# 595th Command and Control Group

The 595th Command and Control Group is an active unit of the United States Air Force. It is organized under Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), and its operations are centered at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. It was activated in a ceremony held on 6 October 2016.

## Mission

The mission of the 595th Command and Control Group is to consolidate the Air Force's portion of the nuclear triad, including Air Force nuclear command and control communications, under the auspices of Global Strike Command. Previously, portions of the Air Force's command and control of nuclear operations had been divided among AFGSC, Air Combat Command, and the Twentieth Air Force.

## Units

The 595th Command and Control Group is composed of four squadrons:
* 1st Airborne Command Control Squadron, which operates the Boeing E-4 National Airborne Command Post mission.
* 595th Strategic Communications Squadron
* 595th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
* 625th Strategic Operations Squadron

## History

The unit was first organized by Air Force Systems Command in May 1970 as the 6595 Missile Test Group. In early 1970s, the group conducted ground and flight tests of the Minuteman weapon system. It also launched and tested missile, space and aeronautical systems in support of Department of Defense programs.
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.
The group supported Operation Iraqi Freedom through the application of space applications programs during 2003 and 2004.
The Group now has a shared commander with the National Airborne Operations Center.

## 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
    Activated 1 October 2016

### 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 (later, Space Innovation and Development) Center, 7 April 2000 – 1 April 2013
* Eighth Air Force, 1 October 2016 – present

### Operational Components

* 1st Airborne Command Control Squadron: 1 October 2016 – present
* 17th Test Squadron: 7 April 2000 – 1 April 2013
* 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

### Stations

* Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, 1 May 1970 – 14 September 1993
* Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, 7 April 2000 – 1 April 2013
* Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, 6 October 2016 – present

### 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–present)

### Awards

| Award | Dates | Notes |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 April 1970-31 March 1971 | 6595th Missile Test Group |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 April 1971-31 March 1973 | 6595th Missile Test Group |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 15 January 1976-14 January 1978 | 6595th Missile Test Group |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 15 January 1978-30 September 1979 | 6595th Missile Test Group |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 October 1984-30 September 1986 | 6595th Missile Test Group |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 January 1990-30 June 1992 | 6595th Test and Evaluation Group |
| Air Force Organizational Excellence Award | 1 August 1999-31 July 2001 | 595th Test and Evaluation Group |
| Air Force Organizational Excellence Award | 1 October 2001-1 September 2002 | 595th Test and Evaluation Group (later 595th Space Group) |
| Air Force Organizational Excellence Award | 1 September 2002-1 September 2003 | 595th Space Group |
| Air Force Organizational Excellence Award | 2 September 2003-31 August 2004 | 595th Space Group |
| Air Force Organizational Excellence Award | 1 September 2004-31 August 2005 | 595th Space Group |

## List of commanders

* Col Paul J. Burnett, 8 June 2000
* Col 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
* Col Shawn J. Barnes, May 2009
* Col Kevin M. Rhoades, 30 June 2011
* Unknown, 14 June 2012 – 1 April 2013
* Col Robert L. Billings, 1 October 2016 – July 2018
* Col. Jeremiah Baldwin, July 2018 - July 2020
* Col. Brian Golden, July 2020 - August 2022
* Col David Leaumont, August 2022 - August 2024
* Col Patrick Hook, August 2024 -