View source for 595th Command and Control Group

{{Short description|US Air Force unit}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{lead too short|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=595th Command and Control Group
[[File:Air Force Global Strike Command.svg|center|60px]]
|image=Airborne Command Post E-4B (23581319830).jpg
|image_size = 300
|caption=[[Boeing E-4B]] Airborne Command Post
|dates=1970–1993; 2000–2013; 2016–2025
|country={{USA}}
|branch={{air force|USA}}
|type=
|role=[[Command and control (military)|Command and Control]]
|size=
|command_structure=[[Air Force Global Strike Command]]
*[[Eighth Air Force]]
|current_commander=
|garrison= [[Offutt Air Force Base]], Nebraska
|nickname=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|anniversaries=
|decorations=[[Air Force Outstanding Unit Award]]<br/>[[Air Force Organizational Excellence Award]]
<!-- Insignia -->
|identification_symbol=[[File:USAF 595th Command and Control Group.png|165px]]
|identification_symbol_label=595th Command and Control Group emblem{{efn|Approved 5 December 2016.}}<ref name="595C2Gfacts">{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Carl E. |date=2017-02-06 |title=595 Command and Control Group (AFSPC) |url=https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433963/595-command-and-control-group-afspc/ |access-date=2022-08-14 |website=[[Air Force Historical Research Agency]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
|identification_symbol_2=[[File:USAF - 595th Space Group.png|165px]]
|identification_symbol_2_label=595th Space Group emblem{{efn|Approved 7 September 2007.}}<ref name=595SGlh>Robertson, Patsy , Lineage & Honors History of the 595 Space Group (AFSPC), Air Force Historical Research Agency, 6 April 2006</ref>

}}

The '''595th Command and Control Group''' is an inactive unit of the [[United States Air Force]]. It was organized under [[Air Force Global Strike Command]] (AFGSC), and its operations were centered at [[Offutt Air Force Base]], Nebraska.  It was activated in a ceremony held on 6 October 2016.<ref name=595thActivates>{{cite press release |url=https://www.acc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/965021/595th-command-and-control-group-activates-at-offutt/|last1=Hammes|first1=SRA Rachel|title=595th Command and Control Group activates at Offutt|date=4 October 2016|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=12 October 2016}}</ref>


==History==
===Missile Testing===
[[File:Atlas ICBM Launch--'6595th Aerospace Test Wing (ASFC); Vandenberg AFB, Calif. (VAFB) (15909640049).jpg|thumb|Atlas ICBM test launch at Vandenberg AFB, Calif]]
The unit was first organized by [[Air Force Systems Command]] at [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]], California in May 1970 as the '''6595 Missile Test Group'''.  In early 1970s, the [[group (military aviation unit)|group]] conducted ground and flight tests of the [[LGM-30 Minuteman]] weapon system.  It also launched and tested missile, space and aeronautical systems in support of [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] programs.<ref name=595SGlh/>

After the loss of the [[Space Shuttle Challenger]] in January 1986, the space program was grounded for 34 months until the launch of [[Space Transportation System]]-26 in September 1988.  After 11 Sep 2001, the group examined vulnerabilities of US space facilities at home and abroad.   The Air Force's Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities Program transferred national capabilities to operational commands.  The group's Air Force Space Battlelab developed and field tested capabilities to increase productivity of operational commands.  Its Aerospace Fusion Center supported space missile launches.<ref name=595SGlh/>  The group was inactivated in September 1993.

In April 2000, the [[group (military aviation unit)|group]], redesignated the '''595th Test and Evaluation Group''' was reactivated at [[Schriever Air Force Base]], Colorado.  It supported [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] through the application of space applications programs during 2003 and 2004.  After redesignation as the '''595th Space Group''' in 2002, it was inactivated in 2013<ref name=595SGlh/>

===Nuclear command and control===
The group was redesignated the '''595th Command and Control Group'' at [[Offutt Air Force Base]], Nebraska in October 2016 with four squadrons assigned to provide aircrew, operators and maintenance personnel for nuclear command, control and communications platforms enabling the National Command Authority survivable, real-time strategic assessment and global strike capabilities.  Its [[1st Airborne Command Control Squadron]] operated the [[Boeing E-4]] National Airborne Command Post, maintained by the 595th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.  Its [[625th Strategic Operations Squadron]] maintained targeting for the nation's [[intercontinental ballistic missile]] fleet and provided personnel to luanch them while airborne in a [[United States Navy|Navy]] [[Boeing E-6B Mercury]].  The 595th Strategic Communications Squadron provided missile warning and command, control and communications capabilities. They maintained and operated  the Strategic Automated Command Control System, providing rapid retargeting of ICBMs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 2018 |title=595th Command and Control Group Fact Sheet |url=https://www.8af.af.mil/Units/595th-Command-and-Control-Group/ |publisher=Eighth Air Force Public Affairs|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250121180752/https://www.8af.af.mil/Units/595th-Command-and-Control-Group/ |archive-date=January 21, 2025|access-date=April 23, 2025}}</ref>

The group had a shared commander with the National Airborne Operations Center.{{cn|date=August 2022}}  It was inactivated on 28 February 2025 and its resources transferred to the newly activated [[95th Wing]]<ref name=DoomsdayWing>{{cite web |url= https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-nc3-doomsday-wing/ |last1=Roza|first1=David|title=ew Air Force 'Doomsday' Wing Boosts Nuclear Command and Control|date=April 1, 2025|publisher=Air & Space Force Magazine|access-date=April 23, 2025}}</ref>

==Lineage==
* Designated as the '''6595th Missile Test Group''' and activated on 1 May 1970
: Redesignated '''6595th Test and Evaluation Group''' on 1 January 1988
: Inactivated on 14 September 1993
* Redesignated '''595th Test and Evaluation Group''' on 1 April 2000
: Activated on 7 April 2000
: Redesignated '''595th Space Group''' on 1 August 2002
: Inactivated on 1 April 2013
* Redesignated '''595th Command and Control Group''' on 26 August 2016<ref name=DAFA1M691t>Department of the Air Force/A1M Letter 691t, 26 August 2016, Subject: Organization Actions Affecting Certain Air Force Global Strike Command Units</ref>
: Activated 1 October 2016<ref name="595C2Gfacts"/>
: Inactivated 28 February 2025<ref name=DoomsdayWing/>

===Assignments===
* 6595th Aerospace Test Wing, 1 May 1970
* [[Western Space and Missile Center]], 1 October 1979
* Ballistic Missile Organization, 1 October 1990
* [[Space and Missile Systems Center]], 2 – 14 Sep 1993
* [[Space Warfare Center|Space Warfare (later, Space Innovation and Development) Center]], 7 April 2000 – 1 April 2013
* [[Eighth Air Force]], 1 October 2016 – 28 February 2025<ref name="595C2Gfacts"/><ref name=DoomsdayWing/>

===Operational Components===
* 1st Airborne Command Control Squadron: 1 October 2016 – 28 February 2025
* [[17th Test Squadron]]: 7 April 2000 – 1 April 2013
* [[25th Space Control Tactics Squadron|25th Space Control Tactics (later, 25th Space Range) Squadron]]: 1 July 2004 – 14 April 2006
* [[527th Space Aggressor Squadron]]: 23 October 2002 – 1 April 2013
* [[576th Flight Test Squadron]]: 7 Apr 2000 – 1 December 2009<ref name="595C2Gfacts"/><ref name=DoomsdayWing/>
* 625th Strategic Operations Squadron: 1 October 2016 – 28 February 2025

===Stations===
* Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, 1 May 1970 – 14 September 1993
* Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, 7 April 2000 – 1 April 2013<ref name=DAFA1M691t/>
* Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, 6 October 2016 – 28 February 2025<ref name="595C2Gfacts"/><ref name=DoomsdayWing/>

===Aircraft & Missiles===
* LGM-30 Minuteman (1970–1993, 2000–2001)
* [[LGM-118 Peacekeeper]] (1983–1989, 2000–2005)
* [[SM-65 Atlas]] (1970–1990)
* [[SM-68 Titan]] (1970–1993)
* [[Boeing E-4B]] (2016–2025)<ref name="595C2Gfacts"/><ref name=DoomsdayWing/>

===Awards===
{{unit awards table
|award_image1=AF OUA
|award_name1=[[Air Force Outstanding Unit Award]]
|award_date1=1 April 1970-31 March 1971
|award_notes1=6595th Missile Test Group<ref name=595SGlh/>
|award_image2=AF OUA
|award_name2=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
|award_date2=1 April 1971-31 March 1973
|award_notes2=6595th Missile Test Group<ref name=595SGlh/>
|award_image3=AF OUA
|award_name3=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
|award_date3=15 January 1976-14 January 1978
|award_notes3=6595th Missile Test Group<ref name=595SGlh/>
|award_image4=AF OUA
|award_name4=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
|award_date4=15 January 1978-30 September 1979
|award_notes4=6595th Missile Test Group<ref name=595SGlh/>
|award_image5=AF OUA
|award_name5=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
|award_date5=1 October 1984-30 September 1986
|award_notes5=6595th Missile Test Group<ref name=595SGlh/>
|award_image6=AF OUA
|award_name6=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
|award_date6=1 January 1990-30 June 1992
|award_notes6=6595th Test and Evaluation Group<ref name=595SGlh/>
|award_image7=AF OEA
|award_name7=[[Air Force Organizational Excellence Award]]
|award_date7=1 August 1999-31 July 2001
|award_notes7=595th Test and Evaluation Group<ref name=595SGlh/>
|award_image8=AF OEA
|award_name8=Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
|award_date8=1 October 2001-1 September 2002
|award_notes8=595th Test and Evaluation Group (later 595th Space Group)<ref name=595SGlh/>
|award_image9=AF OEA
|award_name9=Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
|award_date9=1 September 2002-1 September 2003
|award_notes9=595th Space Group<ref name=595SGlh/>
|award_image10=AF OEA
|award_name10=Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
|award_date10=2 September 2003-31 August 2004
|award_notes10=595th Space Group<ref name=595SGlh/>
|award_image11=AF OEA
|award_name11=Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
|award_date11=1 September 2004-31 August 2005
|award_notes11=595th Space Group<ref name=595SGlh/>
}}

==List of commanders==
{{incomplete list|date=October 2021}}
* Col Paul J. Burnett, 8 June 2000<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433963/595-command-and-control-group-afspc/|title=595 Command and Control Group (AFSPC)}}</ref>
* Col [[Michael Carey (United States Air Force officer)|Michael J. Carey]], 20 June 2002
* Col [[John E. Hyten]], 1 July 2004
* Col John S. Riordan, 6 July 2005
* Col Stephen Latchford, 16 April 2007<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.schriever.spaceforce.mil/News/Commentaries/Display/Article/279520/excellence-avoiding-the-insidious-slide-into-mediocrity/|title = Excellence: Avoiding the insidious slide into mediocrity}}</ref>
* Col Shawn J. Barnes, May 2009<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/587778/shawn-j-barnes/|title=Shawn J. Barnes}}</ref>
* Col Kevin M. Rhoades, 30 June 2011<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.schriever.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/277024/595-sg-greets-new-cc/|title = 595 SG greets new CC}}</ref>
* Unknown, 14 June 2012 – 1 April 2013
* Col Robert L. Billings, 1 October 2016 – July 2018
* Col. Jeremiah Baldwin, July 2018 - July 2020<ref>{{Cite web |title=595th Command and Control Group, NAOC Change Commands |url=https://www.8af.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1589316/595th-command-and-control-group-naoc-change-commands/ |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=8th Air Force/J-GSOC |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Col. Brian Golden, July 2020 - August 2022<ref>{{Cite web |title=595th C2G under new leadership |url=https://www.afgsc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2270785/595th-c2g-under-new-leadership/ |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=Air Force Global Strike Command AFSTRAT-AIR |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Col David Leaumont, August 2022 - August 2024<ref>{{Cite web |title=595th Command & Control Group, NAOC welcomes new commander |url=https://www.offutt.af.mil/News/Article/3130961/595th-command-control-group-naoc-welcomes-new-commander/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818150037/https://www.offutt.af.mil/News/Article/3130961/595th-command-control-group-naoc-welcomes-new-commander/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 August 2022 |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=Offutt Air Force Base |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Col Patrick Hook, August 2024 - 2024<ref>{{Cite web |title=NAOC and 595th Command and Control Group welcomes new commander |url=https://www.offutt.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3877955/naoc-and-595th-command-and-control-group-welcomes-new-commander/ |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=Offutt Air Force Base |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Col Daid Leaumont, 2024 – 28 February 2025<ref name=DoomsdayWing/>

==References==
===Notes===
; Explanatory notes
{{notelist}}

; Citations
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}

{{US Air Force navbox}}
{{USAF Global Strike Command}}

[[Category:Command and control units and formations of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:Groups of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 2016]]