6 SOPS, NOAA join forces for Continuity of Operations exercise

  • Published
  • By Maj. Tim Gasmire
  • 6th Space Operations Squadron
SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  From May 14-18, the 6th Space Operations Squadron joined forces with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to exercise the Continuity of Operations Plan for the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program here.

An annual event, the exercise brought together Department of Defense and Department of Commerce personnel for joint operations, planning and anomaly resolution at 6 SOPS. The DMSP is controlled 24/7 by personnel at the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland, Md. The 6 SOPS, part of the 310th Space Wing, is an Air Force Reserve Command unit that provides backup command and control capabilities for the DMSP constellation.

"The COOP verifies our ability to prepare for and respond to a long-term outage, where NOAA would not be able to operate DMSP from the primary facility," said Lt. Col. Michael DiTondo, 6 SOPS commander. "The annual COOP solidifies the relationship between the military and NOAA and allows us to learn from one another."

In 1994, a Presidential Decision Directive consolidated all polar-orbiting weather satellite constellations under the control of NOAA. During the next four years, DMSP transitioned from the Air Force to NOAA. In 1998, 6 SOPS converted from an active-duty unit to a reserve squadron. Since then, 6 SOPS has supported more than 26,000 satellite contacts in its backup role.

"The COOP builds camaraderie between the Air Force and NOAA satellite operators," said Todd Brooks, a NOAA DMSP controller who participated in this year's COOP. He has been participating in the annual COOP most years since 2001.

"I enjoy working with everyone here [at 6 SOPS]," he said. "Meeting new faces, reconnecting with the more experienced people as well as sharing hints and tricks about DMSP always make it worthwhile."

Maj. Judy Kelley, 6 SOPS assistant director of operations, echoed the sentiment.

"Having the NOAA personnel come to our house to share in the responsibility of operating DMSP is very much like having a family reunion," she said. "It is always great to work side by side with those who fly the satellite 24/7. Each year we all learn something new and are constantly improving our procedures, training and operations."