Col Holston gives the unit guidon to Lt Col Rogers during the activation of 53 SOPS, 29 June 2022
The Squadron's namesake comes from the Army's 53rd Signal Battalion, which before deactivation was assigned the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command's U.S. Army Satellite Operations Brigade. In September 2021, it was announced that the Battalion's operational mission and personnel would be transferred to the United States Space Force.[3][4] Activated on 29 June 2022 at a ceremony held at Peterson Space Force Base, the Squadron became the newest unit within the United States Space Force.[5] The unit is distinct in its mission, being the sole armed forces entity to control payload functionality for all U.S. Wideband MILSATCOM.
Emblem symbolism
The 53d Space Operations Squadron's emblem consists of the following elements:[6]
Atlas and the Globe symbolize the unwavering strength and support 53d Space Operations Squadron Guardians provide globally to warfighters, interdepartmental, and multinational partners.
The spacecraft and orbit signify Guardians' mastery of payloads and transmission control through generations of communications platforms.
The constellation Pleiades pays homage to the organization's past as a United States Army unit and the seven stars represent previous command structure and operational elements at each Wideband Satellite Operations Center. Ancient stories depict the Pleiades as a group of loved ones who left their way of life to ascend to the heavens, and the 53d Space Operations Squadron embodies these stories in its transfer to the United States Space Force.
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