544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group

The 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group was a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Space Command Fourteenth Air Force. It was last stationed at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. It was inactivated in the summer of 2020 as part of the establishment of an independent US Space Force.

544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group
Active1958–1992; 1992—2020
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleIntelligence
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" Device
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Insignia
544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group emblem[note 1][1]
544th Intelligence Group emblem[note 2]

A space-based intelligence organization, the 544th was 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 Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group was initially activated as the 544th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron on 16 November 1950 at Bolling Air Force Base. Initial personnel came from the 4203rd Photographic Technical Squadron. The 544th moved to Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska in April 1952, although a small unit (Detachment 1) continued operation at Bolling. 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 redesignated on 1 January 1963. It was assigned directly to Strategic Air Command. In Vietnam, the Boeing RC-135C reconnaissance aircraft, equipped with the ASD-1 reconnaissance system, a number of programmable SIGINT receivers, created much of the 544th Wing's work, an activity known as 'Finder'.[2] 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 was redesignated the 544th Intelligence Wing on 1 September 1991, still at Offutt, and then inactivated on 1 June 1992.

On 7 September 1993, Colonel Eric Larson became the commander of the newly reactivated 544th Intelligence Group at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, part of Air Force Intelligence Command. Colonel Maurizio Calabrese assumed command of the 544th on 27 June 2018.[3] In 2000, the 544th received one of its many 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. The group also provided support to Detachment 45 of the Air Force Technical Applications Center.[4]

The group was inactivated on 24 July 2020 when it was replaced by Space Delta 7 of the United States Space Force.[5]


Lineage, assignments, and stations

Lineage
  • Constituted as the 544th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron on 2 November 1950
Activated on 16 November 1950
Redesignated 544th Reconnaissance Technical Group on 11 July 1958
Redesignated 544th Aerospace Reconnaissance Technical Wing on 1 January 1963
Redesignated 544th Strategic Intelligence Wing on 15 October 1979
Redesignated 544th Intelligence Wing on 1 September 1991
Inactivated on 1 June 1992
  • Redesignated 544th Intelligence Group on 3 September 1993
Activated on 7 September 1993
Redesignated 544th Information Operations Group on 1 August 2000
Redesignated 544th Intelligence Group on 1 April 2007
Redesignated 544th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group on 1 January 2009[6]
Inactivated on 24 July 2020[5]

Assignments
  • 3902d Air Base Wing, 16 November 1950
  • Strategic Air Command, 11 July 1958 – 1 June 1992
  • Air Force Intelligence Command (later Air Intelligence Agency), 7 September 1993
  • 67th Intelligence Wing (later 67th Information Operations Wing), 31 January 2000
  • 70th Intelligence Wing (later 70th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing), 5 July 2006 – 24 July 2020[6]

Components
Squadrons
Detachments
  • Detachment 1 – Bolling Air Force Base, District of Columbia, 12 April 1952 – unknown
  • Detachment 2 – Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico, 1 January 1995 – 21 July 2000[4]
  • Detachment 3 – Sugar Grove, West Virginia, 1 January 1995 – unknown[4]
  • Detachment 4 – Yakima Research Station, Washington, 1 January 1995 – unknown[4]
  • Detachment 5 – Chantilly, Virginia, 5 December 1995 – unknown[4]
  • Detachment 7 – Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, unknown – unknown

Stations
  • Bolling Air Force Base, District of Columbia, 16 November 1950
  • Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, 12 April 1952 – 1 June 1992
  • Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, 7 September 1993 – 24 July 2020[6]

List of commanders

References

Notes
Explanatory notes
  1. Modified 3 August 2010.
  2. 544th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron emblem modified 13 February 1995.
Citations
  1. Kane, Robert B. (17 August 2017). "Factsheet 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group (AFISRA)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  2. Unknown (1985). "Warzone: Sigint over Vietnam". Warplane. Orbis Publishing (27).
  3. Denton, Craig (27 June 2018). "Col. Calabrese assumes command of 544 ISRG". 21st Space Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  4. no byline. "544th Intelligence Group". Fellowship of American Scientists. Archived from the original on 21 July 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  5. No byline, staff writer. "Units: Space Delta 7". Peterson Air Force Base. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  6. Lineage information through July 2009 in Kane, Factsheet.
  7. Dollman, TSG David (18 October 2016). "Factsheet 18 Intelligence Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  8. Haulman, Daniel L. (26 January 2015). "Factsheet 451 Intelligence Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  9. "544th ISRG gets new commander". Peterson Air Force Base.
  10. "COLONEL MAURIZIO D. CALABRESE". www.nasic.af.mil.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

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