Space Delta 7

Space Delta 7 (DEL 7) is a United States Space Force unit responsible for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) for the United States Space Force. The delta provides actionable and time-sensitive intelligence for space domain operations including detection, characterization and targeting of adversary space capabilities.^[1] The unit employs a variety of fixed and mobile sensors across the globe operated by intelligence professionals to enable its mission to gain and maintain information dominance in the space domain in the execution of National Defense Strategy priorities. It is headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base.^[1]

Space Delta 7
Emblem of Space Delta 7
Founded	24 July 2020; 5 years ago (2020-07-24)
Country	United States
Branch	United States Space Force
Type	Delta
Role	Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance
Part of	Space Operations Command
Headquarters	Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, U.S.
Website	www.peterson.spaceforce.mil/Units/Space-Delta-7/
Commanders
Commander	Col Phoenix L. Hauser
Vice Commander	Lt Col Christopher 'Gene' Adams
Superintendent	CMSgt Cassaundra Buthorne
Insignia
Guidon

History

Delta 7 was activated on 24 July 2020 with the redesignation of the United States Air Force's 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group.^[1] On 3 September 2020, the delta activated the 73rd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron after the inactivation of the 18th Intelligence Squadron.^[2] It gained two additional squadrons on 11 September 2020 with the activation of the 71st Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron and 72nd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron.^[3]

Col. Chandler Atwood speaks at the standup of ISRS 71 and 72 on September 11, 2020.

On 8 January 2021, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe designated the "Space Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance enterprise" the 18th member of the United States Intelligence Community.^[4]

Emblem symbolism

Space Delta 7's emblem consists of the following elements:

• The midnight blue and black in the Space Delta 7 emblem signifies the orbital, airborne, and terrestrial aspects of all-domain intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and its mission to fix U.S. adversaries no matter where they operate.^[5]
• The number 7 represents the Space Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance professionals that executes its mission.^[5]
• The seven stars of the constellation Ursa Major represent the core of the Space Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Delta.^[5]
• The charging bear represents unyielding tenacity to detect and deter the United States' greatest competitors' actions in the space domain.^[5]
• The key represents unlocking the adversary's secrets to provide actionable intelligence to the warfighter.
• The delta is soaring in the direction of Polaris and provides a clear vector to true North.^[5]
• Platinum represents the foundation and structure Space Operations Command provides to Space Delta 7.^[5]

Structure

Space Delta 7 is composed of the three following squadrons. It also plans to add three new squadrons: a threat analysis squadron; a targeting squadron; and a processing, exploitation, and dissemination squadron.^[6]

Squadrons
Emblem	Name	Function	Headquarters	Detachments
	71st Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron	Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support to space mission deltas[3]	Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado	Detachment 1: Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado[7] 5 other detachments[3]
	72nd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron	Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance	Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado	3 detachments[3]
	73rd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron	Global ISR operations to support the research, development and acquisition of future space capabilities.[8]	Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio[9]	Detachment 2: Osan Air Base, Korea[10] Detachment 4: RAF Feltwell, UK[10] Detachment 6: Fort Meade, Maryland [10]
	74th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron	Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance	Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado
	75th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron[11]	Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance	Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado
	76th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron[11]	Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance	Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

List of commanders

No.	Commander		Term			Ref
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Duration
1		Atwood, Chandler P.Colonel Chandler P. Atwood (1978–2025)	24 July 2020	7 May 2022	1 year, 287 days	[12]
2		Swigert, Brett C.Colonel Brett T. Swigert (born c. 1974)	7 May 2022	13 June 2024	2 years, 37 days	[13][14]
3		Hauser, Phoenix L.Colonel Phoenix L. Hauser (born c. 1979)	13 June 2024	Incumbent	1 year, 45 days	[15][16]

See also

• National Air and Space Intelligence Center
• United States Space Force
• Space Force Intelligence Activity