National Space Intelligence Center

National Space Intelligence Center
National Space Intelligence Center
	Emblem
Active	24 June 2022–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Space Force
Type	Delta
Role	Space intelligence
Size	350 personnel (expected)
Part of	Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence
Headquarters	Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
Commanders
Commander	Col Marcus D. Starks
Deputy Director	Cheryl Richmond
Senior Enlisted Leader	CMSgt Melissa M. Owens

The National Space Intelligence Center(NSIC) formerly known as "Space Delta 18" or "DEL 18", is the United States Space Force's intelligence agency. It is headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio and activated on 24 June 2022.

NSIC is a field operating agency that is responsible for performing national and military space missions and evaluating capabilities, performance, limitations, and vulnerabilities of space and counter-space systems and services. It is the Space Force's counterpart to the Army's National Ground Intelligence Center, Navy's Office of Naval Intelligence, and the Air Force's National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC). ^[1]

History

The establishment of NSIC was ordered by Chief of Space Operations John W. Raymond.^[4] It will be formed by transferring NASIC's Space Analysis Squadron and Counter-Space Analysis Squadron from the Space and Missiles Analysis Group to the Space Force.^[5] Then Air Force Major General Leah Lauderback, the Space Force director of intelligence (S2)—to whom the center will ultimately report—led the planning effort. Congressional authorization is needed to create a field operating agency that reports directly to the S2.^[1]

Awaiting funding for the establishment of the NSIC, the Space Force stood up the Space Force Intelligence Activity (SFIA) on 24 September 2021 as an interim unit. SFIA served under NASIC until the establishment of NSIC.^[6] On 24 June 2022, NSIC was activated as Space Delta 18.^[7]

On 28 June 2024, DEL 18 and NSIC were transferred from SpOC and redesignated as a field operating agency under the deputy chief of space operations for intelligence.^[8] As part of the elevation to field operating agency, it was redesignated to the National Space Defense Center, losing the name Space Delta 18.^[9]

Symbolism

The National Space Intelligence Center emblem design incorporates elements from the intelligence and space communities, its National Air and Space Intelligence Center heritage, and looks to the future. It consists of the following elements:^[10]

Platinum is the distinctive color of Space Operations Command and represents the strength of its uniformed and civilian Guardians, the rarity of its calling, and the nobility of its mission.
The sphinx is an ancient Egyptian symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and the challenges that the National Space Intelligence Center will solve. It is invoked out of pride in an organization that traces roots to the earliest days of intelligence. It sits omnipresent over the world – just like the space domain, gazing upward, drawing eyes from the past into the future and the blackness of space.
The North Star's eight points symbolize points of a compass and displays how intelligence professionals will analyze and access to guide acquisitions, policymakers, and warfighters.

Under its previous designation as Space Delta 18, DEL 18 took on the number 18 in honor of the Space Force becoming the 18th member of the United States Intelligence Community on 15 January 2021.^[7]^[11]

Structure

NSIC is composed of the following two squadrons transferred from NASIC's Space and Missiles Analysis Group.^[12]

1st Space Analysis Squadron, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2nd Space Analysis Squadron, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

List of commanders

No.	Commander		Term			Ref
No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Duration	Ref
1		Randall, Marqus D.Colonel Marqus D. Randall	24 June 2022	28 June 2024	2 years, 4 days	^[13]
2		Randall, Marqus D.Colonel Marcus D. Starks	28 June 2024	Incumbent	192 days	^[8]^[14]