United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command

The United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) is a specialized major command within the United States Army. The command was established in 1997. The SMDC is an organization composed of several components:

  • SMDC Headquarters and the Force Development Integration Center in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama
  • 1st Space Brigade, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado – consists of 1st Space Battalion, 117th Space Battalion (Colorado Army National Guard) and 53rd Signal Battalion (SATCOM)
  • 100th Missile Defense Brigade (GMD), Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
    • 49th Missile Defense Battalion, Alaska Army National Guard, Fort Greely, Alaska
  • U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command / U.S. Army Strategic Command (Forward) located in Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Space and Missile Defense Technical Center (SMDTC)
  • Space and Missile Defense Battle Lab (SMDBL)
  • Space and Missile Defense Acquisition Center (SMDAC) based in Huntsville, Alabama; the SMDAC comprises:
    • High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility (HELSTF), at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.
    • U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll/Reagan Test Site (USAKA/RTS), in the Republic of the Marshall Islands
    • Army Space Program Office (ASPO) in Alexandria, Virginia
    • Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensors Project Office (JLENS) based in Huntsville, Alabama
    • Ballistic Missile Targets Joint Project Office (BMTJPO) based in Huntsville, Alabama

The current commander is Lieutenant General Richard P. Formica., with Senior Enlisted Advisor Command Sergeant Major Larry S. Turner.

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