544th Information Operations Group

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 544th Information Operations Group


caption= 544th Information Operations Group emblem
dates= 1958-1992 1992-Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type= Combat support
role= Intelligence
size=
command_structure=70th Intelligence Wing
current_commander=
garrison= Peterson Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=

The United States Air Force's 544th Information Operations Group is a space-related intelligence unit, part of the 70th Intelligence Wing, (Fort Meade, Maryland) [ [http://www.afisr.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet_print.asp?fsID=4776&page=1 USAF 70th Intelligence Wing Factsheet] ] , located at Peterson AFB, Colorado.

Mission

The 544th IOG is a team of approximately 500 Air Force members who deliver global, space-related information to national agencies and warfighting commands; provide policy guidance and functional assistance to assigned organizations; and develop mission-based facilities, communications and manpower requirements to improve quality of life.

History

The 544th Strategic Intelligence Wing was initially activated as the 544th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron on 16 Nov 1950 at Bolling AFB. Initial personnel came from the 4203rd Photographic Technical Squadron. The 544th moved to Offutt AFB in April 1952, although a small unit (Detachment 1) continued operation at Bolling AFB. On 11 July 1958, the unit was redesignated the 544th Reconnaissance Technical Group. The 544th provided photo interpretation during the Cuban Missile Crisis (Oct 1962) for the National Command Authority.

The next designation for the 544th was as an Aerospace Reconnaissance Technical Wing when it was activated on 1 January 1963 at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. It was assigned directly to Strategic Air Command. In Vietnam, the RC-135C reconnaissance aircraft, equipped with the ASD-1 reconnaissance system, a number of programmable SIGINT receivers, created much of the 544th ARTW's work, an activity known as 'Finder'. [Orbis, WARPLANE No.27, 'Sigint over Vietnam'] In 1979 the 544th was designated as a Major Command Special Activity and on 15 October 1979, was redesignated the 544th Strategic Intelligence Wing. The 544th SIW was redesignated the 544th Intelligence Wing on 1 September 1991, still at Offutt AFB, and then inactivated on 1 June 1992.

On Sept. 7, 1993, Colonel Eric Larson became the commander of the newly reactivated 544th IG at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo, part of Air Force Space Command.

Current Subordinate Units

**544th IOG, Detachment 4 - Yakima Research Station, Washington [http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/aia/cyberspokesman/97aug/544ig.htm AIA Spokesman August 1997]
**544th IOG, Detachment 3 - Sugar Grove, West Virginia [http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/aia/cyberspokesman/97aug/544ig.htm AIA Spokesman August 1997]
**544th IOG, Detachment 2 - Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico [http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/aia/cyberspokesman/97aug/544ig.htm AIA Spokesman August 1997] [Deactivated] [http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/0202698c.pdf Naval Security Group Activity Puerto Rico] (8 Dec 1995-21 Jul 2000)
**544th IOG, Detachment 5 - Chantilly, Virginia [http://www.aia.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-060927-039.pdf AIA Spokesman April 2006 p. 15]
**544th IOG, Detachment 7 - Vandenberg AFB, California
*18th Intelligence Squadron - Peterson AFB, Colorado [http://www.aia.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4776 70th Intelligence Wing Fact Sheet]
**18th IS, Detachment 1 - Holloman AFB, New Mexico [http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/aia/cyberspokesman/97aug/544ig.htm AIA Spokesman August 1997] [Deactivated] (???-???)
**18th IS, Detachment 1 - Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0QUY/is_2004_Nov/ai_n15387388 AIA Spokesman November 2004]
**18th IS, Detachment 2 - Osan AB, Republic of Korea [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0QUY/is_2004_March/ai_n6135085 AIA Spokesman March 2004]
**18th IS, Detachment 3 - Misawa AB, Japan [http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/aia/cyberspokesman/99-08/januszki.htm AIA Spokesman August 1999]
**18th IS, Detachment 4 - RAF Feltwell, United Kingdom [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0QUY/is_2005_June/ai_n15387376 AIA Spokesman June 2005]
**18th IS, Detachment 5 - RAF Edzell, Scotland [http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/aia/cyberspokesman/97aug/544ig.htm AIA Spokesman August 1997] [Deactivated] (???-???)
*451st Information Operations Squadron [http://www.aia.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4776 70th Intelligence Wing Fact Sheet] - RAF Menwith Hill, United Kingdom [http://aia.lackland.af.mil/homepages/pa/spokesman/Nov05/atc13.cfm AIA Spokesman November 2005]
**451st IOS, Detachment 1 - RAF Digby, United Kingdom [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0QUY/is_2004_June/ai_n6137516 AIA Spokesman June 2004]
*566th Information Operations Squadron - Buckley AFB, Colorado [http://www.buckley.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4422 460th Space Wing Fact Sheet]

Locations

*Peterson AFB, Colorado (Sep 1993-Present) [http://www.csmng.com/images/spaceobserver/spaceobserver_2002-12-13.pdf Peterson AFB Public Affairs]
*Offutt AFB, Nebraska (12 April 1952-1 Sep 1992)
*Bolling AFB, District of Columbia (16 Nov 1950-11 April 1952)

References

External links

* [http://www.peterson.af.mil Peterson AFB Official Website]
* [http://www.zianet.com/jpage/airforce/ Joe's USAF Blue Book]