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National Space Intelligence Center

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

US Space Force intelligence center

This article is about a US Space Force intelligence unit. For the US Air Force counterpart, seeNational Air and Space Intelligence Center.

National Space Intelligence Center
Emblem
Active	24 June 2022–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Space Force
Type	Delta
Role	Space intelligence
Size	350 personnel (expected)^[1]
Part of	Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence
Headquarters	Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,Ohio
Commanders
Commander	Col Marcus D. Starks
Deputy Director	Cheryl Richmond^[2]
Senior Enlisted Leader	CMSgt Lindsay DeWitt^[3]

Military unit

TheNational Space Intelligence Center (NSIC) formerly known as "Space Delta 18" or "DEL 18", is theUnited States Space Force's intelligence agency. It is headquartered atWright-Patterson Air Force Base,Ohio, and activated on 24 June 2022.

NSIC is a field operating agency that is responsible for performing national and military space missions and evaluating capabilities, performance, limitations, and vulnerabilities of space and counter-space systems and services. It is the Space Force's counterpart to the Army'sNational Ground Intelligence Center, Navy'sOffice of Naval Intelligence, and the Air Force'sNational Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC).^[1]

History

[edit]

Lt GenWhiting (left) and Col Randall (right) stand at attention during the activation of Space Delta 18, 24th June 2022

The establishment of NSIC was ordered byChief of Space Operations John W. Raymond.^[4] It will be formed by transferring NASIC's Space Analysis Squadron and Counter-Space Analysis Squadron from theSpace and Missiles Analysis Group to the Space Force.^[5] ThenAir Force Major General Leah Lauderback, the Space Force director of intelligence (S2)—to whom the center will ultimately report—led the planning effort. Congressional authorization is needed to create a field operating agency that reports directly to the S2.^[1]

Awaiting funding for the establishment of the NSIC, the Space Force stood up theSpace Force Intelligence Activity (SFIA) on 24 September 2021 as an interim unit. SFIA served under NASIC until the establishment of NSIC.^[6] On 24 June 2022, NSIC was activated as Space Delta 18.^[7]

On 28 June 2024, DEL 18 and NSIC were transferred from SpOC and redesignated as a field operating agency under thedeputy chief of space operations for intelligence.^[8] As part of the elevation to field operating agency, it was redesignated to the National Space Defense Center, losing the name Space Delta 18.^[9]

Symbolism

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Emblem of theNational Air and Space Intelligence Center, NSIC's direct predecessor in the U.S. Air Force.

The National Space Intelligence Center emblem design incorporates elements from theintelligence and space communities, itsNational Air and Space Intelligence Center heritage, and looks to the future. It consists of the following elements:^[10]

Platinum is the distinctive color ofSpace Operations Command and represents the strength of its uniformed and civilian Guardians, the rarity of its calling, and the nobility of its mission.
Thesphinx is an ancient Egyptian symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and the challenges that the National Space Intelligence Center will solve. It is invoked out of pride in an organization that traces roots to the earliest days of intelligence. It sits omnipresent over the world – just like the space domain, gazing upward, drawing eyes from the past into the future and the blackness of space.
TheNorth Star's eight points symbolize points of a compass and displays how intelligence professionals will analyze and access to guide acquisitions, policymakers, and warfighters.

Under its previous designation as Space Delta 18, DEL 18 took on the number 18 in honor of the Space Force becoming the 18th member of theUnited States Intelligence Community on 15 January 2021.^[7]^[11]

Structure

[edit]

In 2022 NSIC was initially composed of two squadrons transferred from NASIC's Space and Missiles Analysis Group.^[12]

1st Space Analysis Squadron, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2nd Space Analysis Squadron, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

There now appear to be four Intelligence Analysis Squadrons, as of mid-2025.^[13]

List of commanders

[edit]

No.	Commander		Term			Ref
No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Duration	Ref
1		Randall, Marqus D.Colonel Marqus D. Randall	24 June 2022	28 June 2024	2 years, 4 days	^[14]
2		Randall, Marqus D.Colonel Marcus D. Starks	28 June 2024	Incumbent	1 year, 231 days	^[8]^[15]

References

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toSpace Delta 18.

^^a ^b ^c"Space Force Prepares to Launch National Space Intelligence Center".SIGNAL Magazine. 27 April 2021.Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved20 August 2021.
^"Ms. Cheryl Richmond".
^"Chief Master Sergeant Melissa M. Owens".www.spoc.spaceforce.mil.Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved24 June 2022.
^"Chief of Space Operations' Planning Guidance 1st Chief of Space Operations"(PDF).United States Department of Defense. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 18 November 2020.
^"National Space Intelligence Center Takes Shape". 16 November 2020.Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved20 August 2021.
^"Space Force intelligence organization established at Wright Patterson Air Force Base". 4 October 2021.Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved11 October 2021.
^^a ^b"Space Delta 18 Activation, NSIC establishment ceremony".Space Operations Command (SpOC). 22 June 2022.Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved24 June 2022.
^^a ^b"NSIC changes commanders, redesignated Field Operating Agency".United States Space Force. 1 July 2024.
^"National Space Intelligence Center".United States Space Force. Retrieved28 December 2024.
^"Space Delta 18 (National Space Intelligence Center) Emblem Explainer".
^"US Space Force Becomes 18th Member of US Intelligence Community".Defense One. 8 January 2021.Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved20 August 2021.
^"Space Delta 18".Space Operations Command (SpOC).Archived from the original on 24 June 2022. Retrieved24 June 2022.
^https://www.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Fact-Sheet-Display/Article/3820323/national-space-intelligence-center/
^"Colonel Marqus D. Randall".www.spoc.spaceforce.mil.Archived from the original on 24 June 2022. Retrieved24 June 2022.
^"Colonel Marcus D. Starks"(PDF).NSIC. September 2024.Archived(PDF) from the original on 10 February 2025. Retrieved15 February 2025.

United States Space Force

Leadership

Oversight	House Armed Services Committee Strategic Forces subcommittee Senate Committee on Armed Services Strategic Forces subcommittee

Structure

Field commands	Space Futures Command Space Operations Command Commander Space Systems Command Commander Space Training and Readiness Command Commander
Component Field Commands	United States Space Forces – Central United States Space Forces – Europe and Africa United States Space Forces – Indo-Pacific United States Space Forces – Korea United States Space Forces – Space
Deltas	Space Delta 1 Mission Delta 2 Mission Delta 3 Mission Delta 4 Space Delta 5 Space Delta 6 Space Delta 7 Space Delta 8 Space Delta 9 Space Delta 10 Space Delta 11 Space Delta 12 Space Delta 13 Space Delta 15 Space Delta 18 Space Delta 21 Space Delta 23 Space Delta 26 Space Launch Delta 30 Mission Delta 31 Space Launch Delta 45 Space Base Delta 1 Space Base Delta 2 Space Base Delta 3
Squadrons	1st Delta Operations 319th Combat Training 328th Weapons 392d Combat Training 533rd Training 21st Operations Support 15th Space Surveillance 18th Space Defense 19th Space Defense 20th Space Surveillance 3rd Combat Training 4th EW 5th EW 16th EW 23rd EW 2nd Space Warning 3rd satellite Communications 5th Space Warning 6th Space Warning 7th Space Warning 10th Space Warning 11th Space Warning 12th Space Warning 13th Space Warning 55th Training 21st Space Operations 22nd Space Operations 23rd Space Operations 62nd Cyberspace 63rd Cyberspace 64th Cyberspace 65th Cyberspace 68th Cyberspace 69th Cyberspace 645th Cyberspace 71st ISR 72nd ISR 73rd ISR 74th ISR 75th ISR 76th ISR 1st Space Operations 2nd Navigation Warfare 3rd Space Operations 4th Space Operations 5th Space Operations 10th Space Operations 53rd Space Operations 527th Space Aggressor 1st Test and Evaluation 3rd Test and Evaluation 17th Test and Evaluation 25th Space Range 2nd Space Launch 5th Space Launch 1st Range Operations NSSI
Direct reporting units	Space Development Agency Space Rapid Capabilities Office Space Warfighting Analysis Center

Locations

Space Force Bases	Buckley Los Angeles Patrick Peterson Schriever Vandenberg
Space Bases	Pituffik
Space Force Stations	Cape Canaveral Cape Cod Cavalier Cheyenne Mountain Clear Kaena Point New Boston

Personnel
and training

History and
traditions

Former wings and deltas	21st Space Wing 50th Space Wing 460th Space Wing Space Training and Readiness Delta (Provisional)

Category

United States Intelligence Community

Intelligence
Community

Defense

Armed Forces	Army Intelligence and Security Command Marine Corps Intelligence Office of Naval Intelligence Air Force Intelligence Space Force Intelligence (Space Delta 7 /Space Delta 18) Coast Guard Intelligence (Homeland Security)