Mission Delta 3
DEL 3 emblem
Founded	1 January 1967; 58 years ago (1967-01-01)
Country	United States
Branch	United States Space Force
Type	Delta
Role	Electromagnetic warfare
Size	350 personnel[1]
Part of	Space Operations Command
Headquarters	Peterson Space Force Base,Colorado, U.S.
Website	www.peterson.spaceforce.mil/Units/Space-Delta-3/
Commanders
Commander	Col Angelo Fernandez
Deputy Commander	Col Edward M. Gutierrez[2]
Senior Enlisted Leader	CMSgt Kevin R. Pfister[3]
Insignia
Guidon

Mission Delta 3 (MD3) is aUnited States Space Force unit responsible for presenting operational combat-readyelectromagnetic warfare forces in support of assigned missions.^[4] It is headquartered atPeterson Space Force Base.^[5][6][7][8]

Activated on 24 July 2020, it replaced the former21st Space Wing's 721st Operations Group upon establishment.^[9] The 721st Operations Group was activated on 10 October 2019 partly by realigning units from the former21st Operations Group to focus securing the electromagnetic spectrum for national security space operations.^[10] In 2024 it was redesignated Mission Delta 3 and gained sustainment responsibilities, along with organic cyber defense and intelligence forces.^[11]

On 1 January 1967 the73d Aerospace Surveillance Wing, joined the71st Surveillance Wing as one of the two wings inAir Defense Command's9th Aerospace Defense Division, which was responsible for the Air Force's contribution to the defense of North America to space oriented attack. It was first organized atEnt Air Force Base, Colorado. The 71st Wing, which was soon renamed the 71st Missile Warning Wing,^[12] was responsible for theBallistic Missile Early Warning System, while the 73rd focused on space based systems. Thewing's operational elements were the16th Surveillance Squadron atShemya Air Force Station, Alaska,^[13] the17th Surveillance Squadron atMoorestown Air Force Station, New Jersey,^[14] the18th Surveillance Squadron atEdwards Air Force Base, California. the19th Surveillance Squadron atPirinclik Air Station, Turkey^[15] and the20th Surveillance Squadron atEglin Air Force Base, all organized the same day as the wing. Like the wing, the component squadrons were to be activated as "aerospace" surveillance squadrons. However, on 3 January 1967, the decision was made to retroactively drop the "aerospace" from the squadron names.^[16] Sensor operations included theSpacetrack System.^[14] The wing was inactivated in April 1971.

The 73rd was reactivated on 1 March 1989 as the73d Space Surveillance Group. On 1 October 1992, Detachment 3 atMisawa Air Base, Japan (which had been added on 1 January 1991) was expanded to form the3rd Space Surveillance Squadron.^[17] Its last assignment was withFourteenth Air Force, being stationed atFalcon Air Force Base, Colorado. It was inactivated on 26 April 1995.

The Group performed space surveillance. In April 1995 the 73d Space Surveillance Group merged with the 21st Space Wing. From that point the 21st became the largest wing in the United States Air Force with units deployed throughout the world.

In December 2021, DEL 3 was awarded as the best delta inSpace Operations Command.^[18] The delta's three operational units were redesignated as electromagnetic warfare squadrons on April 15, 2022.^[19]

In September 2023, GeneralB. Chance Saltzman introduced the integrated mission delta (IMD) construct which combines different functions, like operations, training, intelligence, and cyber effects, into specific mission areas, includingelectromagnetic warfare. DEL 3 was one of two initial units announced to test the construct. These IMDs mission generation, intelligence support, and cyber defense.^[20][21] In October 2023, the23rd Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron was activated.^[22]In 2024 it was redesignated Mission Delta 3 and gained sustainment responsibilities, along with organic cyber defense and intelligence forces.^[23]

DEL 3 is a component ofSpace Operations Command, one of eight deltas aligned under the field command. It is composed of the3rd Combat Training Squadron, which provides advanced training to the delta's members, and three operational units, the4th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron,5th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron, and16th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron. It is also augmented by fourAir National Guard units, the114th Space Control Squadron,138th Space Control Squadron,216th Space Control Squadron, and293rd Space Control Squadron, and theAir Force Reserve's380th Space Control Squadron^[24]

It plans to add a defensive electromagnetic warfare unit inGuam.^[24]

Emblem	Name[25]	Function	Headquarters
Squadrons
	3rd Combat Training Squadron (3 CTS)	Operational training and certification,tactics development,engineering support, andcrew force management	Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado
	4th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron (4 EWS)	Electromagnetic warfare	Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado
	5th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron (5 EWS)	Electromagnetic warfare	Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado
	16th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron (16 EWS)	Electromagnetic warfare	Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado
	23rd Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron (23 EWS)[22]	Electromagnetic warfare	Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado
	37th Tactical Intelligence Squadron (37 TIS)[22]	Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance

• Established as the73d Aerospace Surveillance Wing and activated on 1 November 1966

Organized on 1 January 1967^[26]

Inactivated on 30 April 1971^[26]

• Redesignated73d Space Surveillance Group on 10 February 1989

Activated on 1 March 1989

Redesignated73d Space Wing on 1 June 1991

Redesignated73d Space Group on 1 May 1992

Inactivated on 26 April 1995

• Air Defense Command, 1 November 1966 (not organized)
• 9th Aerospace Defense Division, 1 January 1967^[26]
• Fourteenth Aerospace Force, 1 July 1968 – 30 April 1971^[26]
• Air Force Space Command, 1 March 1989^[27]
• 1st Space Wing, 1 June 1991
• Fourteenth Air Force, 20 September 1993 – 26 April 1995

• Ent Air Force Base, Colorado, 1 January 1967^[26]
• Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, 17 July 1967 – 30 April 1971^[28]
• Falcon Air Force Base, Colorado, 1 March 1989 – 26 April 1995

• 1st Command and Control Squadron: 28 February 1992 – 24 June 1994^[29]
• 1st Deep Surveillance Squadron (later, 1st Surveillance Squadron,1st Space Surveillance Squadron: 1 April 1989 – 26 April 1995
• 3rd Space Surveillance Squadron: 1 October 1992 – 26 April 1995^[17]
• 4th Surveillance Squadron (later 4th Space Surveillance Squadron): 1 October 1990 – 26 April 1995
• 5th Surveillance Squadron (later 5th Space Surveillance Squadron): 1 October 1990 – 26 April 1995
• 16th Surveillance Squadron (later 16th Space Surveillance Squadron): 1 January 1967 – 30 April 1971, 1 September 1991 – 1 October 1994^[13]
• 17th Surveillance Squadron (later 17th Space Surveillance Squadron): 1 January 1967 – 31 December 1969, 15 November 1993 – 26 April 1995^[14]
• 18th Surveillance Squadron (later 18th Space Surveillance Squadron): 1 January 1967 – 30 April 1971, 1 July 1991 – 26 April 1995
• 19th Surveillance Squadron (later 19th Space Surveillance Squadron): 1 January 1967 – 30 April 1971, 1 October 1991 – 26 April 1995^[15]
• 20th Surveillance Squadron (later 20th Space Surveillance Squadron): 1 January 1967 – 30 April 1971, 1 August 1991 – 26 April 1995
• 73d Operations Support Squadron: 15 May 1992 – 26 April 1995
• 73d Support Squadron (later 73d Mission Support Squadron): 15 May 1992 – 26 April 1995

• Detachment 1 –San Vito dei Normanni Air Station, Italy (1 October 1989 – 1 October 1990)^[30]
• Detachment 2 –RAF Feltwell, United Kingdom (1 October 1989 – 1 October 1990)
• Detachment 3: Misawa Air Base, Japan (1 January 1991 – 1 October 1992)

No.	Commander		Term			Ref
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Duration
1		Thien, John G.Colonel John G. Thien	24 July 2020	31 July 2021	1 year, 7 days	[31]
2		Fernengel, Christopher A.Colonel Christopher A. Fernengel	31 July 2021	29 June 2023	1 year, 333 days	[32][33]
3		Petrucci, Nicole M.Colonel Nicole M. Petrucci	29 June 2023	7 March 2025	1 year, 251 days	[34][35]
4		Fernandez, AngeloColonel Angelo Fernandez	7 March 2025	Incumbent	257 days	[36]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toMission Delta 3.

 This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W. (1980).A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946 - 1980(PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Retrieved23 March 2012.
• Mueller, Robert (1989).Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982(PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History.ISBN 0-912799-53-6. Retrieved17 December 2016.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984).Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977(PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History.ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved17 December 2016.
• Information compiled by Daniel L. Haulman, Phd; Chief, Organizational Histories Branch; Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Deltas of the United States Space Force
• Military units and formations established in 2020
• Military units and formations in Colorado

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