The 2nd Space Operations Squadron operates the new facility monitoring satellites around the clock, according to Capt. Charlie Daniels, 2nd SOPS GPSOC director.

"We're more responsive and more capable to react to war fighters' needs," Daniels said. "[The center] provides us a level of responsiveness and insight we didn't have before."

Among GPSOC's customers is the Civil GPS Center in Alexandria, Va. The civil center will use information from Schriever's center to resolves GPS problems for civilian agencies and foreign governments, said Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Douglas Louden, Air Force Space Command's civil GPS liaison.

The GPSOC came about because senior leadership wanted a way to make sure DoD customers stayed connected with their satellites.

"In the past 12 months, the former GPS support center was rolled over from Air Force Space Command into 2 SOPS," he said. "At that point, we began the process of developing the GPS Operations Center to provide monitoring of satellites."

Development for the GPSOC included tasks such as designing new software tools and building new infrastructure. The total cost for the project was $2.8 million.

"That is truly nickels and dimes compared to what other programs have spent on similar customer support efforts," Daniels said.

Both 50th Space Wing commander Col. Suzanne Vautrinot and 14th Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Michael Hamel added their strong support to the project.

"They provided the dedication, the drive and the vision," Daniels said. "We took their vision and turned it into reality."

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