595th Command and Control Group
The 595th Command and Control Group was a United States Air Force unit responsible at different times for missile and space-system testing and nuclear command, control, and communications.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 595th Command and Control Group was an inactive United States Air Force organization whose lineage connected Cold War missile testing, post-Cold War space experimentation, and nuclear command-and-control operations. Although commonly associated in its final form with the name 595th Space Group, the canonical organization was redesignated several times and performed substantially different missions over its history. The unit began at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on 1 May 1970 as the 6595th Missile Test Group under Air Force Systems Command. Its early work centered on the ground and flight testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles and other missile, space, and aeronautical systems supporting Department of Defense programs. Systems associated with its testing portfolio included the Minuteman, Peacekeeper, Atlas, and Titan missile families. The organization’s work formed part of the United States’ broader effort to validate strategic weapons, launch procedures, operational concepts, and associated technologies. Its lineage changed in 1988 when it became the 6595th Test and Evaluation Group. The group was inactivated at Vandenberg on 14 September 1993 following the end of that organizational period and changes in the management of missile and space test activities. It was reactivated at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, on 7 April 2000 as the 595th Test and Evaluation Group. In 2002 it adopted the designation 595th Space Group, reflecting a stronger emphasis on space-related operational experimentation and evaluation. During this period, elements of the organization supported space applications associated with Operation Iraqi Freedom and explored capabilities intended to improve the productivity and tactical use of space forces. Its components included test, space-control, space-range, flight-test, and space-aggressor organizations. The group was inactivated again on 1 April 2013. The organization returned to active service at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, after being redesignated the 595th Command and Control Group in 2016. Activated on 1 October 2016, it was assigned to Eighth Air Force and provided personnel and operational support for the nuclear command, control, and communications enterprise. Its mission included enabling survivable, real-time strategic assessment and global-strike capabilities for the National Command Authority. The 1st Airborne Command Control Squadron operated the Boeing E-4 National Airborne Command Post, while the 595th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron supported that aircraft fleet. The 625th Strategic Operations Squadron maintained targeting functions for the intercontinental ballistic missile force and supplied personnel for airborne launch-control operations using Boeing E-6B Mercury aircraft. The 595th Strategic Communications Squadron supported missile warning and strategic command, control, and communications, including operation of the Strategic Automated Command Control System used for rapid ICBM retargeting. The group shared a commander with the National Airborne Operations Center during its final period. It was inactivated on 28 February 2025, with most of its resources and components transferred to the newly activated 95th Wing. The organization therefore remains historically significant as a continuous lineage of Air Force missile-test, space-evaluation, and nuclear command-and-control functions, but it is no longer an active unit.
History
The organization’s lineage began during the Cold War, when Air Force Systems Command organized the 6595th Missile Test Group at Vandenberg Air Force Base on 1 May 1970. Vandenberg was a central location for United States missile testing, and the group conducted ground and flight trials of strategic missile systems as well as tests involving space and aeronautical systems. Its work included the LGM-30 Minuteman and, during part of the 1980s, the LGM-118 Peacekeeper. The unit also operated in an environment that included testing of earlier Atlas and Titan systems. On 1 January 1988, the organization was redesignated the 6595th Test and Evaluation Group. It remained associated with missile and aerospace evaluation until its inactivation on 14 September 1993. The lineage returned to active status at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, on 7 April 2000, as the 595th Test and Evaluation Group. Its renewed mission reflected the Air Force’s growing focus on space capabilities, operational experimentation, and the evaluation of systems intended for use by deployed forces. The group became the 595th Space Group on 1 August 2002. Its components included the 17th Test Squadron, the 576th Flight Test Squadron, the 527th Space Aggressor Squadron, and a space-control or space-range squadron. These elements provided test, evaluation, adversary-representation, and operational-training functions. The group supported space applications connected with Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and 2004. The 25th Space Control Tactics Squadron, later associated with the 25th Space Range Squadron, was part of this period for a limited time. The 595th Space Group was inactivated on 1 April 2013. The organization was redesignated the 595th Command and Control Group on 26 August 2016 and activated at Offutt Air Force Base on 1 October of that year. Its new role was centered on nuclear command, control, and communications. Assigned to Eighth Air Force, it provided aircrew, operators, maintainers, and communications personnel supporting national-level strategic command functions. The 1st Airborne Command Control Squadron operated the Boeing E-4 National Airborne Command Post, with the 595th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron responsible for aircraft maintenance support. The 625th Strategic Operations Squadron performed ICBM targeting duties and supplied personnel for launch-control operations conducted from Boeing E-6B Mercury aircraft. The 595th Strategic Communications Squadron maintained missile-warning and strategic communications capabilities, including the Strategic Automated Command Control System. This final configuration was designed to support survivable strategic assessment and global-strike execution if fixed command facilities were compromised. The group shared a commander with the National Airborne Operations Center. Its final activation ended on 28 February 2025, when the group was inactivated and most of its resources were transferred to the newly activated 95th Wing. The result is a lineage spanning three broad missions: strategic missile testing, space-force experimentation, and nuclear command-and-control support.
- 2025
Final inactivation and transfer to 95th Wing
[1]The group was inactivated on 28 February, and most of its resources were transferred to the 95th Wing.
- 2016
Re-established as 595th Command and Control Group
[1]The organization was activated at Offutt Air Force Base for nuclear command, control, and communications duties.
- 2013
Second inactivation
[1]The 595th Space Group was inactivated on 1 April.
- 2002
Redesignated 595th Space Group
[1]The designation shifted toward space operations, experimentation, and evaluation.
- 2000
Reactivated as 595th Test and Evaluation Group
[1]The organization returned to active status at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado.
- 1993
First inactivation
[1]The group was inactivated at Vandenberg Air Force Base on 14 September.
- 1988
Redesignated 6595th Test and Evaluation Group
[1]The unit adopted a broader test-and-evaluation designation while continuing its aerospace and missile-related work.
- 1970
6595th Missile Test Group activated
[1]The organization was activated at Vandenberg Air Force Base to conduct missile, space, and aerospace-system testing.
Products and positioning
A specialized United States Air Force organization positioned around strategic weapon-system testing, space operational experimentation, and, in its final incarnation, resilient nuclear command and control.
Military testing · 1970
Strategic missile test and evaluation
The organization tested strategic missiles and associated aerospace systems at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Its documented portfolio included Minuteman, Peacekeeper, Atlas, and Titan systems at different points in its lineage. Testing included both ground and flight activities supporting Department of Defense programs.
Space-force capability development · 2000
Space operational experimentation
During its 595th Space Group period, the organization evaluated and field-tested space capabilities intended to improve operational effectiveness. Its components included test, flight-test, space-control, and space-aggressor units, and it supported space applications used during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Strategic command and control · 2016
Nuclear command, control, and communications
From 2016 to 2025, the group supplied operational, maintenance, targeting, communications, and airborne-command-post support for the United States nuclear command-and-control system. Its responsibilities included E-4 National Airborne Command Post operations, ICBM targeting, airborne launch-control support, missile warning, and strategic communications.
Marketing campaigns
- 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom space support
Iraq · United States military operations
The organization applied space-related programs in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom during 2003 and 2004.
Outcome. The group contributed space-enabled capabilities to the operation; the available reference does not quantify specific outputs.
Brand decisions
2025
Inactivation and organizational transferOtherBackground
The Air Force reorganized the functions and resources associated with the group’s nuclear command-and-control mission.
Action taken
The group was inactivated on 28 February 2025, with most resources transferred to the newly activated 95th Wing.
Aftermath
The 595th Command and Control Group ceased to be an active Air Force unit.
2016
Reorientation toward nuclear command and controlStrategyBackground
The Air Force redesignated the lineage for a mission supporting survivable strategic command, control, and communications.
Action taken
The 595th Command and Control Group was activated at Offutt Air Force Base and assigned to Eighth Air Force.
Aftermath
The group supported E-4 operations, ICBM targeting, airborne launch control, missile warning, and strategic communications through February 2025.
2002
Shift toward space-group identityStrategyBackground
After reactivation at Schriever Air Force Base, the organization’s activities increasingly involved space capabilities and operational experimentation.
Action taken
It was redesignated the 595th Space Group.
Aftermath
The group operated space-test, space-control, and space-aggressor components until its 2013 inactivation.
1988
Expanded test-and-evaluation designationStrategyBackground
The missile-test organization was redesignated from the 6595th Missile Test Group.
Action taken
It became the 6595th Test and Evaluation Group.
Aftermath
The unit continued its aerospace and missile evaluation role until its 1993 inactivation.
Recent events
- 2025
595th Command and Control Group inactivated and resources transferred to 95th Wing[1]
Leadership change · Other
The group was inactivated on 28 February 2025, with most of its resources and components transferred to the newly activated 95th Wing.
- 2016
595th Command and Control Group activated for nuclear command and control duties[1]
Other
The organization was re-established at Offutt Air Force Base as a nuclear command-and-control unit assigned to Eighth Air Force.
- 2003
595th Space Group supported space operations and experimentation[1]
Other
During its space-group period, the organization supported Operation Iraqi Freedom through the application of space-related programs.
Sources1 sources
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