CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN SPACE FORCE STATION, Colo. -- Nested deep within the Cheyenne Mountain Complex in Colorado Springs, Colorado, members of the 21st Communications Squadron work tirelessly at the Cheyenne Mountain Systems Center to ensure critical mission systems remain operational.
“The Systems Center acts as the initial correlation point for incoming missile warning and space warning data as it is picked up by sensors, both ground and spaceborne,” stated Tom Cook, 21st CS chief of support for the Cheyenne Mountain Systems Center.
Members of the Systems Center do not make decisions themselves based off this data, but rather they keep a careful eye on the systems and relay the information received from these sensors to decision makers around the world.
“Our operators constantly monitor the system for health. They have to be intimately familiar with all the nodes and working parts of the system. They have six to nine months of training to get fully proficient, 225 checklists to be familiar with, and have to memorize about 12 different intricate diagrams,” added Cook.
In this line of work, even just a few seconds could make a massive difference in the outcome of a missile or space warning event. Decisions based on the data provided by the Systems Center can be made all the way up to the commander in chief level, and these types of events require decisions to be made rapidly. The diligent work of members actively monitoring the systems allow key decision makers to protect the safety of the United States and its allies.
The Systems Center has been around for decades in one form or another. Back in the 1970s, personnel used large magnetic tapes to track system data. During exercises, test tapes with scenario data would be loaded on to a test system to ensure the data didn’t come off as a real-world threat.
Cook described an event that took place decades ago during the era of magnetic tapes.
“A test tape was put on a real-world system. Then, simulated data was given to mission partners, who for a moment, thought we had a situation where we needed to contact the president.”
To prevent that, a position was created solely for test control. This person is responsible for making sure all testing takes place on a secure virtual environment, and there’s no chance of it crossing over into the real world.
Technology has continued to progress since the days of magnetic tapes, but it’s not the only thing within the Systems Center that has changed. After transitioning to being under the Space Force about five years ago, the center evolved once again. The Systems Center had to shift from Air Force to Space Force control, which resulted in multiple changes around the center.
“For example, the operations floor tended to have teams comprised of field grade officers and noncommissioned officers prior to its acquisition by the USSF. Now, newer company grade officers and specialists are commonplace,” said U.S. Space Force 2nd Lt. Matthew Rowell, 21st CS Systems Center crew commander.
Generally, a lieutenant will hold the position of crew commander, and a technical sergeant will hold the position of crew chief within the center. Even though these positions are now held by lower-ranking members than before, that doesn’t mean the requirements of the mission changed.
“[Operators] can assess the system and then make a decision to make changes to the Department of Defense’s missile warning network all on their own because they're intimately familiar with the workings of the system,” Cook said.
He noted that the exceptionally high level of training members receive is the reason they can handle the responsibilities this job inherently requires.
“Each day it is our job to work with our mission partners to fulfill their needs and the needs of the mission. That means setting up exercises, answering phone calls to log missile and air event information and making sure that information is passed along to our forward users” said Tech. Sgt. Brenden Fredrickson, 21st CS Systems Center crew chief.
The average day at the center also includes constantly watching and maintaining the system, while also training new members. This high-operations tempo maintains the members’ competence by consistently providing opportunities to do their job and to grow new members through their required training items.
Even though the mission never ends, and stress can be high at times, members of the team retain a high morale.
“It’s really the people on crew who make the day good or bad, and so far, I haven’t really had a bad day,” added Spc. 4 Adelynne Cotton, 21st CS senior Systems Center controller.
Over time, working long shifts with the same crew of people can create strong bonds within a team, enhancing their ability to operate together when it matters most. This is certainly the case with the crews operating the Systems Center, whose unity through a shared purpose is evident on a daily basis. Members of the team have all different kinds of motivations. From deep-rooted patriotism, becoming independent, chasing a better quality of life, and more, the Systems Center mission has brought them all together on one team to ensure the systems remain operational.
“When things go wrong, they can go wrong,” remarked Rowell.
As they often exercise, time is of the essence when it comes to air and space events. If systems are down, response time is too slow, or other unforeseen issues arise, national security could be at risk.
Luckily, the members of the Systems Center team are always on the watch; training, preparing, and operating every day to maintain our strategic advantage, and to safeguard the United States and its allies from any threats they may face.