4th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron

{{Use American English|date=August 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox military unit | unit_name = 4th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron | image = 4th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron emblem.png | caption = Emblem of the 4th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron | dates = 1990–present | country = {{USA}} | branch = {{space force|United States}} | type = Squadron | role = Control of Offensive Counterspace Systems<ref name="holloman.af.mil">{{Cite web|first=LTC Daniel |last=Dant |url=https://www.holloman.af.mil/News/story/id/123027093/ |title=Holloman AFB Commentary: Commanding with a vision key to good leadership |publisher=49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs|date=14 September 2006|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233526/http://www.holloman.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123027093 |archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=live |access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref> | size = | command_structure = {{no wrap|25px Space Delta 3}} | current_commander = Lt Col Ryan W. Skilling | garrison = Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, U.S. | ceremonial_chief = | colonel_of_the_regiment = | nickname = Warhawks | patron = | motto = One Swoop, One Kill | colors = | march = | mascot = | battles = | anniversaries = | decorations = 200px<br/>Air Force Outstanding Unit Award<ref name=4SCSfacts>{{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432187/4-space-control-squadron-afspc/ |last1=Haulman|first1=Daniel L.|title=Factsheet 4 Space Control Squadron (AFSPC)|date=21 October 2011|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref>  | identification_symbol = 165px | identification_symbol_label = 4th Space Control Squadron emblem <small>(approved 5 June 1995)</small><ref name=4SCSfacts/><ref group=note>Blazon: Azure, a demi-globe issuant from base Celeste, gridlined Azure below an eagle volant proper above in dexter base three mullets of four in bend sinister Or, all within a diminished border of the third. Haulman Factsheet, 4 Space Control Squadron.</ref> | identification_symbol_2 = | identification_symbol_2_label = }}

The United States Space Force's '''4th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron''' ('''4 EWS''') is an offensive space electromagnetic warfare unit<ref name="holloman.af.mil"/> formerly located at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, stood up operations 1 July 2014<ref name="Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation">{{cite web |url= http://www.metrodenver.org/news/news-center/2014/07/4th-space-control-squadron-to-move-to-new-home/|title=4th Space Control Squadron to move to new home|date=11 July 2014|publisher=Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation|access-date= 11 December 2018}}</ref> at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado.<ref name="Peterson AFB: 21st Space Wing Units">{{cite web |url= http://www.peterson.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/326219/4th-space-control-squadron |title=21st Space Wing Units: 4th Space Control Squadron|date=29 June 2016|publisher=21st Space Wing Public Affairs|access-date=6 December 2016}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==Mission== The '''4th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron''' is a Space Operations Command unit responsible for delivering offensive counterspace and space situational awareness, as appropriate, to rapidly achieve flexible and versatile effects in support of global and theater campaigns.<ref name="peterson.af.mil">{{cite web|url= https://www.petersonschriever.spaceforce.mil/?id=4707 |title=Peterson AFB Library: 4th Space Control Squadron Factsheet|date=14 July 2014|publisher=21st Space Wing Public Affairs|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225717/http://www.peterson.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4707 |archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status= live |access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref>

The squadron provides combat space superiority effects to the Commander, Combined Force Space Component Command (CFSCC) and theater Combatant Commanders through operation of the Counter Communications System.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

==History== The unit initially activated at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas in October 1990 as the '''4th Surveillance Squadron''', when it replaced Detachment 2, of the 694th Electronic Security Wing and assumed its personnel and equipment.<ref name="peterson.af.mil"/><ref group=note>Detachment 2 was a space systems training unit for Electronic Security Command. Its origins were with Detachment 2, 6960th Electronic Security Wing, which was organized in September 1986. When the 6960th was inactivated in October, the detachment was replaced by Detachment 2, Headquarters, Continental Electronic Security Division, which was replaced in turn by Detachment 2, Headquarters, Space Electronic Security Division in May 1988. It came under the 694th Electronic Security Wing in May 1989. Peterson AFB Factsheet, 4th Space Control Squadron.</ref>

The Low Altitude Space Surveillance system (LASS) was activated by Air Force Space Command in October 1990. The unit was named the '''4th Surveillance Squadron'''. One year later, it was redesignated as the '''4th Space Surveillance Squadron'''. During this time, the unit continued to perform a research and development mission and a mission to train newly assigned LASS operators until April 1993. The 4th SPSS also performed mobile space surveillance communications and space data relay.<ref>{{Cite web|last= Pike|first=John |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/agency/21sw.htm |title=21st Space Wing (21st SW) |publisher=Globalsecurity.org |date=20 July 2011|access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref>

The squadron was assigned to the 73d Space Surveillance Group and in April 1995 merged with the 21st Space Wing. In April 1996, the unit moved operations from its home at Lackland AFB, Texas, to Holloman AFB, New Mexico, before relocating to Peterson AFB, Colorado in 2011. The unit was redesignated as the '''4th Space Control Squadron''' in February 2003. The 4th transitioned to a counterspace mission in July 2005, and activated its first Counter Communications System on 11 April 2006.

From late 2002 until May 2003 the squadron deployed 56 members to support Operation Iraqi Freedom to provide data relay and other space communications for theater commanders.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10048 |title=4th SPCS honored during welcome home parade|volume=47 |issue=20|publisher=Space Observer|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070226112334/http://www.csmng.com/images/spaceobserver/spaceobserver_2003-05-22.pdf |archive-date=26 February 2007|access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref>

Squadron members deployed to the 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron along with other 21st Space Wing units to support Operation Silent Sentry and the Rapid Attack Identification Detection and Reporting System (RAIDRS) in Southwest Asia. Formerly known as the SATCOM Interference Response System (SIRS), Silent Sentry began simply as a proof of concept but grew into a fully operational system that supported the Combined Air and Space Operations Center's ability to command and control its forces. The system was Air Force Space Command's first deployable defensive counterspace weapon system. Their efforts earned them the 2006 Air Force Association Citation of Honor for "outstanding contribution of an organization to the development of aerospace power for the betterment of mankind."<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.afcent.af.mil/Units/379thAirExpeditionaryWing/News/Display/tabid/5382/Article/351543/silent-sentry-contributes-to-ops-throughout-the-aor.aspx |last1=Khan|first1=Maj Shariful|title=Silent Sentry contributes to ops throughout the AOR|date=21 September 2007|publisher=U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs|access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref>

On 15 April 2022, the 4th Space Control Squadron was redesignated the 4th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron.<ref name="peterson.spaceforce.mil">{{Cite web | url=https://www.peterson.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/News/Article-Display/Article/3003331/4th-5th-and-16th-spcs-re-designation/ | title=4th, 5th and 16th SPCS Re-designation }}</ref>

==Lineage== * Constituted as the '''4th Surveillance Squadron''' on 26 September 1990 * Activated on 1 October 1990 * Redesignated '''4th Space Surveillance Squadron''' on 15 May 1992 * Redesignated '''4th Space Control Squadron''' on 1 March 2003<ref name=4SCSfacts/> * Redesignated '''4th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron''' on 15 April 2022<ref name="peterson.spaceforce.mil"/>

===Assignments=== * 73d Space Surveillance Group (later 73 Space Group), 1 October 1990 * 21st Operations Group, 26 April 1995 – October 2019<ref name=4SCSfacts/> * 721 Operations Group, October 2019- 23 July 2020 * Space Delta 3, 24 July 2020 – present

===Stations=== * Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, 1 October 1990<ref name=4SCSfacts/> * Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, 16 April 1996<ref name=4SCSfacts/> * Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, July 2014 – present<ref name="Peterson AFB: 21st Space Wing Units"/>

===Systems Operated=== * Counter Communications System (2006 – present)<ref name="peterson.af.mil"/><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.defensetech.org/archives/003217.html |title=Pentagon's Plans for "Space Control"|date=27 January 2007|publisher=DefenseTech.org |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081017195249/http://www.defensetech.org/archives/003217.html |archive-date=17 October 2008|url-status= usurped |access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref> * Low Altitude Space Surveillance System (1986–2006)<ref name="holloman.af.mil"/>

===Decorations=== *Air Force Outstanding Unit Award : 1 January 1999 – 31 December 1999 : 1 January 2000 – 31 August 2001 : 1 October 2005 – 30 September 2007<ref name=4SCSfacts/>

==List of commanders== *Lt Col James G. Lee, ~1996<ref>AFHRA FOIA Req 09-0061: 21st Space Wing Roster of Key Personnel (as of 31 December 1996)</ref> *Lt Col Cameron Bowser, 1996 – 1998 *Lt Col Jonathan Watkins, 1998 – 2000 *Lt Col Stephen M. Tanous, 2000 – 2002<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/?id=9441 |title=Official Biography (Mar 2007) |publisher=Vandenberg.af.mil |access-date=6 September 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614005437/http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=9441 |archive-date=14 June 2011 }}</ref> *Lt Col James Wolf, ~2002 – 2004<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://csmng.com/wp-files/archiveissues/spaceobserver/spaceobserver_2003-05-22.pdf |title=Space Observer 22 May 2003 |access-date=6 September 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100921073054/http://csmng.com/wp-files/archiveissues/spaceobserver/spaceobserver_2003-05-22.pdf| archive-date= 21 September 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> *Lt Col Fred W. Gaudlip, 2004 – 2006 *Lt Col Daniel A. Dant, 2006 – 2008<ref>{{Cite web|author=Lt. Col. Daniel Dant |url=https://www.holloman.af.mil/News/story/id/123027093/ |title=Ibid |publisher=Holloman.af.mil |date=14 September 2006 |access-date=6 September 2010}}</ref> *Lt Col Carl M. Jones, 2008 – 2010<ref name="peterson.af.mil"/> *Lt Col E. Marcus Caughey, 2010 – 2012 *Lt Col Scott D. Brodeur, 6 July 2012 – June 2014<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-brodeur-31757672 |title=Scott D. Brodeur |website=LinkedIn}}</ref> *Lt Col Eric Lingle, 11 July 2014 – ~April 2016<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.afspc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/731268/4th-spcs-gets-new-home-commander/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128121204/https://www.afspc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/731268/4th-spcs-gets-new-home-commander/|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 November 2021|title = 4th SPCS gets new home, commander}}</ref> *Lt Col Christopher A. Fernengel, April 2016 – June 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.peterson.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/2714750/colonel-christopher-a-fernengel/|title = Colonel Christopher A. Fernengel}}</ref> *Lt Col William D. Sanders, June 2018 – ~16 June 2020<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamsanders24 |title=William D. Sanders |website=LinkedIn}}</ref> *Lt Col Kara L. Sartori, 16 June 2020 – 15 June 2022<ref name="dvidshub.net">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6243701/4th-spcs-receives-new-commander|title = 4th SPCS receives new commander}}</ref> *Lt Col Nicholas R. Shaw, 15 June 2022 – 7 June 2024<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.airforcemag.com/4th-electromagnetic-warfare-squadron-command-change-underscores-the-space-forces-interservice-culture/ | title=New Commander of Space Force Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron Highlights Interservice Culture | date=16 June 2022 }}</ref> *Lt Col Ryan W. Skilling, 7 June 2024 – present

==References== ; Notes {{Reflist|group=note}}

; Citations {{Reflist}}

===Bibliography=== {{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}

==External links== *[https://www.holloman.af.mil 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs: Holloman AFB Homepage]

Category:Squadrons of the United States Space Force Category:Military units and formations in New Mexico