.da_story_info span
{
color: #333333;
}
614th Air and Space Operations Center welcomes new commander
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Col. John Giles assumed command of the 614th Air and Space Operations Center during a ceremony at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., June 6, 2014.
Lt. Gen. Jay Raymond, commander of U.S. Strategic Command's Joint Functional Component Command for Space and 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic), presided over the ceremony, during which Col. John Wagner relinquished command to Giles.
During his remarks, Raymond stressed the importance of the space mission and welcomed Giles into his new role.
"The (space) domain has become significantly more congested and contested, at a time when our nation, our allies and our joint force have never been more reliant on space," said Raymond. "Colonel Giles demonstrated leadership, coupled with his operational expertise, makes him the very best choice to command the 614th AOC and lead this exceptionally talented and innovative team."
During his most recent assignment, Giles served as the chief of the Program Assessments Division for the Department of Defense's Executive Agent for Space Staff, Washington, D.C. Giles was commissioned through Officer Training School in 1992. He has performed space operations as a satellite crew commander, launch crew commander and launch operations Director.
"I don't think I have to convince anyone of the critical nature of the support that space provides to our warfighting capability and our national security objectives," said Giles. "I'm excited about this mission and excited to be here and work with you all."
As the commander of the 614th AOC, Giles supports the 14th AF mission. He also serves the director of the world's only joint space operations center, or JSpOC. The JSpOC provides operational employment of worldwide U.S. space forces and enables the JFCC Space commander to integrate space power into global military operations.
The JSpOC actively tracks all objects of "softball size" (10 centimeters) or larger on orbit, using the U.S. Space Surveillance Network as its primary detection suite of sensors. It performs daily screenings on approximately 1,150 active satellites, mitigating the danger of these systems colliding with the more than 23,000 trackable objects orbiting in space.
During his next assignment Wagner will command the 460th Space Wing at Buckley AFB, Colo.