JFCC SPACE activates at Vandenberg

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Erica Stewart
  • 30th Space Wing Public Affairs
The Joint Functional Component Command for Space was activated with a unit stand-up ceremony here Tuesday. 

The command of JFCC SPACE was presented to Maj. Gen. William Shelton, 14th Air Force commander by Marine Gen. James Cartwright, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. 

"Our prime mission directive in JFCC SPACE is to ensure our freedom of action in space, while preventing adversary use of space against us," General Shelton said. "In 30 short years, space capabilities have progressed from national leadership support to vital, tactical level enabling capabilities for American and allied joint military operations." 

General Cartwright expounded on the roles of JFCC SPACE. 

"This organization is meant to spearhead the transformation in space, the realization that things are fundamentally different and that we must adjust the way we do business, how we organize and how we present capability is transformation,"General Cartwright said. 

"We've got to do business differently," he said. 

USSTRATCOM officials announced the disestablishment of the JFCC SPACE and Global Strike and establishment of a JFCC SPACE and a JFCC for Global Strike and Integration with an effective date of July 19. 

The split, initially proposed by General T. Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff of the AF, and ordered by General Cartwright, was directed to allow each JFCC to focus more effectively on its primary mission. Creating better support for the warfighter with optimized planning, execution and force management for each mission area. 

JFCC SPACE will optimize planning, execution, and force management. JFCC SPACE is directed by Headquarters, USSTRATCOM, with the assigned missions of space control, space support, space force enchance-ment and space force application. 

General Shelton's duties as the commander of JFCC SPACE include serving as the single point of contact for military space operational matters to plan, task, direct, and execute current and future joint space operations. 

"We look forward to a continued influx of people as we build for the full capability of this command," General Shelton said. 

"We will do our part as JFCC SPACE to provide the space support that will help win this Global War on Terror," he said. 

"It is your good fortune to be here at this place and at this time because you are making history," he said. 

Today, USSTRATCOM JFCC's include: Space; Integrated Missile Defense; Global Strike and Integration; Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and Network Warfare.