CFSCC establishment ceremony held at Vandenberg

  • Published
  • By Maj. Cody Chiles

Joint and coalition space officials from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States attended a ceremony to formally recognize the establishment of Combined Force Space Component Command (CFSCC) at Vandenberg AFB, Oct. 1, 2019.

Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, Commander, U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM), was the presiding authority during the ceremony – formally highlighting the restructuring of the U.S. Department of Defense’s space enterprise; and CFSCC’s mission to plan, integrate, conduct, and assess global space operations in order to deliver combat relevant space capabilities to Combatant Commanders, Coalition partners, the Joint Force, and the Nation.

“My first official act (as Commander USSPACECOM) was to establish both the Combined Force Space Component Command (CFSCC) and the Joint Task Force-Space Defense…It’s important that we unveil this flag in front of you because this is your organization, and you’re the ones that are going to make this organization soar…under the leadership of General Stephen Whiting,” said Raymond. “I will tell you that Stephen is an exceptional leader. I hold him in very, very high regard. He’s a respected leader. He’s a stellar officer of the highest standards, and he’s a space warrior.”   

Through the ceremonious unfurling and passing of the CFSCC flag, the ceremony formally highlighted Raymond’s appointment of Maj. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting as CFSCC Commander, and Brig. Gen. Matthew W. Davidson as CFSCC Deputy Commander. Additionally it recognized Whiting’s appointment of Chief Master Sgt. John F. Bentivegna as the CFSCC Senior Enlisted Leader.

“It is truly my privilege to serve alongside Brig. Gen. Davidson, Chief Master Sgt. Bentivegna, and the rest of the team as we open this next chapter in America’s and the free world’s inexorable journey to increased freedom, prosperity, and exploration in the greatest AOR (area of responsibility) known to humankind – space,” said Whiting. “The systems we operate and the operational command and control exercised by the Combined Force Space Component Command, here at Vandenberg Air Force Base, are foundational to the United States’ and her allies’ ability to gain and maintain military superiority in every corner of the world.”

CFSCC plans and executes space operations through four distinct and geographically dispersed operations centers, including: the Combined Space Operations Center at Vandenberg AFB, Calif.; Missile Warning Center at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colo.; Joint Overhead Persistent Infrared Center at Buckley AFB, Colo.; and Joint Navigation Warfare Center at Kirtland AFB, N.M. Additionally, the CFSCC executes tactical control over globally dispersed Air Force, Army, and Navy space units that command ground-based space capabilities and satellites in every orbital regime.

As one of its primary roles, CFSCC plans, tasks, directs, monitors, and assess the execution of combined and joint space operations for theater effects on behalf of the Commander of USSPACECOM in order to directly integrate with ongoing operations in other Combatant Commands.

The CFSCC provides space capabilities such as space situational awareness, space electronic warfare, satellite communications, missile warning, nuclear detonation detection, environmental monitoring, military Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), navigation warfare, command and control, and Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) in support of USSPACECOM and the other Combatant Commands. CFSCC also executes command and control of assigned multinational forces in support of Operation Olympic Defender, as directed by USSPACECOM.

Additionally, CFSCC provides support to, and receives support from, Coalition operations centers including the Australian Space Operations Center, Canadian Space Operations Center, and United Kingdom Space Operations Center. Furthermore, CFSCC builds capacity through Coalition, Commercial, and Civil partnerships to achieve combined force objectives.

“The Combined Fore Space Component Command will continue to leverage the Australian, Canadian, and United Kingdom space operations centers, and the space capabilities and space professionals each of these trusted allies has contributed to our collective space enterprise, producing the world’s best global space force,” said Whiting. “We are also committed to extending and improving our space cooperation with countries like France, Germany, and others who are critical partners for peace and security in space.”

Following the CFSCC establishment ceremony, Whiting held a CFSCC Commander’s Conference with more than 40 senior space officials under CFSCC’s command. During the conference space leaders and commanders discussed space threats, the CFSCC Commander’s initial guidance, CFSCC initial operational capability and full operational capability criteria, battle rhythm adjustments, and additional reporting requirements.  

“To the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and civilians of the Combined Force Space Component Command, stay focused, be proud, and never forget the lessons of the past that forged, strengthened, and bind the Combined Force Space Component Command together with our terrestrial warfighting brothers and sisters,” said Whiting. “As President John F. Kennedy said so long ago, ‘“It remains our solemn duty to ensure that space is governed by a banner of freedom and peace.”