Mission Delta 4
U.S. Space Force missile warning and tracking unit
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Mission Delta 4 (MD4) is a United States Space Force unit responsible for providing strategic and theater missile warning and tracking to the United States and its international partners. It operates three constellations of Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) satellites and two types of Ground-Based Radars (GBRs) for the purpose of conducting strategic and theater missile warning and tracking. Additionally, DEL 4 provides tipping and cueing to missile defense forces, battlespace awareness to combatant commanders and technical intelligence for further analysis and manages weapon system architectures and ensures operations are intelligence-led, cyber-resilient, and driven by innovation, while postured to operate in a contested, degraded, and operationally-limited environment.[5][6]
| Mission Delta 4 | |
|---|---|
Emblem of Mission Delta 4 | |
| Founded | 24 July 2020 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Space Force |
| Type | Delta |
| Role | Missile warning and tracking |
| Size | 1,200 personnel[1] |
| Part of |  Space Operations Command |
| Headquarters | Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado, U.S. |
| Mottos | Latin: Videmus Mundum, lit. 'We see the world.'[2] |
| Website | www |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Col Aaron L. Cochran |
| Vice Commander | Lt Col Randall E. Carlson[3] |
| Senior Enlisted Leader | CMSgt Kyle T. Mullen[4] |
| Insignia | |
| Guidon |  |
Activated on 24 July 2020, the delta is headquartered at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado.[5][7] On 31 October 2024 it was redesignated Mission Delta 4 and gained sustainment responsibilities, along with organic cyber defense and intelligence forces.[8]
History
DEL 4 was based on the previous 460th Operations Group, 460th Space Wing and 21st Operations Group, 21st Space Wing.[9][10]
In lineage terms, the delta was originally established as 460 Operations Group (460 SW) on 2 August 2004.[11] It was activated on 19 August 2004. It was redesignated as Space Delta 4 on 24 July 2020. Its status changed officially from a unit of the United States Air Force to a unit of the United States Space Force on 21 October 2020.
In 2023, Space Delta 4 assumed control of the U.S. Army's Joint Tactical Ground Station.[6] On 31 October 2024 it was redesignated Mission Delta 4 and gained sustainment responsibilities, along with organic cyber defense and intelligence forces.[8]
Structure
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List of commanders
| No. | Commander | Term | Ref | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Duration | ||
| 1 | Colonel Richard L. Bourquin | 24 July 2020 | 15 July 2021 | 356 days | [19] | |
| 2 | Colonel Miguel A. Cruz | 15 July 2021 | 21 July 2023 | 2 years, 6 days | [1][20] | |
| 3 | Colonel Ernest R. Schmitt | 21 July 2023 | 16 July 2025 | 1 year, 360 days | [21][22] | |
| 4 | Colonel Aaron L. Cochran | 16 July 2025 | Incumbent | 238 days | [23][24] | |
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Notes
- This detachment location is inferred based on the locations of the detachments of the 1st Space Company, 1st Space Battalion of the U.S. Army, of which there were four. This unit is what was absorbed by the Space Force to become the 5th Space Warning Squadron. This detachment was previously known as JTAGS-Qatar under the Army.[15]
