Air Force Space Command officials said that technicians had powered down the equipment for Satellite Operations Center-52 at Onizuka AFS, Calif. SOC-52 had provided 36 years of 24-hour space support. The SOC-52’s final mission took place on Feb. 14, 2004, when its personnel placed the next-to-last Defense Support Program satellite into a perfect geosynchronous orbit, said officials. Onizuka itself is slated to close under the 2005 BRAC recommendations.
Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command of U.S. European Command on July 1, taking over the key assignment as the U.S. and its allies contend with a resurgent Russia and a grinding war in Ukraine.