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United States Space Forces – Europe and Africa

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United States Space Forces – Europe and Africa
USSPACEFOR-EURAF emblem
Founded8 December 2023; 345 days
Country United States
Branch United States Space Force
TypeComponent field command
RoleSpace operations
Size~30 personnel[1]
Part ofUnited States European Command
United States Africa Command
HeadquartersRamstein Air Base, Germany
Commanders
CommanderBrig Gen Jacob Middleton Jr.
Deputy CommanderLt Col Joel J. Neuber[2][3]
Senior Enlisted LeaderCMSgt Alex Birkle[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.

History

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List of directors of space forces

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  • Col Larry J. Chodzko, July 2007 – ???[5]
  • Col James A. Quinn, April 2019 – August 2022[6]
  • Col Max E. Lantz II, August 2022 – 8 December 2023

Establishment

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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

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No. Commander Term Ref
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term Length
1
Max E. Lantz II
Colonel
Max E. Lantz II
(born 1969)		8 December 202313 August 2024249 days
2
Jacob Middleton Jr.
Brigadier General
Jacob Middleton Jr.
(born c. 1970)		13 August 2024Incumbent96 days[11]

References

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  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. ^ "SPACEFOREUR-AF's commander holds ribbon cutting ceremony at Ramstein AB". 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".
  11. ^ Svan, Jennifer H. (13 August 2024). "'A new orbit':Brigadier general takes over Space Force in Europe and Africa". Stars and Stripes.

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to United States Space Forces Europe and Africa.
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