite launch enhances comms for Army missions
- ^ Dottie White (August 17, 2018) SMDC senior leader discusses his career path, unique role of National Guard in Command's mission
- ^ "Profiles in Space: Sgt. Ashley Loving, a supply sergeant in the 11th Missile Defense Battery". DVIDS. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "SMDC senior enlisted leader recognizes outstanding Soldiers". DVIDS. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ a b "1st Space Brigade Change of Command". www.army.mil.
- ^ "Army's only space brigade changes commanders". www.army.mil.
- ^ "James R. Meisinge". LinkedIn.
- ^ "1st Space Brigade welcomes new commander". www.army.mil.
- ^ "1st Space Brigade welcomes new commander". www.army.mil.
- ^ "1st Space Brigade welcomes new commander". www.army.mil.
- ^ "1st Space Brigade welcomes new commander". www.army.mil.
- ^ "1st Space Battalion welcomes new commander". DVIDS.
- ^ "Leadership". 3 March 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021.
- ^ a b "New commander lifts off at 1st Space Brigade". DVIDS.
- ^ "COL Donald K. Brooks". www.smdc.army.mil.
- Brigades of the United States Army
- Space units and formations of the United States Army
- Military units and formations established in 2005