Newly activated 544th ISRG welcomes units during ceremony

By Senior Airman Haley N. Blevins, Space Base Delta 2 Public Affairs / Published September 27, 2022

Military members stand in formation in a diagonal shape

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Members of the newly activated 544th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group stand at parade rest during the activation ceremony at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum Lowry, Colo., Sep. 26, 2022. The Air Force activation ceremony formally organizes, establishes and recognizes the legal entity of a new Air Force unit. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Shaun Combs)

Military members stand in line holding flags.

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Members from the 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group participate in a ceremony at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Lowry, Colo., Sept. 26, 2022. The ceremony reactivated and realigned a group, three squadrons and a detachment that will support the intelligence mission of the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Haley N. Blevins)

Two military members hold a flag at a ceremony.

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Col. Ronald Hopkins, 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group commander, alongside Lt. Col. James Nolan, 566th Intelligence Squadron commander, hands over the flag at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum Lowry, Colo., Sep. 26, 2022. The 566th IS mission will be to train, organize, equip and sustain the airmen and guardians of the 566th is to drive SIGINT discovery, collection, processing and exploitation for joint warfighters and national decision makers. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Shaun Combs)

A U.S. Air Force Major speaks at a podium.

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Maj. Ryan Laine, 18th Intelligence Squadron commander, shares a few words on his assumption of command at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum Lowry, Colo., Sep. 26, 2022. 18th IS’s mission is to deliver decision advantage through strong mission partnerships to the air component, the joint force, and our nation by growing tactically brilliant airmen. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Shaun Combs)

Two military members hold a flag at a ceromony.

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Col. Craig Miller, 70th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing commander, alongside Col. Ronald Hopkins, 544th ISR Group commander, unfurl the flag at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum Lowry, Colo., Sep. 26, 2022. The 544th ISRG’s mission is to lead the Air Force in executing overhead Technical Signals Intelligence and Overhead Persistent Infrared operations and tradecraft development to achieve mission outcome success in all circumstances. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Shaun Combs)

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Col. Celina Noyes, commander of the National Security Agency and commander of the 373d Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, alongside Lt. Col. James Nolan, 566th Intelligence Squadron commander, hands over the flag at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum Lowry, Colo., Sep. 26, 2022. Following the Activation of the 544th ISRG, the “Blue Train” mission will be to train, organize, equip and sustain the Airmen and Guardians of the 566th Intelligence Squadron to drive SIGINT discovery, collection, processing and exploitation for joint warfighters and national decision makers, in partnership with NSA Colorado and Team Buckley. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Shaun Combs)

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Staff Sgt. Jacob Hames, an Intel Analyst with the 566th Intelligence Squadron, plays the national anthem on guitar at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum Lowry, Colo., Sep. 26, 2022. On March 3, 1931, after numerous attempts previous, the “Star Spangled Banner” was recognized by law as the national anthem.(U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Shaun Combs)

BUCKLEY SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. --

The 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group was activated Sept. 26, 2022 during an activation and realignment ceremony at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Lowry, Colorado.

Previously located at Peterson Space Force Base, Colo., the 544th ISRG delivers global, space-related information to national agencies and warfighting commands, provides policy guidance and functional assistance to assigned organizations, and develops mission-based facilities and communication.

The 544th ISRG’s mission is to lead the Air Force in executing overhead signals intelligence, infrared operations and tradecraft development to achieve mission outcome success in all circumstances.

Signals intelligence plays a vital role in our national security by providing our leaders with critical information they need to defend our country, save lives, and advance U.S. goals and alliances globally.

This activation ceremony was more than a single group- realigning the 566th Intelligence Squadron and Detachment 1 from under the 373rd ISRG and into the 544th ISRG. These realignments are one of many efficient ways our intelligence community remains ready across the intelligence space.

“The 566th has its roots very deep in Buckley’s soil dating all the way back to 1944,” said Lt. Col. James Nolan, 566th IS commander. “Now we get to launch a new branch of those roots as we stand up the 544th ISRG. We are looking to make our predecessors of this group and squadrons proud and do the best for our Airmen and Guardians going forward in the future.”

In addition to the realignment of the 566th IS and Detachment 1, two squadrons were reactivated under the 544th ISRG. The 26th IS was reactivated for the first time since 2006 and the 18th IS was reactivated since its deactivation in 2020.

According to Col. Craig Miller, 70th ISR Wing commander- times are changing. The Air Force must continue to adapt to these ever-changing issues by identifying weak points and refining them to remain a versatile force.

“The change won’t be perfect, but we’ll adapt to balance risk to force and risk to mission,” said Miller. “This change creates a synchronization in their work and an intimate understanding of the mission sets that are here at Aerospace Data Facility Colorado.”

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