New era begins at Vandenberg Air Force Base

A new chapter begins in the ongoing mission of Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara County as part of a restructuring plan by the U.S. Air Force to create a combined space operations center.

The primary mission at Vandenberg AFB remains the primary launch facility for rockets and missiles on the west coast of the United States.

The base transition is designed to improve coordination between U.S. allies and commercial and civil partners for defensive space efforts.

President Trump has expressed interest in creating a new Space Force that will protect American interests in space.

Vandenberg AFB will be part of that branch of defense.

The restructuring included the relocation of military and civilian jobs at VAFB to Colorado which is home to the Joint Forces Space Component Command and Air Force Space Command.

In a statement released earlier this year, the Air Force said the restructuring will maintain space launch capabilities but also improve space war fighting effectiveness and lethality of U.S. Joint Forces.

An official transition ceremony is being held Wednesday morning at Vandenberg AFB with the top USAF Space Command leadership in attendance.