SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --
A decade ago, Air Force Reserve Command approved the activation of a wing that would change the course of history for space in the Reserve. On March 7, 2008, an official order was given to expand the 310th Space Group into the first-ever AFRC space wing. The group became the 310th Space Wing and gained units residing on Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and Peterson, Schriever and Buckley Air Force Base’s in Colorado.
The 310th SW would provide AFRC with experienced space operators, manning space-based systems like Defense Meteorological satellites for weather observation, Midcourse Space Experiment satellites to conduct space surveillance and the Space-Based Infrared System for early missile warning and Global Positioning System satellites to use for navigation.
An official activation ceremony on April 4, 2008, signified the standing up of the wing as Col. Jeffrey Ansted, former 310th Space Group commander, stepped into place as the first 310th SW commander. In a story about the activation, Ansted referenced the 310th SW’s working relationship with their active duty installation partners, the 50th Space Wing.
“This [activation] represents the culmination of 15 years of Air Force Reserve participation in the operation and defense of America’s space assets,” said Ansted. “I think we’ve lived up to our vision as an unrivaled wingman to our regular Air Force counterparts. We’ve also had the opportunity to take the lead in certain space operations, like an unrivaled wingman should.”
Col. Traci Kueker-Murphy, current 310th Space Wing commander, still shares that sentiment today. In a previous interview about the relevance of Reserve Citizen Airmen in space operations, Kueker-Murphy said the wing has a great partnership with their RegAF wings and local community.
“Since [the activation of the 7th Space Operations Squadron in 1993], all of the Reserve space units have been instrumental in daily operations,” said Kueker-Murphy. “They’ve played key roles in developing and fielding new weapons systems and upgrades in mission areas across the board.”
The 310th SW is still the only Reserve wing to represent space today, and 310th members are proud of the mission and milestones they reach every day.
“The 310th SW Family of Professionals is a great organization to be a part of,” said Kueker-Murphy. “Our folks are part of an extremely dynamic mission set and they are contributing expertise and continuity critical to the success of the Space Mission Force. There isn’t any place better to be in the Air Force today!”