United States Space Forces Europe and Africa

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United States Space Forces Europe and Africa
United States Space Forces Europe and Africa emblem.png
USSPACEFOR-EURAF emblem
Founded8 December 2023; 30 days
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
BranchFlag of the United States Space Force.svg  United States Space Force
TypeComponent 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 Col Max E. Lantz II
Deputy CommanderLt Col Joel J. Neuber [2] [3]
Senior Enlisted LeaderSMSgt Travis Demarest [4]

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.

Contents

History

List of directors of space forces

Establishment

In 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

No.CommanderTermRef
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm Length
1
Col Max E. Lantz II (3).jpg
Colonel
Max E. Lantz II
(born 1969)
8 December 2023Incumbent30 days

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References

  1. Erwin, Sandra (8 December 2023). "U.S. Space Force activates new unit to support operations in Europe and Africa".
  2. "USAFE-AFAFRICA Space Force team wins twice during first-ever Polaris Awards". U.S. Air Forces in Europe & Air Forces Africa. 16 December 2022.
  3. "USSPACEFOR-EURAF features its newly minted Guardians at Ramstein AB". DVIDS.
  4. "USSPACEFOR-EURAF activated at Ramstein Air Base". DVIDS.
  5. New SIDC Commander has the Wright Stuff schriever.spaceforce.mil [ dead link ]
  6. "Starting the journey". www.spoc.spaceforce.mil.
  7. Hadley, Greg (2 November 2022). "Space Force to Establish Components for INDOPACOM, CENTCOM, Korea by End of 2022". Air & Space Forces Magazine.
  8. Hadley, Greg (12 September 2023). "Space Force Service Component for Europe and Africa Coming in December". Air & Space Forces Magazine.
  9. Gordon, Chris (31 October 2023). "Space Force Sets Date to Activate Its Europe and Africa Component in December". Air & Space Forces Magazine.
  10. "United States Space Forces Europe & Africa (SPACEFOREUR-AF) Activation and Assumption of Command Ceremony".

See also