Vandenberg AFB, Calif., is now the site for the Joint Functional Component Command for Space, headed by 14th Air Force commander Maj. Gen. William Shelton. The head of US Strategic Command, Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, presided over an activation ceremony for the new JFCC Space, which he said should “spearhead the transformation in space.” At the same time, STRATCOM is dissolving the JFCC Space and Global Strike in favor of two separate entities: JFCC Space and JFCC Global Strike and Integration. Cartwright acted upon a suggestion from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley in separating the two functions, which is slated to become effective in July 2007.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.

