Following Standup of Space Force, Air Force Bases Could be Renamed as Space Bases

Article by Sandra Erwin                            December 20, 2019                            (spacenews.com)

• Now that the U.S. Space Force is officially an independent military service, Air Force installations that primarily do space work will be renamed ‘Space Force bases’. Gen. John “Jay” Raymond, commander of U.S. Space Command who also will serve as the first chief of space operations in charge of the U.S. Space Force said, “We do have a plan to rename the principal Air Force bases that house space units to be space bases.” but the details of possible base re-naming are still being hammered out.

• Candidates for re-designation include Peterson Air Force Base, Schriever Air Force Base and Buckley Air Force Base in Colorado, Patrick Air Force Base in Florida and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

• Raymond noted that that even if bases are named as space bases, the Space Force will continue to heavily rely on the Air Force to operate and maintain them. “We’ll work to rename those to match the mission of the base,” Raymond said.

• The idea of renaming Air Force bases is one of seven initiatives proposed by the Space Force Planning Task Force, a group of about 40 people led by Air Force Maj. Gen. Clinton Crosier who have spent the past eight months preparing for the establishment of the Space Force. According to a draft memo obtained by SpaceNews, the White House and the secretary of the Air Force have emphasized the importance of ‘moving out swiftly and rapidly’ and creating positive public perception with regards to expeditious implementation.

• Other recommendations are: 2) the issuing of a memorandum by the Secretary the Air Force outlining the responsibilities of the chief of space operations with the clear expectation that the U.S. Space Force will be a separate, independent service; 3) assign operational units within the Space Force; 4) designate Space Force unit members authorize to immediately wear the U.S. Space Force patch; 5) appoint an acting Assistant Secretary for Space Acquisition and Integration to oversee space acquisitions; 6) designate the members of the Space Force staff and advertise civilian positions for immediate hiring; 7) convene the Space Force Acquisition Council chaired by the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration.

• According to the Crosier draft memo, “To have the greatest public impact, the Space Force Planning Task Force recommends implementing the key actions listed above simultaneously,” so that the Department of the Air Force might declare ‘Initial Operational Capability’ for the Space Force much sooner than the 12-month plan.

WASHINGTON — With the U.S. Space Force now officially enacted as an independent military service, Air Force installations that primarily do space work would be renamed Space Force bases.

Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, for example, could become Peterson Space Force Base. Other candidates for re-designation include Colorado-based Schriever Air Force Base and Buckley Air Force Base, Patrick Air Force Base in Florida and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

“We do have a plan to rename the principal Air Force bases that house space units to be space bases,” said Gen. John “Jay” Raymond, commander of U.S. Space Command who also will serve as the first chief of space operations (CSO) in charge of the U.S. Space Force.

Speaking with reporters Dec. 20, Raymond said the details of possible base re-naming are still being hammered out. “We’ll plan that appropriately in the months ahead,” Raymond said. He noted that that even if bases are named space based, the Space Force will continue to heavily rely on the Air Force to operate and maintain them.

“We’ll work to rename those to match the mission of the base,” Raymond said.

The idea of renaming Air Force bases is one of several initiatives proposed by the Space Force Planning Task Force, a group of about 40 people led by Air Force Maj. Gen. Clinton Crosier who have spent the past eight months preparing for the establishment of the Space Force once Congress authorized it.

Crosier in a draft memo laid out proposed actions to accelerate the standup of the U.S. Space Force, some that could be done as early as in 30 days.

A copy of Crosier’s memo was obtained by SpaceNews.

“The White House and the secretary of the Air Force have consistently set an expectation for rapid Space Force stand-up, and have emphasized the importance of ‘moving out swiftly and rapidly’ and creating positive public perception with regards to expeditious implementation,” the memo says.

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