Four priorities lead to mission success Published Aug. 25, 2009 By Col. Stephen Whiting 21st Space Wing commander PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- What a great time to be assigned to the 21st Space Wing! My family and I are thrilled to be back in the wing, and living in Colorado Springs. We have enjoyed meeting many of you already, and very much appreciate the warm welcome you have given us. We look forward to visiting all our units both here at Peterson AFB as well as at our geographically separate units all around the world. We also are excited to be working with our new Vice Commander, Col. Jim Jennings, and his wife, Teri. Although this is a time of great change within the wing, the critically important mission we perform as America's Space Superiority Wing hasn't changed. So, let me review our top priorities that will ensure our mission continues to be successfully achieved. First, our top priority is to provide trained, combat-ready, and disciplined forces able to successfully execute JFCC SPACE Joint Space Tasking Order taskings, or other combatant commander taskings as directed. From our ground-based missile warning mission which provides warning to North America and key allies, to our increasing role providing missile defense to protect against rogue nations, to our space surveillance capabilities that serve as the bedrock of the nation's space situational awareness, to our offensive and defensive space control capabilities that are in the fight, around the world, every day, we will always be ready to execute the missions we are given. And we will do so in a way that emphasizes creativity in planning, and complete discipline in execution. Second, we will professionally operate all our installations; providing outstanding support to our mission partner tenants; and faithfully serving our larger military family that includes our families, retirees and the local community. The 21st Space Wing probably has the most diverse set of installations of any wing in the Air Force, from our home here at Peterson; to the national treasure that is Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station; to America's northernmost base at Thule Air Base, Greenland; to the gems that are Cape Cod Air Force Station, Mass.; Cavalier Air Force Station, N.D.; and Clear Air Force Station, Alaska. These are all warfighting platforms from which our wing, and our critical mission partners, defend America and her Allies each and every day...and the wing's agile combat support, medical, and operational support capabilities are what make this possible. We understand our responsibility to NORAD, NORTHCOM, Air Force Space Command, SMDC/ARSTRAT, the National Guard, the Reserves, and our other mission partner tenants, and we will not fail to live up to it. Third, we will develop our Airmen and prepare them for worldwide deployment in response to combatant commander taskings. Members of the 21st Space Wing are deployed today around the world taking the fight to this country's enemies, and we will continue to do so. Airmen from this Wing have distinguished themselves in every corner of the globe performing myriad of incredible duties, and in return we will ensure that each member of the wing has every opportunity to fully develop themselves both personally and professionally. Finally, we will continue to reinforce a culture of compliance and continuous improvement within the wing. As I mentioned earlier, we will be dedicated to creative, flexible and timely planning, while always demonstrating complete discipline in the execution of all our missions. We understand that compliance with guidance is absolutely critical and, in fact, some of that guidance was written in blood by those that have gone before us. It will take every single member of our Total Force team to successfully fulfill our mission. We need all the skills and talents of every active duty Air Force, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserves, allied military personnel, civil servants, and contractor team members. Each of you is valued, and I thank you for your service. In closing, I want to personally thank the wing for the outstanding change of command ceremony put on last week. It was a truly memorable event for me, my family and civilian guests. The wing also did a fantastic job hosting Brig. Gen. Jay Raymond's promotion ceremony, and I know the entire wing joins me in congratulating General Raymond and Mollie on this well deserved distinction, and their service to the wing. Finally, I also want to congratulate Col. Wayne Monteith and Gina on their new role at the 50th Space Wing. We look forward to working with them in their new capacity.