The 2nd Space Operations Squadron at Schriever AFB, Colo., has completed a software upgrade for the Global Positioning System ground control system, Air Force Space Command officials announced Tuesday. They finished the upgrade, described as a sustainment activity, ahead of schedule on Dec. 8. The target date for completion had been early January. “This sustainment release is part of a larger ongoing effort by the Air Force to improve and maintain the current GPS ground system before the next generation GPS control segment is deployed in 2015,” said Col. Harold Martin, chief of the positioning, navigation, and timing division in AFSPC’s requirements directorate. Members of the Space and Missile Center’s GPS Directorate at Los Angeles AFB, Calif., helped with the upgrade. Martin said the procedure was “transparent to GPS users worldwide,” meaning they had no idea it was occurring since there was no GPS signal disruption.
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. assumed leadership of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, succeeding Navy Adm. John Aquilino at a change of command ceremony, urging action amid China's “increasing intrusive and expansionist claims,” on May 3