The 595th Command and Control Group is an active unit of the United States Air Force. It is organized under Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), and its operations are centered at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. It was activated in a ceremony held on 6 October 2016.^[3]

Quick Facts Active, Country ...

595th Command and Control Group
Boeing E-4B Airborne Command Post
Active	1970–1993; 2000–2013; 2016–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Command and Control
Part of	Air Force Global Strike Command Eighth Air Force
Garrison/HQ	Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Insignia
595th Command and Control Group emblem (approved 5 December 2016)[1]
595th Space Group emblem (approved 7 September 2007)[2]

Close

The mission of the 595th Command and Control Group is to consolidate the Air Force's portion of the nuclear triad, including Air Force nuclear command and control communications, under the auspices of Global Strike Command. Previously, portions of the Air Force's command and control of nuclear operations had been divided among AFGSC, Air Combat Command, and the Twentieth Air Force.^{[citation needed]}

The 595th Command and Control Group is composed of four squadrons:^[4]

• 1st Airborne Command Control Squadron, which operates the Boeing E-4 National Airborne Command Post mission.
• 595th Strategic Communications Squadron
• 595th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
• 625th Strategic Operations Squadron

The unit was first organized by Air Force Systems Command in May 1970 as the 6595 Missile Test Group. In early 1970s, the group conducted ground and flight tests of the Minuteman weapon system. It also launched and tested missile, space and aeronautical systems in support of Department of Defense programs.^[2]

After the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger in January 1986, the space program was grounded for 34 months until the launch of Space Transportation System-26 in September 1988. After 11 Sep 2001, the group examined vulnerabilities of US space facilities at home and abroad. The Air Force's Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities Program transferred national capabilities to operational commands. The group's Air Force Space Battlelab developed and field tested capabilities to increase productivity of operational commands. Its Aerospace Fusion Center supported space missile launches.^[2]

The group supported Operation Iraqi Freedom through the application of space applications programs during 2003 and 2004.^[2]

The Group now has a shared commander with the National Airborne Operations Center.^{[citation needed]}

• Designated as the 6595th Missile Test Group and activated on 1 May 1970

Redesignated 6595th Test and Evaluation Group on 1 January 1988

Inactivated on 14 September 1993

• Redesignated 595th Test and Evaluation Group on 1 April 2000

Activated on 7 April 2000

Redesignated 595th Space Group on 1 August 2002

Inactivated on 1 April 2013

• Redesignated 595th Command and Control Group on 26 August 2016^[5]

Activated 1 October 2016^[1]

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (October 2021)

• Col Paul J. Burnett, 8 June 2000^[6]
• Col Michael J. Carey, 20 June 2002
• Col John E. Hyten, 1 July 2004
• Col John S. Riordan, 6 July 2005
• Col Stephen Latchford, 16 April 2007^[7]
• Col Shawn J. Barnes, May 2009^[8]
• Col Kevin M. Rhoades, 30 June 2011^[9]
• Unknown, 14 June 2012 – 1 April 2013
• Col Robert L. Billings, 1 October 2016 – July 2018
• Col. Jeremiah Baldwin, July 2018 - July 2020^[10]
• Col. Brian Golden, July 2020 - August 2022^[11]
• Col David Leaumont, August 2022 - ^[12]