PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Mission Delta 3 – Space Electromagnetic Warfare changed leadership as U.S. Space Force Col. Nicole Petrucci relinquished command to U.S. Space Force Col. Angelo Fernandez during a change-of-command ceremony March 7 at Peterson Space Force Base, Colo.
The units now falling under Fernandez’s command include the 4th, 5th, 16th, and 23rd Electromagnetic Warfare Squadrons, the 37th Tactical Intelligence Squadron, and the 3rd Combat Training Squadron.
MD 3 prepares and presents combat-ready space electromagnetic warfare professionals to integrate, synchronize, and execute fires for U.S., Allied, and Coalition forces. The unit operates electromagnetic attack, protection, and support capabilities to protect and defend the space domain in support of combatant commands and the joint warfighter.
During Petrucci’s command, the unit transitioned to a provisional integrated mission delta construct, now mission delta, that organizes service activities around mission areas instead of functional specialties to ensure mission requirements, organizational concepts, training, logistics, sustainment, and doctrinal implications were considered from a warfighter perspective during force design.
“There’s no success in the future fight without Mission Delta 3. … Many are depending on us,” said Petrucci, the third commander of the Dark Knights, as the unit members are known. “This is the team that’s going to bring space electromagnetic warfare to the fight.”
Petrucci will go on to the Space Operations Command Headquarters staff to lead Future Operations.
Space electromagnetic warfare is a “lead force element that fundamentally underpins one of our core functions in the Space Force,” said Lt. Gen. David N. Miller, Jr, the commander of Space Operations Command and presiding official over the ceremony. He also noted that each commander has leveled-up the unit, adding to the achievements of previous commanders and their teams.
“You made a difference to this team, and you made a difference to this command,” Miller said to Petrucci, adding that she led at a time of significant change and pioneering of new units.
Miller said that he’s confident Fernandez is the right guy to continue to level up the unit, “not just because of his historical expertise, but because he knows where we’re headed strategically. He understands we’re the decisive advantage to the joint force.”
Fernandez, a career space officer, comes from a previous assignment as the Chief of Space Policy Division on the Joint Staff in the Pentagon. There, he was responsible for developing Department of Defense level guidance involving space-related policy, strategy, plans, and joint doctrine. Fernandez previously served as the commander to the 16th Space Control Squadron, now renamed as an electromagnetic warfare squadron. He returns to command the electromagnetic warfare mission, but this time as the mission delta commander.
Our predecessors developed electromagnetic warfare to overcome the challenges of their day, said Fernandez. Space superiority is in our DNA; the nation can sleep well knowing we’re going to build on that legacy.
“The joint force turns to us,” he added. “We must be ready.”
For more information on MD 3, visit the unit fact sheet here.