The center for the United States Space Command and NORAD monitored the air space of Canada and the United States through a world-wide system for missiles, space systems, and foreign aircraft as part of an early-warning system. The operations center was moved from an above-ground facility, vulnerable to attack, to the "granite shielded security" within Cheyenne Mountain during the Cold War. The complex was built in the mid-1960s, began operations in 1966,^[3][4] and NORAD's Combat Operation Center was fully operational on February 6, 1967.^[2] It has its own power plant, heating and cooling system, and water supply. It was built under 2,000 feet (610 m) of granite on five acres.^[5] Structures outside of the military complex include the parking lots and roads, a heliport,^[6][a] and the fire station.^[7][b] Outdoor facilities include Mountain Man Park, picnic areas, a raquetball facility, softball field, sand volleyball, basketball, a putting green, and horseshoes.^[8] There is a fitness center inside and outside the mountain.^[8] The portals for the blast tunnel are entered off the parking lot. A military gate limits NORAD Road usage from the State Highway 115 interchange.

The military complex has included many units of NORAD, U.S. Space Command, Aerospace Defense Command (ADCOM), Air Force Systems Command, Air Weather Service, and Federal Emergency Management (FEMA). The complex's communication center is also used by the nearby U.S. Civil Defense Warning Center.^[3] The station is open 24 hours a day.^[8]

Everything that orbits the earth, including deep-space debris, is monitored by the country's Space Command Surveillance Center using Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) technology.^[9] Information gathered from around the world is processed by computers and displayed on maps of North America and the world. It monitors launched missiles, satellite orbital paths, and aircraft flight paths as part of an early-warning system. National and military leaders are notified of missile attacks, whether incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles or short-range tactical missiles, into North America or during wars, like the Gulf War.^[3] Defense Support Programs (DSP) early warning and satellite systems at NORAD and Space Command are operated via communication links from Peterson Air Force Base. The DSP satellites use infrared sensors to detect heat emitted from missiles and booster plumes, now fine-tuned to gather information about short-range missiles. Information is then fed to world-wide operations centers and agencies.^[10]

Air Force Space Command units are under the command of the Peterson Air Force Base.^[11] The Combat Operations Center was placed on "warm standby" by 2008.

Colorado Springs has a number of military installations. The others are Fort Carson, Peterson Air Force Base, the United States Air Force Academy.^[4] and Schriever Air Force Base.

Air Force Space Command

The entire installation at Cheyenne Mountain was designated the Cheyenne Mountain Air Station by February 1995.^[12] In 2000, the installation was renamed Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station. That year all Air Force Space Command Air Stations in the United States have been redesignated as Air Force Stations.^[1] The Air Force Station is the site of NORAD's Air Defense Operations Center.^[13]

Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station is supported and operated by the 21st Space Wing, which is headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base and under the command of the U.S. Strategic Command and NORAD. It is managed by the 21st Operations Group.^[14] The 21st Space Wing operates radar systems in the United States and world-wide, monitoring for launches of ballistic missiles and new space systems up to 22,300 miles (35,900 km) above the earth.^[14] As of 2014, there are at least 20 countries able to launch long-range weapons, including chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons.^[14] Base support and logistical services are provided by the 21st Mission Support Group. Equipment and facilities, including the Integrated Tactical Warning and Attack Assessment (ITW/AA) weapon system, are operated and maintained by the 721st Mission Support Group of the 21st Space Wing.^[14][15] The support group is located at Cheyenne Mountain.^[15] The 721st Civil Engineering Squadron operated from 1966 under Col. Joseph Turk, 721st Mission Support Group Commander. In 2004, its functions were outsourced. The last active duty commander was Lt. Col. Todd Wynn, who is now retired. It was re-activated on July 17, 2012, bringing some of the functions in-house under civilian employees, led by Dino Bonaldo I, a civilian squadron commander. The civil engineering squadron is responsible for the engineering, maintenance, and operation of the complex.^[5]

In 2006, the Space Control Center, the command and control hub for space surveillance in the United States, transferred its operations to the Joint Space Operations Center from Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station. The Space Control Center belongs to the 14th Air Force and the Air Force Space Command; it is not part of NORAD or U.S. Northern Command. The Air Force Space Command headquarters remained at the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station.^[16]

Global warning functions within the complex include the North American Aerospace Defense Command/U.S. Northern Command's Alternate Command Center, U.S. Strategic Command's Missile Warning Center, the 721st Global Strategic Warning/Space Surveillance System Center of the Integrated Tactical Warning/Attack Assessment system.^[17]

The Missile Warning Center was upgraded in June 2011, upon completion of a $2.9 million project over 18 months. It was funded by USSTRATCOM and resulted in newer computers, more efficient workspace, a new knowledge visual display, new joint worldwide intelligence communication systems, and a new electronic procedural checklist.^[18]

Tons of debris built up at the entrance to the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station following heavy rainfall and a resulting rock slide in September 2013. The 4th Infantry Division, with support by the 615th Engineer Company, 52nd Engineer Battalion, of Fort Carson cleared away the debris from a rockslide and uprooted trees. The storm and resulting debris did not limit the Air Force Station's operations, according to the 721st Mission Support Group's commander Col. Travis Harsha,^[19] who became commander on July 11, 2013 for the now retired Col. Joseph Turk.^[20]

On September 5, 2013, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station hosted an event with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), local sheriffs and police chiefs, Army security forces, and Air Force security across several military installations about partnering for law enforcement and emergency management events, like terrorist threats, criminal activity, and forest fires. Partnering with law enforcement and the community helps to "foster information sharing and maximize joint training opportunities," according to Col. Travis Harsha, the CMAFS installation commander and 721st Mission Support Group Commander.^[21]

(REF: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheyenne_Mountain_Air_Force_Station)

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