BUCKLEY SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group was activated Sept. 26, 2022 during an activation and realignment ceremony at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Lowry, Colorado.
Previously located at Peterson Space Force Base, Colo., the 544th ISRG delivers global, space-related information to national agencies and warfighting commands, provides policy guidance and functional assistance to assigned organizations, and develops mission-based facilities and communication.
The 544th ISRG’s mission is to lead the Air Force in executing overhead signals intelligence, infrared operations and tradecraft development to achieve mission outcome success in all circumstances.
Signals intelligence plays a vital role in our national security by providing our leaders with critical information they need to defend our country, save lives, and advance U.S. goals and alliances globally.
This activation ceremony was more than a single group- realigning the 566th Intelligence Squadron and Detachment 1 from under the 373rd ISRG and into the 544th ISRG. These realignments are one of many efficient ways our intelligence community remains ready across the intelligence space.
“The 566th has its roots very deep in Buckley’s soil dating all the way back to 1944,” said Lt. Col. James Nolan, 566th IS commander. “Now we get to launch a new branch of those roots as we stand up the 544th ISRG. We are looking to make our predecessors of this group and squadrons proud and do the best for our Airmen and Guardians going forward in the future.”
In addition to the realignment of the 566th IS and Detachment 1, two squadrons were reactivated under the 544th ISRG. The 26th IS was reactivated for the first time since 2006 and the 18th IS was reactivated since its deactivation in 2020.
According to Col. Craig Miller, 70th ISR Wing commander- times are changing. The Air Force must continue to adapt to these ever-changing issues by identifying weak points and refining them to remain a versatile force.
“The change won’t be perfect, but we’ll adapt to balance risk to force and risk to mission,” said Miller. “This change creates a synchronization in their work and an intimate understanding of the mission sets that are here at Aerospace Data Facility Colorado.”