CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, Fla. -- The 45th Weather Squadron has been named Weather Squadron of the Year, recognizing a year of high-tempo operations, innovation, and mission-critical support to the nation’s busiest spaceport.
The award reflects the squadron’s performance from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025, during which the unit supported a record 109 launches while navigating significant challenges, including a government shutdown and manpower constraints.
“We launched 109 rockets in 2025. There was a lot going on behind the scenes to achieve the accomplishments that earned us Weather Squadron of the Year,” said Lt. Col. Kurtis Schubeck, 45th Weather Squadron director of operations. “It is nice to have the team recognized. It was tougher than the award package represents.”
As one of only two Air Force weather units supporting spacelift operations, the squadron delivers 24/7 monitoring and forecasting for Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Kennedy Space Center, and Patrick Space Force Base. Its Airmen operate one of the densest weather sensor networks in the world, ensuring safe launch conditions and protecting billions of dollars in assets.
During the award period, the squadron played a critical role in forecasting impacts from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, enabling leadership to protect personnel and infrastructure.
Beyond the unit recognition, Senior Airman Jonathan Rodrigues was named Airman of the Year, highlighting individual excellence within the organization.
“His positive attitude, technical expertise, and willingness to get involved make him stand out,” Schubeck said.
Rodrigues’ impact spans multiple mission sets, including hurricane response, fire weather forecasting, and lightning warning operations. Most notably, he served as lead range forecaster for the International Space Station Crew-11 launch, identifying a critical cloud abort risk and enabling a 24-hour launch delay that ensured mission success and crew safety.
Rodrigues’ achievements reflect the broader excellence across the squadron, where individual performance directly contributes to mission success. Squadron leaders attribute this success to a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning, essential traits as launch cadence continues to grow.
“We need to innovate our approach and stay on the leading edge of the science,” Schubeck said. “Our team recognizes this and has been very proactive to meet the demand.”
With increasing mission requirements and an anticipated rise in annual launches, the 45th Weather Squadron remains a critical enabler of space access, delivering precise, timely weather intelligence that underpins every successful launch.