Last week’s BVA Happenings referenced this week’s 5th anniversary of the U.S. Space Force, established on December 20, 2019, when the National Defense Authorization Act was signed into law with bipartisan support. The action created the first new branch of the armed services in 73 years in response to widespread recognition that Space was a national security imperative.
The service’s motto, “Semper supra,” Latin for “Always above,” is a phrase that encapsulates the Space Force’s mission. Its symbol, the Delta, signifies the service’s responsibilities and mission while honoring its long history that began before the Space Force was created in 2019.
For the last 60 years, space capabilities have become essential to the manner in which a modern military conducts its operations. Combining that legacy with the growing threat posed by competitors in space, it became clear that there was a need for a military service focused exclusively on pursuing superiority in the space domain. The United States Space Force’s purpose is to protect American interests in space and to ensure that space capabilities are available to the military and allies.
On December 20, 2020, the first anniversary of the Space Force, then Vice President Mike Pence announced at the White House that personnel in the Space Force would be called Guardians.
“It is my honor, on behalf of the President of the United States, to announce that, henceforth, the men and women of the United States Space Force will be known as ‘Guardians,'” Pence said during the ceremonies.
Henceforth from 2020, the Guardians joined Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen as members of the U.S. Armed Forces. At present, the Space Force offers various careers for enlisted, officer level, and civilians across intelligence, analytics, cybersecurity, operations, engineering, and acquisition functions.
BVA has a connection to the U.S. Space Force. USSF’s permanent headquarters in Germany is at Ramstein Air Base. The base is home to the U.S. Space Forces Europe and Africa (USSPACEFOR-EURAF), a service component that was activated on December 8, 2023. BVA has its own connection to Ramstein and USSF. Guardian Mark FitzGerald, spouse of BVA’s own Kylie FitzGerald, is currently stationed at Ramstein with responsibilities in the area of satellite communications. Mark joins 9,400 active-duty military personnel and more than 14,000 civilian members of USSF worldwide.
Kylie has served the BVA membership for nearly six years as a member of the Association’s National Headquarters staff, both remotely in Germany as well as in Alexandria, Virginia. As the current National Marketing Strategist, Kylie develops BVA’s communications deliverables in the areas of social media, publications, and public relations.
Along with the best of holiday season wishes, the BVA family wishes Mark, Kylie, and our Space Force defenders of freedom everywhere a Happy Birthday.
A two-page Fact Sheet summarizes the history, mission, and organization of the U.S. Space Force.
