Mission Delta 4
{{short description|U.S. Space Force missile warning and tracking unit}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Mission Delta 4
| image = Emblem of Space Delta 4.png
| caption = Emblem of Mission Delta 4
| start_date = {{Start date and age|2020|07|24|df=yes}}
| country = {{flagu|United States}}
| allegiance =
| branch = {{space force|United States}}
| type = Delta
| role = Missile warning and tracking
| command_structure = {{no wrap|25px Space Operations Command}}
| current_commander =
| garrison = Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado, U.S.
| garrison_label = Headquarters
| ceremonial_chief =
| colonel_of_the_regiment =
| nickname =
| patron =
| motto = {{langx|la| Videmus Mundum |translation=We see the world.}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/USSFSpaceDelta4/videos/del-4-motto/425175698714697/|title=DEL 4 Motto|via=www.facebook.com|access-date=June 20, 2021|archive-date=April 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425092119/https://www.facebook.com/USSFSpaceDelta4/videos/del-4-motto/425175698714697/|url-status=live}}
| colors =
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| mascot =
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| commander1 = Col Ernest R. Schmitt
| commander1_label = Commander
| commander2 = Lt Col Andrew Downey{{Cite web|url=https://www.buckley.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/2481665/lt-col-andrew-downey/|title=LT. COL. ANDREW DOWNEY > Buckley Space Force Base > Display|access-date=September 14, 2022|archive-date=September 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914031034/https://www.buckley.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/2481665/lt-col-andrew-downey/|url-status=live}}
Lt Col Richard Fancherhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-fancher-70a5097b/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}
Lt Col Michael L. Hall{{Cite web|url=https://www.buckley.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/2734634/michael-l-hall/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buckley.spaceforce.mil%2FAbout-Us%2FBiographies%2FDisplay%2FArticle%2F2734634%2Fmichael-l-hall%2F|title=Michael L. Hall|website=Buckley Space Force Base}}
| commander2_label = Vice Commander
| commander3 = CMSgt Kyle T. Mullen{{Cite web|url=https://www.buckley.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/3616571/chief-master-sergeant-kyle-t-mullen/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buckley.spaceforce.mil%2FAbout-Us%2FBiographies%2FDisplay%2FArticle%2F3616571%2Fchief-master-sergeant-kyle-t-mullen%2F|title=Chief Master Sergeant Kyle T. Mullen|website=Buckley Space Force Base}}
| commander3_label = Senior Enlisted Leader
| website = {{url|https://www.buckley.spaceforce.mil/}}
| identification_symbol = 150px
| identification_symbol_label = Guidon
}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.buckley.af.mil/Units/|title=Buckley Air Force Base Units|agency=Buckley Air Force Base|access-date=24 July 2020|archive-date=July 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724194215/https://www.buckley.af.mil/Units/|url-status=dead}} {{PD-notice}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-control-jtags-mission-army/|title=Space Force Takes Over JTAGS Mission from the Army|first=Unshin|last=Harpley|date=October 5, 2023|website=Air & Space Forces Magazine|access-date=October 7, 2023|archive-date=October 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231023164532/https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-control-jtags-mission-army/|url-status=live}}
Activated on 24 July 2020, the delta is headquartered at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado.{{cite web|url=https://www.buckley.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/|title=Buckley Air Force Base Biographies|agency=Buckley Air Force Base|access-date=24 July 2020|archive-date=July 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724194922/https://www.buckley.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/|url-status=dead}} {{PD-notice}} On 31 October 2024 it was redesignated Mission Delta 4 and gained sustainment responsibilities, along with organic cyber defense and intelligence forces.
History
DEL 4 was based on the previous 460th Operations Group, 460th Space Wing and 21st Operations Group, 21st Space Wing.[https://www.airforcemag.com/space-force-organizations-take-shape-as-selection-boards-meet/ Space Force Organisations Take Shape] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811195538/https://www.airforcemag.com/space-force-organizations-take-shape-as-selection-boards-meet/ |date=August 11, 2020 }}, July 24, 2020.{{Cite web|title=Space Delta 4 - Missile Warning|url=https://www.buckley.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Article/322395/space-delta-4-missile-warning/|access-date=2020-11-10|website=Buckley Air Force Base|language=en-US|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117113746/https://www.buckley.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Article/322395/space-delta-4-missile-warning/|url-status=live}}
In lineage terms, the delta was originally established as 460 Operations Group (460 SW) on 2 August 2004.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/3377245/space-delta-4-spoc/|title=Space Delta 4 (SpOC)|website=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=July 11, 2023|archive-date=July 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711020232/https://www.afhra.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/3377245/space-delta-4-spoc/|url-status=live}} 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. On 31 October 2024 it was redesignated Mission Delta 4 and gained sustainment responsibilities, along with organic cyber defense and intelligence forces.{{Cite web |last=George |first=Ashley D. |date=October 31, 2024 |title=Two DELs transition to fully-integrated Mission Deltas |url=https://www.spoc.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3952582/two-dels-transition-to-fully-integrated-mission-deltas |access-date=March 16, 2025 |website=www.spoc.spaceforce.mil}}
Structure
List of commanders
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
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{{Reflist}}{{United States Space Force}}