Electronics Technician Second Class Madison Cronin, currently a Sailor stationed at Naval Air Station Meridian, has been selected for an inter-service transfer to the United States Space Force. Cronin has served 8 years in the U.S. Navy, and is a native of Danville, California.
“I congratulate Electronics Technician Second Class Madison Cronin on her selection for inter-service transfer to the United States Space Force,” Said Capt. Brent Moore, commanding officer of NAS Meridian. “Her unique background, technical expertise, and leadership capabilities that she has developed in the Navy will contribute to the success of the Space Force in the years to come.”
Cronin will work in Space Systems Operations, a program that focuses on the design, development and operation of missiles, satellites and other space-based systems for military purposes.
The Space Force’s stated mission is to “defend our nation and its freedom to operate in space. With a singular focus on this domain, we train, equip and deploy forces to improve defense technology, global security, communication and provide independent options to achieve national objectives by applying military spacepower.”
According to their website, the US Space Force was established on December 20, 2019 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. The Force consists of approximately 8,000 Active Duty Guardians.The term “Guardians” has a long history in space operations, tracing back to the Air Force Space Command’s (AFSPC) motto in 1983, “Guardians of the High Frontier.” It is not to be confused with NASA, though both organizations work to improve our capabilities in space but with different directives. NASA is a civil agency that focuses on developing resources for education, exploration, innovation and research, while Space Force is a military service centered around the vital capabilities needed to defend the United States’ interests and freedom to operate in space.
The Space Force trains, organizes and equips Guardians to perform global space operations that improve how our joint services fight, communicate and achieve national objectives. These operations include developing and defending communication satellites, engineering global cybersecurity networks, supporting rocket launches, tracking space debris and coordinating battlefield operations across all war-fighting domains. Unlike other military branches, the Space Force does not have a national guard or reserve component. It consists of only full-time enlisted, officer and civilian personnel.
