Goodbye 2017… Hello 2018

  • Published
  • By Robb Lingley
  • 21st Space Wing
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  2017 brought forth numerous memorable events at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. These are some of the notable events that took place.

• Communities along the Colorado Front Range, including Peterson AFB and Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, suffered severe wind damage Jan. 9. Roofs at Peterson AFB were severely damaged as well as two hangars on the flight line. Cheyenne Mountain AFS sustained winds up to 102 mph that damaged outside buildings and at least 40 vehicles.

• Members of Air Force Space Command and the Australian Defense Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group held a ribbon cutting ceremony at Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt, Western Australia, March 7, to commemorate the C-Band Space Surveillance System reaching full operational status. The radar operates as a dedicated sensor node for the Space Surveillance Network.

• April 6, Col. Doug Schiess, 21st Space Wing commander, accepted the Omaha Trophy award from Gen. John E. Hyten, U.S. Strategic Command commander and Strategic Command Consultation Committee members. The Omaha Trophy recognized the 21st SW as USSTRATCOM’s premier unit for global operations.

• April 7, Team Pete members honored Staff Sgt. Austin Bieren, a 21st SW security forces Airman. Bieren died in a non-combat related incident March 28, while deployed in support of combat operations.

• Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson visited Peterson AFB May 22. Wilson met with Airmen who execute space control operations in support of Air Force Space Command and combatant commander priorities.

• June 23, Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, along with Heather Wilson, secretary of the Air Force, visited Peterson AFB, where they were greeted by Gen John “Jay” Raymond, Air Force Space Command commander and Col. Doug Schiess, 21st SW commander. Pence and Wilson also visited Schriever AFB and Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station where they were briefed on how space plays a role in military operations.

• Col. Todd Moore assumed command of the 21st Space Wing during a change of command ceremony July 11, at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Col. Doug Schiess relinquished command after two years as commander.

• Aug. 8 honored the 75th anniversary of 1st Lt. Edward Peterson’s crash as he lifted off from the runway at Colorado Springs Army Air Base in 1942. Peterson was taking his Lockheed P-38 out for a test flight when the engine failed and the plane crashed and burst into flames. The base was later named Peterson Army Air Base and renamed Peterson AFB in 1976.

These were some of the memorable events that happened in 2017. Stay tuned for more in 2018.

 

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