Los Angeles Air Force Base (LAAFB) is a United States Space Force base located in El Segundo, California. Los Angeles Air Force Base houses and supports the headquarters of the Space Systems Command field command of the United States Space Force, which was established on August 13, 2021. The center manages research, development and acquisition of military space systems.

History

thumb|Aerial photograph of Los Angeles AFB in 1994|alt=|leftLos Angeles Air Force Base traces its history back to the Air Research and Development Command's Western Development Division, which was activated on 1 July 1954 in Inglewood, not far from the current base.

In 1961 the Air Force developed a plan to consolidate its Space Systems Division and the Research and Development (R&D) Center of The Aerospace Corporation, which was created in 1960 to support Air Force space programs. The plan involved the acquisition of two pieces of real estate adjoining the R&D Center. An aircraft plant owned by the Navy, at the northwest corner of Aviation and El Segundo Boulevards, was transferred to the Air Force in October 1962. Another site, at the southwest corner of the same intersection, was owned by a mining company. The Aerospace Corporation purchased that property in November 1962, and between February 1963 and April 1964, it constructed its new headquarters there. By April 10, 1964, the Air Force property at the intersection of Aviation and El Segundo Boulevards was designated as the Los Angeles Air Force Station, which was re-designated as the Los Angeles Air Force Base in September 1987.

In 2006 Area A of LAAFB was permanently closed after a deal with a local builder to exchange the land in Area A for the creation of the General Bernard Schriever Space Complex in Area B and other new facilities. In February 2007, a new base exchange opened up in Area B.

The portion of Fort MacArthur remaining in military use is a sub-base of Los Angeles Air Force Base serving as a housing and administrative annex. Fort MacArthur is in the San Pedro district of Los Angeles, approximately twenty miles southeast of Los Angeles Air Force Base.

Role and operations

Los Angeles Air Force Base is headquarters to the Space Systems Command (SSC), a field command of the United States Space Force (USSF). SSC is responsible for research, development, acquisition, on-orbit testing, reliability, maintenance, sustainment and operations of specific military space systems. In addition to managing Space Force space systems development, SSC participated in space programs conducted by other U.S. military services, government agencies and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies. SSC turns some of these acquired systems over to the different operations commands including: the United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) and Space Operations Command (SpOC) after going through the Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) where Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) conducts independent operational test and evaluation. In summer 2021, the center was re-designated as Space Systems Command, one of the three major commands under the United States Space Force. It oversees the development, acquisition, launching, and sustaining of military space systems.

United States Space Force

  • Space Base Delta 3 (SBD) 61st Air Base Group
  • 61st Civil Engineering and Logistics Squadron
  • 61st Force Support Squadron
  • 61st Medical Squadron
  • 61st Security Forces Squadron
  • Space Systems Command
  • Advanced Systems and Development Directorate
  • Global Positioning Systems Directorate
  • Launch Enterprise Directorate
  • MILSATCOM Systems Directorate
  • Range and Network Division
  • Remote Sensing Systems Directorate
  • Space Superiority Systems Directorate

Education

The base housing is assigned to schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District; the district does not operate any schools on-post. Fort MacArthur residents are zoned to Leland Street Elementary School, while Crest and Heights residents are zoned to White Point Elementary School. All base housing is zoned to Dana Middle School and San Pedro High School.

References

  • The Douglas Aircraft Plant That Became Los Angeles Air Force Base
  • Historical Overview of the Space and Missile Systems Center, 1954–2003