United States Space Forces – Korea

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United States Space Forces – Korea
USSPACEFOR-KOR emblem
Founded14 December 2022; 16 months
Country United States
Branch United States Space Force
TypeComponent field command
RoleSpace operations
Size~20 personnel[1]
Part ofUnited States Forces Korea
United States Space Forces – Indo-Pacific
HeadquartersOsan Air Base, South Korea[2]
Commanders
CommanderLt Col Joshua M. McCullion
Deputy CommanderMaj Charles Taylor[3]
Senior Enlisted LeaderMSgt Shawn L. Stafford[3]

The United States Space Forces – Korea (USSPACEFOR-KOR) is the United States Space Force component field command to the United States Forces Korea. Headquartered in Osan Air Base, South Korea, it plans, coordinates, supports, and conducts employment of space operations across the full range of military operations, including security cooperation, in support of the sub-unified command's objectives. It was activated on 14 December 2022.[4]

History[edit]

Director of Space Forces, Seventh Air Force[edit]

USSPACEFOR-KOR's presence in the United States Forces Korea traces back to the director of space forces (DIRSPACEFOR) construct before the establishment of the Space Force. When the Space Force was still Air Force Space Command, there would be a space operations officer called the DIRSPACEFOR in every air service component command that would advise the air component commander on matters relating to space operations.[5] As such, there was a director of space forces assigned to Seventh Air Force.[6]

List of directors of space forces[edit]

  • Lt Col Joshua M. McCullion, May 2021 – 14 December 2022

Establishment[edit]

USSPACEFOR-KOR was activated on 14 December 2022.[7][8][9]

List of commanders[edit]

Gen LaCamera (center) passes the SPACEFORKOR flag to Lt Col McCullion as Brig Gen Mastalir looks on during the activation of the unit, 14 December 2022
No. Commander Term Ref
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term Length
1
Joshua M. McCullion
Lieutenant Colonel
Joshua M. McCullion
(born c. 1983)
14 December 2022Incumbent1 year, 126 days[9]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "U.S. is putting a space force unit in Korea". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. 27 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Engineers in South Korea design U.S. Space Force headquarters 'from scratch'". www.army.mil.
  3. ^ a b https://www.stripes.com/branches/space_force/2023-08-30/space-force-new-command-japan-11211743.html
  4. ^ Hadley, Greg (2 November 2022). "Space Force to Establish Components for INDOPACOM, CENTCOM, Korea by End of 2022".
  5. ^ Cohen, Rachel (11 August 2021). "Space Force planning for new component in the Middle East alongside AFCENT". Air Force Times.
  6. ^ https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/pacaf/publication/afi13-103_pacafsup/afi13-103_pacafsup.pdf
  7. ^ Lendon, Brad (14 December 2022). "US Space Force establishes first foreign command in South Korea as threat from North grows". CNN.
  8. ^ "US military creates space unit in S. Korea to watch North". AP NEWS. 14 December 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Space Force activates component field command for U.S. Forces Korea". United States Forces Korea.