FLC | AFRL New Mexico units will transfer to Space Force

AFRL New Mexico units will transfer to Space Force

April 15, 2020

The Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland AFB recently received news that some of their missions will transfer to the U.S. Space Force (USSF). AFRL units readying for transfer include most of the Space Vehicles Directorate missions and the Directed Energy Directorate’s Electro-Optics Division.

Approximately 525 of the 717 AFRL billets that will transfer to USSF are in New Mexico, and about 600 contractor jobs will transfer to USSF missions.

Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett announced that a total of 23 units across the Air Force are slated for transfer. The goal is to have the identified space missions formally transferred to the USSF within the next three to six months. The door remains open for additional space missions to transfer on a later date. The transfer does not include the physical movement of units to a different geographic location, nor reassignment of any employees.

“The Space Vehicles team will continue to serve the nation as the Center of Excellence for space vehicle research and development in our alignment to the Space Force,” said Col. Eric Felt, the Space Vehicles director. “Our job to develop the most technologically advanced and robust space assets possible for our warfighters and the nation remains our top priority.”

The Directed Energy Directorate’s sister telescope operation on Maui, Hawaii was also named to join the Space Force.

“The Directed Energy Directorate has been proud to be a leader in the United States’ space domain awareness for well over 50 years,” said Dr. Kelly Hammett, the Directed Energy director. “The transfer of our telescope operations in New Mexico and Hawaii to the Space Force is a recognition of the superlative work our scientists and engineer do each day in support of our nation’s ability to operate freely in space.”

When the USSF stood up in December, units within the Air Force Space Command primarily comprised the new branch. This upcoming transfer of 23 units, which translates to 1,840 positions, is a major step in building up the organization.