Schriever Air Force Base

Schriever Air Force Base (Schriever AFB) is a base of the United States Air Force located approximately 10 miles (16 kilometers) east of Peterson AFB near Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States. This Air Force Base is named in honor of General Bernard Adolph Schriever, who pioneered in the development of the American ballistic missile programs. It is the home of the 50th Space Wing of the Air Force Space Command, and this base provides command and control for over 170 Department of Defense warning, navigational, and communications satellites. Also housed at Schriever AFB are the Missile Defense Integration and Operations Center and the Space Innovation & Development Center. Schriever AFB is the main control point for the Global Positioning System (GPS). Schriever AFB is manned by more than 8100 active duty and guard/reserve personnel, civilian employees, and contractors. Groundbreaking for what would become Schriever Air Force Base took place in May 1983. It was originally called the Consolidated Space Operations Center (CSOC) during the development phase, and was renamed Falcon Air Force Station upon becoming operational. In September 1985 the Second Space Wing was activated at this base, and 230 Air Force members and civilian employees moved into its 12 new buildings. This wing took operational control of the Air Force Satellite Control Network in October 1987. In June 1988, Falcon Air Force Station was redesignated Falcon Air Force Base. On 30 January 1992 the 2nd Space Wing was redesignated as the 50th Space Wing. On 5 June 1998, Falcon Air Force Base was renamed Schriever Air Force Base in honor of the retired General Bernard Adolph Schriever, who pioneered in the development of the American ballistic missile programs. Schriever AFB is the only Air Force base that was named for an Air Force veteran who was living at the time. General Schriever died June 20, 2005.