Supporting the Relocation, Travel, and Lifestyle Needs of the American Military Family

Location

Peterson Air Force Base is located adjacent to and east of Colorado Springs, off U.S. Highway 24.  Colorado Springs is the second largest city in the state, and has a population of approximately 500,000 people.  Colorado Springs also hosts the United States Air Force Academy to the north, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station located to the west, Fort Carson, Army Post to the South, and Shriever AFB to the east.

History

Peterson AFB was originally established as the Colorado Springs Army Air Base on May 6, 1942 at the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport which had been in operation since 1926.  In December 1942, it became the Army Support Command Base and was renamed Peterson Army Air Field as a tribute to 1st Lt Edward J. Peterson, an operations officer with the 14th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron who was killed during takeoff in his F-4.  Additionally, Cheyenne Mountain AFS is the home of North American Aerospace Defense Command.  (The History of Peterson Air Force Base - From tiny air field to sprawling complex)

MIssion

The 21st SW provides missile warning and space control to North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Strategic Command through a network of command and control units and ground and space-based sensors operated by geographically separated units around the world.  As the host wing for Peterson AFB, it provides operating support to NORAD/NORTHCOM, Air Force Space Command (AFSPC), U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC)/Army Forces Strategic Command, Cheyenne Mountain AFS, 302nd Airlift Wing, and nearby Schriever AFB.