U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Mark Macias, member of the Vandenberg Space Force Base Honor Guard team and assigned to the 30th Civil Engineer Squadron, covers the 18th Space Defense Squadron’s previous unit flag behind the unit’s new flag during a re-designation ceremony at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., April 13, 2022. The 18 SDS, previously 18th Space Control Squadron, will continue to be U.S. Space Command’s premier provider of continuous, comprehensive and combat-relevant space domain awareness. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman)

U.S. Space Force Lt. Col. Matthew Lintker, 18th Space Defense Squadron commander, right, and U.S. Space Force Col. Marc Brock, Space Delta 2 commander, middle, sit as the official party for the 18 SDS during a re-designation ceremony at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., April 13, 2022. Brock was the presiding officer for the ceremony. The 18 SDS will continue to be U.S. Space Command’s entry point and storefront for international cooperation and partnerships, while listening and responding to the needs of partners to improve sharing products, services and practices. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman)

U.S. Space Force Col. Marc Brock, Space Delta 2 (DEL 2) commander, speaks at a podium during the beginning of the 18th Space Defense Squadron’s re-designation ceremony at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., April 13, 2022. The 18 SDS is a component of DEL 2, which focuses on Space Domain Awareness (SDA) Command and Control, integrating and synchronizing SDA capabilities in support of the contested and congested domain, and collaboration with allies and partners (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman)

Members of the Vandenberg Space Force Base Honor Guard team unfurl the new 18th Space Defense Squadron’s flag during a re-designation ceremony at Vandenberg SFB, Calif., April 13, 2022. The 18th Space Control Squadron was re-designated as the 18 SDS to signify increased focus on Space Domain Awareness (SDA) command and control, integrating and synchronizing SDA capabilities in support of the contested and congested domain, and collaboration with allies and partners. The furling and unfurling of flags have been a long standing tradition in ceremonies to symbolize the activation, deactivation or re-designation of units. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman)

U.S. Space Force Lt. Col. Matthew Lintker, 18th Space Defense Squadron commander, right, salutes U.S. Space Force Col. Marc Brock, Space Delta 2 commander, to assume command of the 18 SDS during a re-designation ceremony at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., April 13, 2022. The 18th Space Control Squadron was re-designated as the 18 SDS, and will continue to be U.S. Space Command’s premier provider of continuous, comprehensive and combat-relevant space domain awareness. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman)

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Avery Balaskovitz, member of the Vandenberg Space Force Base Honor Guard team and assigned to the 30th Security Forces Squadron, holds the American flag during the 18th Space Defense Squadron’s re-designation ceremony at Vandenberg SFB, Calif., April 13, 2022. The 18 SDS, previously 18th Space Control Squadron, provides standardized, accurate position and velocity information to satellite owners, operators, launch entities, and others, enabling responsible use of space and assisting spacefarers in avoiding collisions. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman)

U.S. Space Force Lt. Col. Matthew Lintker, 18th Space Defense Squadron commander, speaks after assuming command of the newly re-designated 18 SDS during a ceremony at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif, April 13, 2022. The 18 SDS provides Space Domain Awareness (SDA) allowing military commanders to see the battlespace with clarity, strike with precision, navigate with accuracy, communicate with certainty, and operate with assurance over global distances. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman)

U.S. Space Force Lt. Col. Matthew Lintker, 18th Space Defense Squadron commander, left, U.S. Space Force Lt. Col. Jonathan Smith, special assistance to the Space Delta 2 commander, right, and Tech. Sgt. Anthony Childers, 19 SDS orbital analyst, furl a flag during a ceremony at Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, Va., April 6, 2022, that saw the deactivation of the 18th Space Control Squadron Detachment One and the activation of the 19th Space Defense Squadron. The 19 SDS is responsible for providing continuous Space Domain Awareness (SDA) for government, civilian, and international users and to maintain continuous and transparent SDA to assure global freedom of action in space. The 19 SDS and the 18 SDS were officially activated April 13. (U.S. Navy photos by CSSN Mariana Gonzalez)