544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group

544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group

544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group emblem
Active 1958–1992 1992—present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Type Combat support
Role Intelligence
Part of AF ISR Agency/70th ISR Wing[1]
Garrison/HQ Peterson Air Force Base
Decorations AFOUA

The 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group (544 ISRG) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Space Command Fourteenth Air Force. It is stationed at Peterson AFB, Colorado.

A space-based intelligence organization, the 544 ISRG 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.

Units

History

Lineage

Activated on 16 November 1950
Redesignated as: 544th Reconnaissance Technical Group on 11 July 1958
Redesignated as: 544th Aerospace Reconnaissance Technical Wing on 1 January 1963
Redesignated as: 544th Strategic Intelligence Wing on 15 October 1979
Redesignated as: 544th Intelligence Wing on 1 September 1991
Inactivated on 1 June 1992
Activated on 7 September 1993
Redesignated as: 544th Information Operations Group on 1 August 2000
Redesignated as: 544th Intelligence Group on 1 April 2007
Redesignated as: 544th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group on 1 January 2009

Assignments

Stations

Operations

544th Aerospace Reconnaissance Technical Wing logo

The 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group was initially activated as the 544th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron on 16 November 1950 at Bolling AFB. Initial personnel came from the 4203d 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 (October 1962) for the National Command Authority.

The next designation was as the 544th 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'.[13] 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 7 Sept. 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. The current commander of the 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group is Colonel Thomas Hensley. In 2000, the 544th received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. The award did not extend to the detachments' host commands such as the Naval Security Group Activities Sabana Seca and Sugar Grove. Their support in terms of infrastructure, technical equipment and facilities, allowed the detachments to accomplish their mission.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

  1. "USAF 70th Intelligence Wing Factsheet". Afisr.af.mil. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "AIA Spokesman August 1997". Fas.org. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  3. "Naval Security Group Activity Puerto Rico" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  4. AIA Spokesman April 2006 p. 15
  5. "AIA Spokesman November 2004". Findarticles.com. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  6. AIA Spokesman March 2004
  7. "AIA Spokesman August 1999". Fas.org. 2008-05-30. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  8. "AIA Spokesman June 2005". Findarticles.com. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  9. 70th Intelligence Wing Fact Sheet
  10. AIA Spokesman November 2005
  11. "AIA Spokesman June 2004". Findarticles.com. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
  12. 460th Space Wing Fact Sheet Archived 29 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  13. [Orbis, WARPLANE No.27, 'Sigint over Vietnam']

External links

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