Patrick SFB Announcement:
On 11 May 2021, the Department of the Air Force will re-designate the 45th Space Wing at Patrick Space Force Base as Space Launch Delta 45 (SLD 45). The SLD 45 will continue to report to Space Operations Command until Space Systems Command is formally established in the coming months. Below are the organization changes included with this re-designation:
- Re-designate 45th Space Wing as SLD 45 Status change from units of the United States Air Force to units of the United States Space Force armed force.
- Inactivate 45th Mission Support Group (subordinate units realigned under SLDs as direct report squadrons): The subordinate units, the Medical Group, the Comptroller Squadron and portions of the Space Launch Delta staff will remain units/organizations of the United States Air Force assigned to the Space Launch Deltas after the Space Launch Deltas change status from units of the United States Air Force to units of the United States Space Force armed force. The Mission Support Group 0-6 command position will be freed up by the inactivations and reallocated as the Space Launch Delta Vice Commander for Support, which will continue to be selected through the United States Air Force Group Command selection process.
- Inactivate 45th Operations Group (subordinate units realigned under SLDs as direct report squadrons): The subordinate units will change status from units of the United States Air Force to units of the United States Space Force armed force. The one O-6 commander billet freed up by the inactivations will be reallocated as the Space Launch Delta Vice Commander for Operations.
- Re-designate the 45th Range Squadron to the 1st Range Operations Squadron (1 ROPS) at Patrick Space Force Base and realign airfield management and associated maintenance responsibilities and resources from 1 ROPS to 45th Logistics Readiness Squadron (45 LRS). In addition, realign operational mission communications responsibilities and resources from the 45th Space Communications Squadron (45 SCS) to 1 ROPS.
The establishment of the U.S. Space Force is a monumental step forward in the recognition of the importance of space as a war fighting domain. Re-designating Air Force installations as Space Force installations is critical to establishing a distinct culture and identity for the Space Force.