EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Space Systems Command (SSC) celebrated a milestone 5th anniversary on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, marking a half-decade of rapid innovation, commercial integration, and mission delivery for the United States Space Force. To commemorate the occasion, Guardians, Airmen, civilian and contractor professionals, industry partners, and their families gathered at Los Angeles Air Force Base (LA AFB) as El Segundo Mayor Chris Pimentel presented a city proclamation officially declaring the date as "United States Space Force Space Systems Command Day."
SSC is headquartered at LA AFB with operating locations throughout the country including space launch operations at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Patrick Space Force Base in Fla. and Vandenberg Space Force Base in Calif.
The enduring partnership between SSC headquarters and the surrounding community was a focal point of the event, with Mayor Pimentel emphasizing the profound regional impact of SSC's mission.
"Over the past five years, Space Systems Command has fundamentally transformed national security space architecture by accelerating the launch of critical assets, including advanced missile warning and tracking systems, secure global communications, and next-generation GPS technologies that protect our warfighters globally," the official proclamation read.
Pimentel personally underscored the community’s support, adding, "Understand that everyone in this city and in this region takes great pride in your presence and understands the critical role you play, and we join with you in the defense of our great country."
Reflecting on the command's rapid evolution, USSF Col. Andrew Menschner, deputy commander of SSC, noted that the command's establishment five years ago was about far more than a simple organizational name change.
"It was about delivering capability faster and making sure we continued to dominate the space domain," Menschner said in opening remarks. He emphasized that the "relentless drive to do the impossible because our Nation’s survival depends on it" remains deeply embedded in the command's DNA.
Among the many achievements of SSC’s first five years, he highlighted the unprecedented successes of the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program and the command's accelerated commercial integration, noting that by linking SSC acquisition professionals directly to Space Force operators, SSC ensures that space capabilities are fully ready to fight from day one.
Looking toward the future, SSC’s anniversary festivities also featured robust STEM activities, paper rocket launches, and mentorship from Civil Air Patrol cadets, all designed to inspire the community's youth and cultivate the next generation of space innovators.
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