United States Space Forces – Europe and Africa
The United States Space Forces – Europe and Africa (USSPACEFOR-EURAF) is the United States Space Force component field command to the United States European Command and United States Africa Command. It plans, coordinates, supports, and conducts employment of space operations across the full range of military operations, including security cooperation, in support of the combatant commands' objectives. It was activated on 8 December 2023.
| United States Space Forces – Europe and Africa | |
|---|---|
 USSPACEFOR-EURAF emblem | |
| Founded | 8 December 2023; 350 days |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Space Force |
| Type | Component field command |
| Role | Space operations |
| Size | ~30 personnel[1] |
| Part of | United States European Command United States Africa Command |
| Headquarters | Ramstein Air Base, Germany |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Brig Gen Jacob Middleton Jr. |
| Deputy Commander | Lt Col Joel J. Neuber[2][3] |
| Senior Enlisted Leader | CMSgt Alex Birkle[4] |
History
editList of directors of space forces
edit- Col Larry J. Chodzko, July 2007 – ???[5]
- Col James A. Quinn, April 2019 – August 2022[6]
- Col Max E. Lantz II, August 2022 – 8 December 2023
Establishment
editIn 2022, the Space Force started building component field commands in the United States Indo-Pacific Command, United States Central Command, and United States Forces Korea. A similar unit in Europe was planned to be activated after those first units.[7] In September 2023, General B. Chance Saltzman announced that SPACEFOR-EURAF would be the fourth component field command.[8] A month later, the United States European Command announced that the unit will be activated on 8 December 2023 with Col Max E. Lantz II, then the director of staff for USAFE-AFAFRICA, as the inaugural commander.[9] The unit was activated on 8 December 2023 in a ceremony attended by General Saltzman, General Michael E. Langley, and Lieutenant General Steven L. Basham.[10]
List of commanders
edit| No. | Commander | Term | Ref | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term Length | ||
| 1 | Colonel Max E. Lantz II (born 1969) | 8 December 2023 | 13 August 2024 | 249 days | ||
| 2 | Brigadier General Jacob Middleton Jr. (born c. 1970) | 13 August 2024 | Incumbent | 101 days | [11] | |
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References
edit- ^ Erwin, Sandra (8 December 2023). "U.S. Space Force activates new unit to support operations in Europe and Africa".
- ^ "USAFE-AFAFRICA Space Force team wins twice during first-ever Polaris Awards". U.S. Air Forces in Europe & Air Forces Africa. 16 December 2022.
- ^ "USSPACEFOR-EURAF features its newly minted Guardians at Ramstein AB". DVIDS.
- ^ "SPACEFOREUR-AF's commander holds ribbon cutting ceremony at Ramstein AB". DVIDS.
- ^ New SIDC Commander has the Wright Stuff schriever.spaceforce.mil [dead link]
- ^ "Starting the journey". www.spoc.spaceforce.mil.
- ^ Hadley, Greg (2 November 2022). "Space Force to Establish Components for INDOPACOM, CENTCOM, Korea by End of 2022". Air & Space Forces Magazine.
- ^ Hadley, Greg (12 September 2023). "Space Force Service Component for Europe and Africa Coming in December". Air & Space Forces Magazine.
- ^ Gordon, Chris (31 October 2023). "Space Force Sets Date to Activate Its Europe and Africa Component in December". Air & Space Forces Magazine.
- ^ "United States Space Forces Europe & Africa (SPACEFOREUR-AF) Activation and Assumption of Command Ceremony".
- ^ Svan, Jennifer H. (13 August 2024). "'A new orbit':Brigadier general takes over Space Force in Europe and Africa". Stars and Stripes.
See also
edit