[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 129 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S6622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND

 Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I rise today to pay 
tribute to the outstanding accomplishments of Air Force Space Command. 
And of course, I offer my deep respect and thanks to the 42,000 men and 
women who keep constant watch over our most distant skies. These great 
Americans are responsible for a staggering range of essential missions, 
and this week, I join them in celebrating the 30th anniversary of the 
command's creation.
  Air Force Space Command was established in 1982 as our national 
leaders recognized the growing need to dominate the space domain to 
enhance our warfighting capabilities and to better protect our 
servicemembers. The command's responsibilities and capabilities have 
steadily increased over the past 30 years to keep pace with technology 
and foreign threats, and from the outset, those missions have been a 
critical part of our national defense architecture.
  All day, every day, Air Force Space Command personnel provide our 
warfighters with the space-based assets they require at the speed of 
need. And at the same time, they keep a major portion of our economy, 
travel, and transportation on track. They fly the GPS satellites that 
make modern computing, air travel, and precision munitions possible. 
Air Force Space Command provides our Nation with global ballistic 
missile early warning and defense. Without Air Force Space Command, 
there would be no military satellite communications and our 
meteorological and navigational data would be far less advanced and 
accurate. These airmen and civilians of Space Command demonstrate 
amazing technical and scientific proficiency as they conduct space 
based surveillance, land-based intercontinental ballistic missile 
operations, and most recently, prosecute a cyber space mission that is 
growing more essential to our security every day. Their capabilities 
have strengthened our Nation's homeland defense, allowed disaster 
relief efforts to be more timely and efficient, and enhanced America's 
military operational capabilities in all stages of warfare. Simply put, 
without Air Force Space Command, the strategic and technological 
advantages enjoyed by both the military and civilian communities in the 
United States would not be possible.
  Of course, all of these tremendous accomplishments are due to the 
remarkable devotion to duty, sacrifice, and dedication displayed by 
Space Command personnel around the world every day. As we all know, our 
service men and women, both active duty and those in the Reserve 
component, aren't simply serving in the military--they are our 
military. Additionally, civilian members of Air Force Space Command 
provide the stability and corporate knowledge that's essential to the 
command's enduring success. Yes, it's a true total force effort. 
Colorado is the proud home of Air Force Space Command headquarters, but 
right now, their personnel are deployed to every corner of the globe, 
providing unparalleled space and cyber space expertise to combatant 
commanders in every theater of operations. As they celebrate yet 
another milestone, I would like to honor these patriots for their 
selfless service and dedication to our Nation's security. On behalf of 
all Coloradans and to every member of Air Force Space Command, past and 
present: happy 30th anniversary.

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