Strength in numbers shows through detachments Published Feb. 12, 2009 By Thea Skinner 21st Space Wing Public Affairs PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The power of four - four operation group detachment sites, four commanders, and four key global locations - support the 21 Space Wing vision to be America's space superiority wing - globally postured to ensure space dominance. The detachments are remote space surveillance units. Several detachments operate the Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance, GEODSS System: Detachment one located in the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico; detachment two stationed on the island of Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory; detachment three, located on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Although not operating the GEODSS System, detachment four located at Moron AB, Spain also supports the vision by operating a sister system called Moron Optical Space Surveillance System. The four remote optical System detachments collaborate often holding reoccurring meetings. "I talk to one commander at least once a day and we send at least 10 e-mails a day," said Capt. Stephan Cummings, Detachment 3, 21st Operations Group commander referring to the lead site commander. "Not only can he help me run my site, but I can help him run his site. It is a strength in numbers type of thing - we are trying to overcome the fact that we are isolated by combining our resources." Detachment 3, 21st OG sits on top of the 10,023 foot summit of Haleakala, a dormant volcano at the Maui Space Surveillance Complex, the detachment sits about 100 miles southeast of Hickam AFB on the island of Oahu. Detachment 3 is primarily operated and maintained by contractors at each GEODSS System site. GEODSS Systems utilize three telescopes; low light level, electro-optical cameras; and high speed computers to provide metric observation to the Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. and Space Object Identification to the National Air and Space Intelligence Center at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio. When a system malfunctions at night and maintainers are unable to correct the issue, contractors call the maintenance division in the Operation Support Squadron for a parts solution. "The experts in the maintenance division work with the sustainment community personnel at the 850th Electronic Systems Group to find a technical solution when site-level maintenance isn't enough," he said. The GEODSS program is operated by several powerhouses: a program management division and contracting office that oversee the program cost and contractor performance utilizing a multi-functional team (MFT). The MFT is a customer focused group with shared leadership between the GEODSS Operations and Maintenance program manager and contracting officer, which includes duties such as interfacing with contractors or government stakeholders. Debbi Fowler, Peterson AFB multi-functional team manager, facilitates dialogue amongst the GEODSS System detachments, through a remote management structure. The GEODSS System is commanded by the 21st Operations Group and the 21st Operations Support Squadron. "The team is kind of a matrix - we do not all report to the same management - that makes it unique. We function and work extremely well together. We do have good communications with everyone," Ms. Fowler said. "Right now we are trying to transition from current contract to the follow on - I have certain schedules I must meet to carry out the task. I need subject matter experts on the team." Such subject matter experts help Ms. Fowler accomplish the tasks and are not stationed on the detachment sites. If one expert is on a temporary leave or temporary duty and an item needs to be addressed, Ms. Fowler communicates with other expert office personnel. "Sometimes it is a matter of rearranging a schedule. There are flexibilities in the team," Ms. Fowler said. "One challenge to leading the GEODSS Operations and Maintenance MFT is the fact that various reporting chains are involved - many people share responsibility for the missions success."