Joint community at Peterson learns about Army Space and Missile Defense operations

Space education

Col. Roger Mathews, deputy commander for Operations of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command, took an afternoon to brief about 120 U.S. Northern Command noncommissioned officers. He explained what the Army is doing in the arena of space support to the warfighter and missile defense. (Photo courtesy U. S. Army)

Published Feb. 14, 2007
By Ed White
U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- About 120 non-commissioned officers from the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and Canadian forces from U.S. Northern Command gathered in the enlisted club recently to hear a briefing on Army space operations from Col. Roger F. Mathews.

Colonel Mathews is the deputy commander for operations, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command on Peterson Air Force Base.

"You all know what goes on in Building One and Building Two," said Sgt. Maj. D. Scott Frye, to the assembled noncoms, referring to Air Force Space Command and U.S. Northern Command.

"But most of you have no idea what goes on in Building Three. We are about to fix that."

Frye is the senior enlisted advisor to the commander of U.S. Northern Command and hosted Colonel Mathews at the professional development meeting.

"I am extremely proud to be able to brief the backbone of U.S. Northern Command," Colonel Mathews said.

In his briefing, he explained how Army space Soldiers support the warfighter and addressed what capabilities space Soldiers bring to the fight. Mathews also explained what the 100th Missile Defense Brigade, GMD (Ground-based Midcourse Defense) does in the arena of homeland defense.

"We have Soldiers manning a missile defense shield that protects our homeland 24/7/365," Colonel Mathews said.

"This command plays a key role in the war on terror and homeland defense," he said. "Today we sent another team off to replace one that is rotating home from OIF. This ongoing presence clearly demonstrates the important role and level of support space is providing in the war on terror."