The 50th Network Operations Group (50 NOG) was a

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army S ...

group assigned to the 50th Space Wing at

Schriever Air Force Base Schriever Space Force Base, previously Schriever Air Force Base, Falcon Air Force Base, and Falcon Air Force Station, is a base of the United States Space Force located approximately east of Peterson Space Force Base near Colorado Springs ...

, Colorado. 50 NOG operated the

Air Force Satellite Control Network The Satellite Control Network (SCN), operated by the United States Space Force's Space Delta 6, provides support for the operation, control, and maintenance of a variety of United States Department of Defense and some non-DoD satellites. This i ...

and was responsible for the 50th Space Wing's cyber and communications systems. In December 2019, the

United States Space Force The United States Space Force (USSF) is the Space force, space service branch of the United States Armed Forces, U.S. Armed Forces, one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and the world's only inde ...

was established and numbers of Air Force personnel were re-assigned to the Space Force, without transferring to the new service. The group's functions were to be taken over by the Space Force, and on 24 July 2020 it was redesignated as Space Force's

Space Delta 6 Space Delta 6 (DEL 6) is a United States Space Force unit which assures access to space through the $6.8 billion Satellite Control Network and defensive cyberspace capabilities for space mission systems. Activated on 24 July 2020, the delta is ...

History

The

group A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together. Groups of people * Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity * Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic ide ...

was first organized as the 1879th Communications Squadron during the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...

in 1965. In 1971, as American participation in the Vietnam War was reduced and

closed down its activities at

Nha Trang Air Base Nha Trang Air Base (also known as Camp McDermott Airfield and Long Van Airfield) was a French Air Force, Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF), United States Air Force (USAF) and Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) ''(Khong Quan Nhan Dan Viet N ...

, the squadron was moved to

Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base Richards-Gebaur Memorial Airport is a former airport that operated alongside Richards-Gebaur Air Reserve Station (also Richards-Gebaur Air Force Station) until the base's closure in 1994, and until it was closed in 1999. Formerly, it was oper ...

, Missouri, where it absorbed the mission, personnel and equipment of the 2009th Communications Squadron, which was inactivated. The unit moved to its present location, then named Falcon Air Force Station, when Richards-Gebaur was turned over to the

Air Force Reserve The Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, with its headquarters at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It is the federal Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the U.S. Air Force, consisting of commis ...

. The 1879th assumed the resources of the 2184th Communications Squadron at Falcon. When the

2d Space Wing The 2d Space Wing was a wing of the United States Air Force. Constituted on 5 December 1984 and activated on 8 July 1985, it was the host wing at Falcon Air Force Station (later Falcon Air Force Base; now Schriever Air Force Base). It took oper ...

was inactivated in 1992 the 1879th was inactivated with it and its mission was taken over by the 50th Satellite Communications Squadron. The expanded space communications mission at

led to the activation of the unit, now designated the 50th Communications Group. In 2002 the group was inactivated and its components transferred to the 50th Maintenance Group. This action was reversed less than a year later. The group received its last designation in March 2004.

Structure in 2020

21st Space Operations Squadron The 21st Space Operations Squadron (21 SOPS) is a satellite control unit of the Space Delta 6 of the United States Space Force, located at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. Prior to July 2020, it was part of the 50th Network Operations Gro ...

(21 SOPS),

Vandenberg Air Force Base Vandenberg may refer to: * Vandenberg (surname), including a list of people with the name * USNS ''General Hoyt S. Vandenberg'' (T-AGM-10), transport ship in the United States Navy, sank as an artificial reef in Key West, Florida * Vandenberg Sp ...

**Detachment 1, 21st Space Operations Squadron,

Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia is a British Ministry of Defence facility leased to the United States Navy, located on the atoll Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Camp Thunder Cove is part of the facility, and is operated by the United Sta ...

**Detachment 2, 21st Space Operations Squadron,

Andersen Air Force Base Andersen Air Force Base (Andersen AFB, AAFB) is a United States Air Force base located primarily within the village of Yigo in the United States territory of Guam. The host unit at Andersen AFB is the 36th Wing (36 WG), assigned to the Pa ...

**Detachment 3, 21st Space Operations Squadron,

Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station Kaena Point Space Force Station is a United States Space Force installation in Kaena Point on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. It is a remote tracking station of the Satellite Control Network responsible for tracking satellites in orbit, many of ...

22nd Space Operations Squadron The 22d Space Operations Squadron is a satellite control unit of the United States Space Force. It is part of Space Delta 6 and is located at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado. Prior to July 2020 it was part of the 50th Network Operations G ...

(22 SOPS) * 23d Space Operations Squadron

23rd Space Operations Squadron The 23rd Space Operations Squadron (23 SOPS) is a satellite control unit of the United States Space Force. It is part of Space Delta 6 and is located at New Boston Space Force Station, New Hampshire. Prior to July 2020, part of the 50th Network Op ...

(23 SOPS),

New Boston Air Force Station New Boston Space Force Station (BOSS) is a United States Space Force facility located in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Hillsborough County in south central New Hampshire. It was transferred from the United States Air Force to the Space Forc ...

**Detachment 1, 23rd Space Operations Squadron,

Thule Air Base Thule Air Base (pronounced or , kl, Qaanaaq Mitarfik, da, Thule Lufthavn), or Thule Air Base/Pituffik Airport , is the United States Space Force's northernmost base, and the northernmost installation of the U.S. Armed Forces, located north o ...

**OL-A, 23rd Space Operations Squadron,

RAF Oakhanger RAF Oakhanger is a Royal Air Force station in Hampshire split over three operational sites; with accommodation in nearby Bordon. The main site and operations centre is located near the village of Oakhanger, Hampshire, Oakhanger, the two other s ...

50th Space Communications Squadron The 50th Space Communications Squadron (50 SCS) is a squadron of the United States Space Force located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. The squadron provides command and control systems, configuration control, and systems integrations f ...

(50 SCS)

Lineage

* Designated 1879th Communications Squadron and organized on 1 November 1965 : Redesignated 1879th Information Systems Squadron on 1 July 1985 : Redesignated 1879th Communications Squadron on 1 November 1986 : Redesignated 1879th Communications Group on 1 October 1989 : Inactivated 30 January 1992 * Redesignated 50th Communications Group on 26 November 1997 : Activated 1 December 1997 : Inactivated 1 October 2002 * Activated 1 June 2003 : Redesignated 50th Network Operations Group on 10 March 2004 :Redesignated as

on 24 July 2020

Assignments

1964th Communications Group The 1964th Communications Group of the United States Air Force was a highly decorated communications group with service in the Vietnam War and then in Europe. The Group traced its history to the designation and organization of the 1964th Communi ...

, 1 November 1965 * Northern Communications Area, 1 September 1971 * Airlift Communications Division, 1 June 1981 * Tactical Communications Division (later, Tactical Information Systems Division), 1 October 1982 * Space Communications Division (later Space Information Systems Division, Space Communications Division), 1 October 1984 * 2d Space Wing, 1 October 1990 – 30 January 1992 * 50th Space Wing, 1 December 1997 – 1 October 2002 * 50th Space Wing, 1 June 2003 – 2020

Stations

* Nha Trang Airport (later Nha Trang Air Base), South Vietnam, 1 November 1965 * Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, Missouri, 1 September 1971 * Falcon Air Force Station (later Falcon Air Force Base), Colorado, 1 October 1984 – 30 January 1992 * Falcon Air Force Base (later Schriever Air Force Base), Colorado, 1 December 1997 – 1 October 2002 * Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, 1 June 2003 – 2020

Honors and campaigns

;Campaign streamers Vietnam: * Vietnam Defensive 1965–1966 * Vietnam Air 1966 * Vietnam Air Offensive 1966–1967 * Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II 1967–1968 * Vietnam Air/Ground 1968 * Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III 1968 * Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV 1968–1969 * Tet 69/Counteroffensive 1969 * Vietnam Summer/Fall 1969 * Vietnam Winter/Spring 1969–1970 * Sanctuary Counteroffensive 1970 * Southwest Monsoon 1970 * Commando Hunt V 1970–1971 * Commando Hunt VI 1971 ;Decorations *

Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation The Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation ( vi, Huy chương Tổng thống) was a military unit award established by the State of Vietnam (1949–1955) as the State of Vietnam Friendship Ribbon on August 15, 1950. The Vietnam Presidential Unit Cita ...

: 21 June 1968 – 30 June 1969 Streamer PUC Vietnam

Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross also known as the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross or Vietnam Cross of Gallantry ( vi, Anh-Dũng Bội-Tinh) is a military decoration of the former Government of South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam). The medal w ...

with Palm: 1 April 1966 – 1 September 1971; 1 January – 30 August 1968 VGCP Streamer

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award The Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award (ASOUA) is one of the unit awards of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. It was established in 1954 as the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and was the first independent Air Force d ...

s with

Combat "V" Device Combat ( French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, or ...

: 1 July 1965 – 30 June 1966; 1 July 1966 – 30 June 1967; 1 July 1967 – 30 June 1968; 1 July 1968 – 30 June 1969; 1 July 1969 – 30 June 1970; 1 July 1970 – 30 June 1971; 1 July 1971 – 1 August 1971 AFOUA with Valor

* Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 September 1971 – 15 April 1972; 1 January 1976 – 31 December 1976; 1 September 1990 – 31 August 1991; 1 October 1998 – 30 September 2000; 1 October 2000 – 1 October 2001; 1 October 2001 – 1 October 2002; 2 October 2002 – 1 October 2003 Air_Force_Outstanding_Unit_Award_Streamer

Air_Force_Outstanding_Unit_Award_Streamer

;Other awards *

Major General Harold M. McClelland Award Major ( commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicat ...

: 2007 : 2008 ** 2009 (14th Air Force level)

Commanders

* Unknown, 1 November 1965 – 1 October 1985 * Lt Col Robert W. Alexander, 1 October 1985 – 18 July 1988 * Col William A. Sample, 19 July 1988 – 1 August 1990 * Lt Col Roman Synychak, 2 August 1990 – 30 January 1992 * Col Gregory S. Hollister, 1 December 1997 – 24 March 1998 * Col Paul F. Capasso, 25 March 1998 – 13 April 2000 * Col David B. Warner, 14 April 2000 – 27 June 2002 * Col Earl D. Matthews, 28 June 2002 – 13 June 2004 * Col David C. Uhrich, 14 June 2004 – 10 July 2006 * Col

Robert J. Skinner Robert J. Skinner is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant general who served as the director of the Defense Information Systems Agency from 2021 to 2024. Before, he directed Command, Control, Communications, and Cyber of the United State ...

, 10 July 2006 – 13 July 2008 * Col

Mitchel Butikofer Mitchell may refer to: People * Mitchell (surname) *Mitchell (given name) Places Australia * Mitchell, Australian Capital Territory, a light-industrial estate * Mitchell, New South Wales, a suburb of Bathurst * Mitchell, Northern Terri ...

, 14 July 2008 – 14 May 2010 * Col Michael Finn II, 14 May 2010 – 4 April 2012 * Col Jonathan Sutherland, 4 April 2012 – 2 June 2014 * Col Jason Sutton, 2 June 2014 – 23 June 2016 * Col W. Scott Angerman, 23 June 2016 – 29 June 2018 * Col Hewett Wells, 29 June 2018 – 16 June 2020 * Col Roy V. Rockwell, 16 June 2020 – 24 July 2020

References

{{Reflist 050 Military units and formations disestablished in 2020