2d Systems Operations Squadron
The 2d Systems Operations Squadron, stationed at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, delivers global environmental intelligence products and services for the defense of the United States of America and its global interests through the 24 x 7 operation, sustainment and maintenance of Air Force Weather's strategic center computer complex, production network, and applications.
2d Systems Operations Squadron
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2nd Systems Operations Squadron emblem (approved 8 May 2007[note 1] | |
Active | 2007-present |
Country | |
Branch | |
Type | Squadron |
Role | Weather Systems Operations |
Part of | Air Combat Command |
Garrison/HQ | Offutt Air Force Base |
Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
Mission
The 2nd Systems Operations Squadron (2nd SYOS) delivers reliable and timely global environmental intelligence products and services for the defense of the United States of America and its global interests and operates and sustains the United States Air Force's $303M strategic weather high performance computing center to deliver authoritative environmental intelligence to decision makers across the spectrum of global operations.[1]
The squadron operates the United States Air Force's largest Special Purpose Processing Node, the linchpin force enabler for the Air Force weather enterprise, generating thousands of critical environmental products and services to weather forecasters and operational end users every day, on a global scale. They maintain the Department of Defense's tactical weather location identifier program which ensures transmission of and access to vital weather information at deployed and oftentimes austere operating locations across the globe. Our professionals operate the 2nd Weather Group's Change Management program that oversees 205 software projects annually and maintains 126 software baselines to deliver cutting-edge capabilities across the spectrum of military operations. They apply over 20,000 system patches annually to mitigate security vulnerabilities across 78 production platforms, ensure data integrity across 90 databases, and enable DoD's sole space weather warning capability to secure our country’s $104B strategic satellite fleet.[2]
Organization
The 2nd SYOS is a 128-member squadron of military and civilian professionals, assigned to the 2nd Weather Group at Offutt Air Force Base, NE, that provides strategic-to operational-level specialized airpower by uniquely supporting the communication, computing, and programming needs of the highly-technical, data intensive Air Force Weather global enterprise. The squadron is composed of three flights: Operations, Software Sustainment and Change Management. Collectively, they form the core of the weather enterprise engine. [2]
History
The 2nd SYOS was activated on 28 March 2007 as part of an Air Force Weather Agency restructure.
On March 27, 2015 the Air Force Weather Agency was re-designated as the 557th Weather Wing and was aligned under the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command, Twelfth Air Force. The purpose of the change is to ultimately refocus attention strictly to the weather forecasting mission and heritage that the agency prides itself in.[3]
Lineage
- Constituted as the 2d Systems Operations Squadron on 17 January 2007
- Activated on 28 March 2007[4]
Assignments
- Air Force Weather Agency, 28 March 2007 to 26 March 2015[5]
- 557th Weather Wing, 27 March 2015 to Present[3]
- 2d Weather Group, 28 March 2007 – present[6]
Stations
- Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, 28 March 2007 – present[4]
Commanders
- Lt Col C. Cantrell (28 Mar 2007 - 3 Aug 2009)
- Lt Col J. Shull (3 Aug 2009 - 22 Jul 2011)
- Lt Col M. Gauthier (22 Jul 2011 - 23 Jun 2014)
- Lt Col J. Blackerby (23 Jun 2014 - 29 Jun 2016)
- Lt Col J. McMillen (26 Jun 2016 - 30 Jun 2018)
- Lt Col R. DeLeon (30 Jun 2018 - Present)
Awards
- Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, 19 September 2007 – 31 December 2008[4]
- 2007 Lt Gen Harold W. Grant Award nominee from AFWA[note 2]
- 2008 Lt Gen Harold W. Grant Award nominee from AFWA
- 2012 Lt Gen Harold W. Grant Award nominee from AFWA
References
- Notes
- Symbolism: Blue and yellow are the Air Force colors. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater for Air Force operations. Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel. Black represents strength and determination, Black and blue alludes the squadrons day and night operations. Green signifies adaptability, and is a color traditionally connected with the Army, a military service deriving direct benefit from the unit’s products and services. The flashes are three in number, symbolic of the three Air Force Weather enabling concepts of environmental characterization, managing net-centric data and services and information exploitation. Each flash has three points, signifying support to strategic-, operations, and tactical operations. The anemometer symbolizes the squadron’s mission as an element of Air Force Weather. The three flashes and the anemometer share a common point and denote the fusing-the transformation- raw data into actionable environmental information. The globe represents the worldwide impact of the unit’s mission.
- The Lt Gen Harold W. Grant Award recognizes a communications and information organization each year for excellent support to the Air Force mission.
- Citations
- "557th Weather Wing Units: 2d Weather Group Overview". 557th Weather Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- "557th Weather Wing Units: 2d Systems Operations Squadron". 557th Weather Wing Public Affairs. 8 February 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- "557th Weather Wing". 557th Weather Wing Public Affairs. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- Robertson, Patsy (23 August 2011). "Factsheet 2 Systems Operations Squadron (AFWA)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- "Air Force Weather Agency". 55th Wing Public Affars. 8 February 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- "557th Weather Wing Units: 2d Weather Group". 557th Weather Wing Public Affars. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
External links
- 557th Weather Wing Website
- 557th Weather Wing Factsheets
- "Air Force Weather Agency Historical Highlights" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2013.
- "Air Force Weather History Fact Sheet: 8 Feb 2010". Archived from the original on 1 May 2015.
- Air Force Weather Heritage: 1937 to 2012