252nd Cyberspace Operations Group


The 252nd Cyberspace Operations Group is a unit of the Washington Air National Guard at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Tacoma, Washington. It is assigned to the 194th Wing. The 252nd has squadrons at Camp Murray and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and has two geographically separated units at Fairchild Air Force Base.

Mission

The 252nd Cyberspace Operations Group provides highly trained and qualified cyberspace and intelligence professionals to combatant commanders. They ensure squadrons are trained and evaluated in order to be mission-ready to support cyber, intelligence and expeditionary communications missions. They also provide oversight for cyberspace and intelligence operational forces in direct support of Air Combat Command, Air Force Space Command, the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Agency and United States Cyber Command. The 252nd Cyberspace Operations Group provides citizen airmen to support domestic cyber operations, cyber intelligence support to federal and state law enforcement agencies, and provides cyber mission planning and command element in support of combatant commanders for worldwide contingency operations.

History

The 252nd Communications Group was activated at Geiger Field in Spokane, Washington, on 1 April 1953. It was redesignated as the 252nd Communications Group in October 1960. In March 1962, the 252nd relocated from Geiger Field to the Four Lakes Communications Station, a former Nike missile site near Cheney, Washington. In June 1971, the 252nd closed operations at Four Lakes and moved to Paine Air National Guard Base in Everett, Washington.

Lineage

  • Established as the 252nd Communications Group on 1 April 1953

    Assignments

  • Washington Air National Guard, 1 April 1953
  • 194th Regional Support Wing, 30 August 2006 – present
; Gaining command

Components

; Squadrons
  • 143rd Communications Squadron, 16 March 1968 – present
  • 194th Intelligence Squadron
  • 214th Communications Construction Squadron, 1 April 1953 – 1954
  • 215th Communications Construction Squadron , 1 June 1953 – 1 January 1959, 1 May 1970 – by 2012
  • 221st Mobile Communications Squadron, 15 March 1968 – April 1971
  • 221st Radio Relay Squadron, 1 January 1963 – 15 March 1968
  • 222nd Radio Relay Squadron, 1 April 1953 – 1 September 1960
  • 242nd Mobile Communications Squadron , 1 June 1961 – present
  • 244th Mobile Communications Squadron, 15 March 1968 – 2006
  • 244th Radio Relay Squadron, 1961 – 15 March 1968
  • 256th Mobile Communications Squadron , 19 June 1971 – present
  • 262nd Communications Squadron , 1 April 1953 – present
; Flights
  • 233rd Mobile Communications Flight, 1 June 1961 – 7 December 1971
  • 244th Combat Communications Flight

    Stations

  • Geiger Field, Spokane, Washington, 1953-1962
  • Four Lakes Communications Station, Cheney, Washington 1962-1971
  • Paine Air National Guard Base, Everett, Washington, 1971-2013
  • Camp Murray, Tacoma, Washington, ???-present

    Commanders

  • Colonel Steven Hilsdon
  • Colonel Chas Jeffries
  • Colonel Kenneth Borchers
  • Colonel Robert Siau
  • Colonel Thomas Pries
  • Colonel Jack Johnson

    Decorations

  • Air Force Outstanding Unit Award