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DEL 15 activates, brings C2 support to NSDC

Three men in uniform unveiling guidon

From left, U.S. Space Force Senior Master Sgt. Kristopher-Michael K. Kainoa, Space Delta 15 senior enlisted leader, unveils the DEL 15 guidon as U.S. Space Force Brig. Gen. Dennis Bythewood, Joint Task Force-Space Defense commander and U.S. Space Force Col. Stephen Lyon, DEL 15 commander, stand at attention during the DEL 15 activation ceremony at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, March 10, 2023. The mission of DEL 15 is to provide service command-and-control (C2) capability, mission ready crew forces, skills training, certifications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and support and cyber mission defense, and special mission support to the JTF-SD and its National Space Defense Center. (U.S. Space Force photo by Dennis Rogers)

Man in uniform saluting

U.S. Space Force Col. Stephen Lyon, Space Delta 15 commander, salutes a formation during the DEL 15 activation ceremony at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, March 10, 2023. Lyon is triple-hatted as the Joint Task Force-Space Defense director of operations, National Space Defense Center director, and commander of DEL 15. The mission of DEL 15 is to provide service command-and-control (C2) capability, mission ready crew forces, skills training, certifications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and support and cyber mission defense, and special mission support to the JTF-SD and its NSDC. (U.S. Space Force photo by Dennis Rogers)

Three men in uniform holding guidon

From left, U.S. Space Force Brig. Gen. Dennis Bythewood, Joint Task Force-Space Defense commander, U.S. Space Force Senior Master Sgt. Kristopher-Michael K. Kainoa, Space Delta 15 senior enlisted leader, and U.S. Space Force Col. Stephen Lyon, Space Delta 15 commander, participate in the passing of the guidon during the DEL 15 activation ceremony at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, March 10, 2023. The mission of DEL 15 is to provide service command-and-control (C2) capability, mission ready crew forces, skills training, certifications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and support and cyber mission defense, and special mission support to the JTF-SD and its National Space Defense Center. (U.S. Space Force photo by Dennis Rogers)

Man putting patch on the sleeve of another man in military uniform

U.S. Space Force Brig. Gen. Todd R. Moore, Space Training and Readiness Command deputy commander, places a Space Delta 15 patch onto the sleeve of U.S. Space Force Col. Stephen Lyon, DEL 15 commander, during the organization’s activation ceremony at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, March 10, 2023. The mission of DEL 15 is to provide service command-and-control (C2) capability, mission ready crew forces, skills training, certifications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and support and cyber mission defense, and special mission support to the Joint Task Force-Space Defense and its National Space Defense Center. (U.S. Space Force photo by Dennis Rogers)

Man in military uniform speaking into microphone

U.S. Space Force Brig. Gen. Dennis Bythewood, Joint Task Force-Space Defense commander, gives remarks during the Space Delta 15 activation ceremony at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, March 10, 2023. DEL 15’s primary mission is to provide protect and defend command-and-control (C2) capability to U.S. Space Command which will be employed at USSPACECOM’s functional component, JTF-SD, and its National Space Defense Center. (U.S. Space Force photo by Dennis Rogers)

Woman in uniform at podium speaking into microphone

U.S. Space Force Maj. Amber DeRiggi, Space Delta 15 chief of staff, narrates the DEL 15 activation ceremony at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, March 10, 2023. The mission of DEL 15 is to provide service command-and-control (C2) capability, mission ready crew forces, skills training, certifications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and support and cyber mission defense, and special mission support to the Joint Task Force-Space Defense and its National Space Defense Center. (U.S. Space Force photo by Dennis Rogers)

Four military members standing at attention

Members of the National Space Defense Center stand at attention during the Space Delta 15 activation ceremony at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, March 10, 2023. DEL 15 is the U.S. Space Force’s force presentation to U.S. Space Command to organize, train and equip the NSDC. DEL 15 provides the execution of command-and-control functions in support of USSPACECOM’s Unified Command Plan directed space defense mission. (U.S. Space Force photo by Dennis Rogers)

Man in uniform standing at attention next to man in uniform saluting

U.S. Space Force Brig. Gen. Dennis Bythewood, left, Joint Task Force-Space Defense commander stands at attention as U.S. Space Force Col. Stephen Lyon, right, Space Delta 15 commander salutes a formation during the DEL 15 activation ceremony at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, March 10, 2023. The mission of DEL 15 is to provide service command-and-control (C2) capability, mission ready crew forces, skills training, certifications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and support and cyber mission defense, and special mission support to the JTF-SD and its National Space Defense Center. (U.S. Space Force photo by Dennis Rogers)

Man in military uniform speaking into microphone

U.S. Space Force Col. Stephen Lyon, Space Delta 15 commander, gives remarks during the DEL 15 activation ceremony at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, March 10, 2023. Lyon is triple-hatted as the Joint Task Force-Space Defense director of operations, National Space Defense Center director, and commander of DEL 15. The mission of DEL 15 is to provide service command-and-control (C2) capability, mission ready crew forces, skills training, certifications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and support and cyber mission defense, and special mission support to the JTF-SD and its NSDC. (U.S. Space Force photo by Dennis Rogers)

Four military men in uniform sitting and watching a ceremony
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From left, U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting, Space Operations Command commander, Chief Master Sgt. Jacob Simmons, SpOC senior enlisted leader, Chief Master Sgt. Jeramey Conley, Joint Task Force-Space Defense command senior enlisted leader, and U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. Michael Guetlein, Space Systems Command commander, attend the Space Delta 15 activation ceremony at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, March 10, 2023. DEL 15 is the U.S. Space Force’s force presentation to U.S. Space Command to organize, train and equip the National Space Defense Center. DEL 15 provides the execution of command-and-control functions in support of USSPACECOM’s Unified Command Plan directed space defense mission. (U.S. Space Force photo by Dennis Rogers)

Man in uniform speaking into microphone
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U.S. Space Force Col. Stephen Lyon, Space Delta 15 commander, gives remarks during the DEL 15 activation ceremony at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, March 10, 2023. Lyon is triple-hatted as the Joint Task Force-Space Defense director of operations, National Space Defense Center director, and commander of DEL 15. The mission of DEL 15 is to provide service command-and-control (C2) capability, mission ready crew forces, skills training, certifications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and support and cyber mission defense, and special mission support to the JTF-SD and its NSDC. (U.S. Space Force photo by Dennis Rogers)

SCHRIEVER SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. --

Space Operations Command and Joint Task Force-Space Defense officials activated Space Delta 15 during a ceremony here, March 10, 2023.

The mission of DEL 15 is to provide service command-and-control (C2) capability, mission ready crew forces, skills training, certifications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and cyber mission defense support, as well as special mission support to the National Space Defense Center.

“The USSF is normalizing its force presentation to the space superiority mission with the establishment of Delta 15,” said U.S. Space Force Brig. Gen. Dennis O. Bythewood, JTF-SD commander, who presided over the activation ceremony. “The new unit will grow to provide the core infrastructure and manpower for the NSDC, while continuing to work closely with our National Reconnaissance Office and Intelligence Community partners to ensure unity of effort across the mission area.”

Delta 15 and its subordinate squadrons, the 15th Command-and-Control Squadron, 15th ISR Squadron, 15th Cyber Squadron, and the 15th Combat Training Squadron, are the U.S. Space Force’s force presentation to U.S. Space Command to organize, train and equip the NSDC.

The activation of DEL 15 provides for the execution of C2 functions in support of the NSDC’s space superiority mission.

DEL 15 will develop training environments, testing, and simulation to prepare USSF forces, and designated joint and allied partners, to prevail in a contested, degraded, operationally limited (CDO), all-domain environment.

“Delta 15 provides the NSDC’s USSF-certified space defense training and crew positions, intel support and space cyber defense,” said U.S. Space Force Col. Stephen G. Lyon, DEL 15’s inaugural commander. “Delta 15 is USSF personnel, while the NSDC will remain joint with mission partner, contract and NRO support.”

During the activation ceremony, Lyon quoted the Chief of Space Operations, U.S. Space Force Gen. Chance Saltzman, who stated, “Capabilities only become forces with effective C2. Now more than ever, we need to protect-and-defend forces, so Delta 15 is critical for the success of the Space Force.”

Lyon is now triple-hatted as the JTF-SD Director of Operations, NSDC Director, and commander of DEL 15.  

Although the NSDC’s mission remains the same, DEL 15 will integrate into the NSDC’s current space defense mission while working closely with the joint personnel operating within the NSDC today.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and a truly humbling and historic experience,” said Senior Master Sgt. Kristopher-Michael K. Kainoa, DEL 15 senior enlisted leader. “Our committed Guardians and teammates will continue to shape our shared military history and weave their stories into the greater fabric of our nation’s Profession of Arms.”

DEL 15 will be co-located with the NSDC, here.

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