The Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Office is a component of Space Delta 8 and is headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado.
Mission:
Satellite Communications Office executes continuous operational satellite communications (SATCOM) payload management and planning through its Consolidated SATCOM Systems Experts (C-SSEs) and Regional SATCOM Support Centers (RSSCs) in support of Combatant Commands, US Military Services, USG Agencies and International Partners.
The SATCOM Office is comprised of four Consolidated SATCOM Systems Expert (C-SSE) organizations, a SATCOM Ops and Integration (SOI) organization, and an International Partner operations support team.
The C-SSE roles are established and defined in US Space Command policy and they execute a range of operational management tasks for Military and Commercial SATCOM systems. Each of the C-SSEs is responsible for 24/7 global payload management for their assigned constellations. The Wideband C-SSE operationally manages Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) and Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) payloads. The Narrowband C-SSE operationally manages the last remaining Fleet Satellite (FLTSAT), the Ultra High Frequency Follow-On (UFO), and the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) payloads. The Protected C-SSE manages the Military Satellite Communications System (MILSTAR), and the Advanced EHF (AEHF) satellite system payloads. And the Commercial C-SSE, to be established in 4QFY22, is set to provide situational awareness and employment strategies for DoD leases on commercial satellites around the world. While the C-SSEs are mainly focused on current operations, they also have an engineering and future plans element.
The SATCOM Office’s Strategic Operations and Integration (SOI) organization is responsible for managing the four Regional SATCOM Support Centers (RSSCs) as they provide payload communications planning and communication restoral for Combatant Commands, Services, Agencies, and International Partners. This team also serves the Office as the core headquarters support staff.
Finally, the SATCOM International Partner Team ensures delivery of operational capability to allies associated with multiple formal SATCOM agreements. This team also advises the DoD in the development of future agreements based on the capabilities of US satellite and ground systems.
With the consolidation of SATCOM within Space Delta 8, payload management and planning for all of DoD aligns under a single commander and Service for the first time. SATCOM Office, as both a user facing organization and as an Enterprise manager, coordinates actions within DoD and across Delta 8 in order to coordinate timely and effective delivery of communications to the Joint Commander and to the Warfighter.
(Current as of September 2022)