USSTRATCOM commander visits Vandenberg

  • Published
  • By Capt. Nicholas Mercurio
  • 14th Air Force Public Affairs
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Adm. Cecil D. Haney, U.S. Strategic Command commander, visited Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Dec. 10, and expressed the critical importance of the Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines of USSTRATCOM's Joint Force Component Command for Space and 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) during tours of several facilities and personal interaction with many of the members.

"[Space] is an important business, and the human capital is the most important," Haney said during a visit with instructors from the 381st Training Group, the unit responsible for training for the nation's space and intercontinental ballistic missile operations and maintenance forces. "Strategic deterrence is made possible by dedicated professionals. I count on your leadership to safeguard the future viability of this mission."

Haney's visit included stops to several space operations facilities, including the Joint Exploitation and Fusion Cell, the Unified Space Vault, and the Bldg. 7000 site of 614th Air Operations Center and 14th AF/JFCC Space headquarters consolidation project. The tour culminated with a visit to the Joint Space Operations Center, a synergistic command and control system that provides a focal point for the operational employment of worldwide joint space forces. While visiting the JSpOC operations floor, Haney saw several vignettes that showed how the commander of JFCC Space exercises tactical control of Department of Defense space forces and integrates space power into global military operations.

Lt. Gen. John W. "Jay" Raymond, 14th AF and JFCC Space commander, also accompanied Haney and other USSTRATCOM leaders during the visit and emphasized the value of space.

"Space is absolutely foundational, not just in military operations, but to the American way of life," Raymond said.  "There are uniformed personnel, civilians, contractors and Allied partners working tirelessly every day to deliver crucial space capabilities across the globe."

After providing a briefing on counter-space intelligence, Airman 1st Class Michael Copeland, a counter-space analyst assigned to the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Division at the JSpOC said, "It's a rare opportunity for an A1C to brief a combatant commander. I was really grateful for the experience."

Haney also took the opportunity during breakfast with JFCC Space members to discuss the USSTRATCOM mission, how it relates to the Unified Command Plan, and the important role JFCC Space plays in the equation.

"Our mission is to detect and deter strategic attacks against the U.S., and to provide options if deterrence fails," Haney said. "We cannot do this without a safe, secure, effective and credible capability to deter our adversaries." 

Tech. Sgt. Kevin Robertson, noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Missile Warning Division, JFCC Space, said, "it's great to have the opportunity to talk to our leaders and for them to take the time to hear from the people performing the mission day in and day out."

 

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