VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Team Vandenberg was recently awarded the 2025 Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence, signifying excellence in readiness and preparedness of base personnel.
In 1985, President Ronald Reagan established the CINC Award to recognize installations where the personnel have done the best job with their resources to support the mission and create the most innovative solutions to the many complex problems they face.
The 2025 CINC award was presented to U.S. Space Force Col. James T. Horne III, Space Launch Delta 30 commander, during his first All-Call, Sept. 23, 2025, based on the installation’s performance in fiscal year 2024.
“I’m incredibly humbled to join such an incredible team, earning such a momentous award. With the momentum that earned us this award, we are setting our sights on 2036 with a long-term vision to strengthen America’s West Coast launch and test capability,” said Horne. “We cannot afford to slow down—our focus is on preparing the people, mission, and resources that will carry us into the next decade and beyond, ensuring Space Launch Delta 30 remains a critical hub for space access and advanced air and space testing.”
The Vandenberg team was presented a trophy, the Installation Excellence flag, a 2025 award poster, Special Recognition certificates signed by Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War, and a congratulatory letter from President and Commander-in-Chief Donald J. Trump.
During the award period, SLD 30 contracted $3.3 billion for the DoD’s only ICBM test range, maintaining 3,200 facilities over 118,000 acres and 46 miles of coastline. Operations increased by 40%, with 42 launches supporting nine government and commercial customers, resulting in a $5.5 billion local economic impact. The formation of a Multi-Capable Airman team for DoD’s Exercise Turning Point showcased rapid airfield repair and joint interoperability. Additionally, 1,100 weather forecasts were delivered to 24 mission partners, providing information about potential weather impacts on launches. This mitigated risks to 43 launches and 6,500 air operations, leading to the successful placement of $3.7 billion in orbit, strengthening our national security and defense.
“Team Vandenberg is not just executing the mission—we are shaping the future,” said Horne. “By balancing operational excellence with unprecedented growth, we are building a resilient foundation to safeguard national security, outpace threats, and deliver the space-based capabilities that will define the next generation of strategic advantage for the United States.”
The CINC award is the highest honor a Department of Defense installation can receive - this year’s awardees have not only excelled in improving installation readiness to accomplish their missions and support the warfighter, but have also led the way in enhancing the quality of life of military members and civilians on Vandenberg SFB.
In addition to the Space Force Installation Excellence Award, 28 individuals and teams at Vandenberg SFB were identified as nominees for Special Recognition.
Special recognition was awarded to:
- 30th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Mr. Robert S. Snyder
- 30th Civil Engineering Squadron, Ms. Cannen Chan
- 30th Force Support Squadron, Mr. Gerard W. Hicks
- 30th Force Support Squadron, Mr. John M. Mead
- 30th Force Support Squadron, Mr. Joseph J. Mueller
- 30th Force Support Squadron, Mr. Jonathan W. Huppke
- 30th Force Support Squadron, Ms. Jennifer Kreps
- 30th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Technical Sergeant Kevin M. Dunn
- The Space Launch Delta 30, Safety Office
- The Space Launch Delta 30, Public Affairs Office
- The Space Launch Delta 30, Human Performance Optimization Center
- The 30th Contracting Squadron
- The 30th Force Support Squadron, Education Center
- The 30th Civil Engineer Squadron, Fire Department
- The 30th Force Support Squadron, Military & Family Readiness Center
- The 30th Civil Engineer Squadron, Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team
- The 30th Operations Support Squadron, Weather Flight
- The 30th Operations Support Squadron, Airfield Operations Flight
- The 30th Force Support Squadron, Food Service Team
- The 30th Medical Group, Ancillary Services
- The 30th Civil Engineer Squadron, Emergency Management Flight
- The 30th Civil Engineer Squadron, Environmental Office
- The 30th Security Forces Squadron, Operations Deployment Team
- The Base Communications Directorate and 30th Force Support Squadron, 30th Space Communications Squadron Inactivation Team
- The 2d Range Operations Squadron and Space Launch Delta 30 Safety Office, Hypersonic Test Team
- The 576th Flight Test Squadron and 377th Test and Evaluation Group, Shielded Enclosure Refurbishment Team