595th Command and Control Group

History

Missile Testing

The unit was first organized by Air Force Systems Command at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California in May 1970 as the 6595 Missile Test Group. In early 1970s, the group conducted ground and flight tests of the LGM-30 Minuteman weapon system. It also launched and tested missile, space and aeronautical systems in support of Department of Defense programs.

After the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger in January 1986, the space program was grounded for 34 months until the launch of Space Transportation System-26 in September 1988. After the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, the group examined vulnerabilities of US space facilities at home and abroad. The Air Force's Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities Program transferred national capabilities to operational commands. The group's Air Force Space Battlelab developed and field tested capabilities to increase productivity of operational commands. Its Aerospace Fusion Center supported space missile launches. The group was inactivated in September 1993.

In April 2000, the group, redesignated the 595th Test and Evaluation Group was reactivated at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. It supported Operation Iraqi Freedom through the application of space applications programs during 2003 and 2004. After redesignation as the 595th Space Group in 2002, it was inactivated in 2013.

Nuclear command and control

The group was redesignated the 595th Command and Control Group at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska in October 2016 with four squadrons assigned to provide aircrew, operators and maintenance personnel for nuclear command, control and communications platforms enabling the National Command Authority survivable, real-time strategic assessment and global strike capabilities. Its 1st Airborne Command Control Squadron operated the Boeing E-4 National Airborne Command Post, maintained by the 595th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. Its 625th Strategic Operations Squadron maintained targeting for the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile fleet and provided personnel to launch them from Boeing E-6B Mercury aircraft in flight. The 595th Strategic Communications Squadron provided missile warning and command, control and communications capabilities. They maintained and operated the Strategic Automated Command Control System, providing rapid retargeting of ICBMs.

The group had a shared commander with the National Airborne Operations Center. It was inactivated on 28 February 2025 and its resources transferred to the newly activated 95th Wing

Lineage

• Designated as the 6595th Missile Test Group and activated on 1 May 1970 : Redesignated 6595th Test and Evaluation Group on 1 January 1988 : Inactivated on 14 September 1993
• Redesignated 595th Test and Evaluation Group on 1 April 2000 : Activated on 7 April 2000 : Redesignated 595th Space Group on 1 August 2002 : Inactivated on 1 April 2013
• Redesignated 595th Command and Control Group on 26 August 2016 : Activated 1 October 2016 : Inactivated 28 February 2025

Assignments

• 6595th Aerospace Test Wing, 1 May 1970
• Western Space and Missile Center, 1 October 1979
• Ballistic Missile Organization, 1 October 1990
• Space and Missile Systems Center, 2 – 14 Sep 1993
• Space Warfare (later, Space Innovation and Development) Center, 7 April 2000 – 1 April 2013
• Eighth Air Force, 1 October 2016 – 28 February 2025

Operational Components

• 1st Airborne Command Control Squadron: 1 October 2016 – 28 February 2025
• 17th Test Squadron: 7 April 2000 – 1 April 2013
• 25th Space Control Tactics (later, 25th Space Range) Squadron: 1 July 2004 – 14 April 2006
• 527th Space Aggressor Squadron: 23 October 2002 – 1 April 2013
• 576th Flight Test Squadron: 7 Apr 2000 – 1 December 2009
• 625th Strategic Operations Squadron: 1 October 2016 – 28 February 2025

Stations

• Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, 1 May 1970 – 14 September 1993
• Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, 7 April 2000 – 1 April 2013
• Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, 6 October 2016 – 28 February 2025

Aircraft & Missiles

• LGM-30 Minuteman (1970–1993, 2000–2001)
• LGM-118 Peacekeeper (1983–1989, 2000–2005)
• SM-65 Atlas (1970–1990)
• SM-68 Titan (1970–1993)
• Boeing E-4B (2016–2025)

Awards

List of commanders

• Col Paul J. Burnett, 8 June 2000
• Col Michael J. Carey, 20 June 2002
• Col John E. Hyten, 1 July 2004
• Col John S. Riordan, 6 July 2005
• Col Stephen Latchford, 16 April 2007
• Col Shawn J. Barnes, May 2009
• Col Kevin M. Rhoades, 30 June 2011
• Unknown, 14 June 2012 – 1 April 2013
• Col Robert L. Billings, 1 October 2016 – July 2018
• Col. Jeremiah Baldwin, July 2018 - July 2020
• Col. Brian Golden, July 2020 - August 2022
• Col David Leaumont, August 2022 - August 2024
• Col Patrick Hook, August 2024 - 2024
• Col Daid Leaumont, 2024 – 28 February 2025

References

Notes

; Explanatory notes

; Citations

References

1. Bailey, Carl E.. (2017-02-06). "595 Command and Control Group (AFSPC)".
2. Robertson, Patsy , Lineage & Honors History of the 595 Space Group (AFSPC), Air Force Historical Research Agency, 6 April 2006
3. (4 October 2016). "595th Command and Control Group activates at Offutt". Air Force History Index.
4. (January 2018). "595th Command and Control Group Fact Sheet". Eighth Air Force Public Affairs.
5. (April 1, 2025). "ew Air Force 'Doomsday' Wing Boosts Nuclear Command and Control". Air & Space Force Magazine.
6. Department of the Air Force/A1M Letter 691t, 26 August 2016, Subject: Organization Actions Affecting Certain Air Force Global Strike Command Units
7. "595 Command and Control Group (AFSPC)".
8. "Excellence: Avoiding the insidious slide into mediocrity".
9. "Shawn J. Barnes".
10. "595 SG greets new CC".
11. "595th Command and Control Group, NAOC Change Commands".
12. "595th C2G under new leadership".
13. "595th Command & Control Group, NAOC welcomes new commander".
14. "NAOC and 595th Command and Control Group welcomes new commander".