In a June 20 ceremony here, the 1500-square-foot Shared Early Warning System Centralized Distribution Facility was formally opened for business. The aim of the new facility is to provide launch detection notifications to partner nations spanning three geographical combatant commands. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, SEWS helped protect coalition forces by providing missile event information.

"The Shared Early Warning System is a presidential directive program intended to ensure regional stability and mutual security interest of the United States and selected partner nations," said Maj. Gene Ramsey, SEWS project lead for Air Force Space Command. "With SEWS being operational, we can focus on standardizing equipment configuration and normalizing standards."

The ceremony marked the transfer of operational ownership of SEWS from the Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom AFB, Mass., to the 21st Space Communications Squadron at Peterson.

The 21st SCS will operate and maintain the global missile event information function for distributing releasable information to NATO and partner nations. Additionally, the U.S. Department of State and Department of Defense are aggressively negotiating with other nations to participate in the program.

"The 21st Space Communications Squadron is proud to be part of today's ceremony and looks forward to providing exceptional support, in terms of highly qualified and dedicated space communicators, to the SEWS mission," said Michael Behncke, 21st SCS deputy commander.

Currently, SEWS uses data derived from U.S. military satellite constellations to detect heat from missile and booster plumes against the Earth's background. That data is then relayed to mobile elements around the world and then to various communication satellites, which shoot the information to Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center in Colorado, theater commanders and allied forces.

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