Can’t Keep a Schriever from Space

Photo By Lt. Col. Jess Traver | Staff Sgt. Brett Schriever, a Space Systems Operator, who lives in Alexandria, VA, competed against five of the top sergeants in the wing to be named 107th Attack Wing NCO of The Year. He is also great-grandson General Bernard Adolph Schriever who was architect of Air Force's missile program in the 50s and 60s. (Air National Guard Courtesy Photo)  

NIAGARA FALLS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIR RESERVE STATION, NY, UNITED STATES

08.03.2020

Story by Lt. Col. Jess Traver 

107th Attack Wing

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. – With the recent success of NASA and Crew Dragon return to Earth we reflect on the past and the tradition of our service and achievements in space. A unique connection with the past inside the 107th Attack Wing through our Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year and the great-grandson of the man who was architect of Air Force's missile program in the 50s and 60s.

Staff Sgt. Brett Schriever, a Space Systems Operator, who lives in Alexandria, VA, competed against five of the top sergeants to be named best at the wing, which is based at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, New York.

SSgt Schriever’s last name will be familiar to you if you’ve been involved or read about the United States space exploration program over the past 70 years.

Schriever's great-grandfather was four-star General Bernard Schriever who led the development of the Air Force's Thor, Atlas, Titan and Minuteman ballistic missile systems. The Atlas and the Titan were also used to launch the Mercury and Gemini manned space craft in the run-up to the Apollo moon landing program, and the Minuteman missile still forms part of the U.S. strategic deterrent.

Schriever graduated from the Air Academy High School, located at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 2012 and joined the Air Force in December.

In spite of his family tradition he followed his own path and chose a career in cybersecurity, exploring computers as a network and cyber systems operations technician instead of in a space-related field.

“My family lineage was initially the reason for avoiding joining the Air Force and avoiding the space field. I am a fifth generation family member to join the US Military, and fourth generation to join the Air Force; my great grandpa, grandpa and dad all served in the Air Force. Ultimately my dad finally convinced me to join the Air Force.” Schriever said.

But eventually he decided that he was interest in space-related fields after all, Schriever said. His father was able to introduce him to members of the 222nd Command and Control Squadron (CACS). 107th Attack Wing is New York Air National Guard's only unit with a space mission--the 222nd Command and Control Squadron.

Encouraged by his father, Lt Col Schriever assigned to 2nd Space Operations Squadron at Schriever AFB in Colorado, he transitioned to the New York Air National Guard with the 222nd Command and Control Squadron to become a Space Systems Operator. In this new role he would help provide support for space operations while working at the National Reconnaissance Office.

The 222nd Command and Control Squadron, which is located outside Rome, works with the National Reconnaissance Office which maintains America's surveillance satellites. If the newly formed Space Force organizes a National Guard component the 222nd is likely to be part of that.

“I decided that I wanted to do something different and took the opportunity to completely change career fields. I made this decision as Space Systems Operations because it sounded, and is, more interesting to me personally,” Schriever said.

“Well, if it wasn’t evident, it’s apparently difficult to keep a Schriever away from the space field. My dad and I are both in the space field, and my great grandpa was the pioneer and the father of the Air Force’s ballistic missile and military space programs.” Schriever said

General Schriever’s ideas about shifting the Air Force, built around bombers, into adopting ballistic missiles as a weapon system, were at the cutting edge in the 1950s. He was very outspoken about funding space programs when most of the Air Force Leadership was focused on missile and ballistic technology.

But as the Soviet Union invested heavily in missiles to offset the American lead in manned bombers the Air Force and Department of Defense embraced General Schriever’s vision of missiles and spaced-based systems. Today a strategic triad of manned bombers, Air Force manned land-based missiles, and missiles carried on Navy submarines is still the backbone of American defense.

Eventually Schriever’s achievements and leadership abilities were recognized by the Air Force.

Today the General Bernard A. Schriever Space Leadership Award is presented annually by the Air Force Association to a national leader for their support of Air Force Missile and Space programs.

In 2017, Schriever, then a senior Airman, was selected to present that award to Air Force General John Raymond, the commander of Air Force Space Command.

General Raymond is currently the General in charge of the United States Space Force and serving as the Space Force's first Chief of Space Operations.
Serving in the 222nd has made him aware of how important space-based systems are,” Schriever said.

“Working at the (National Reconnaissance Office) for the past three and a half years has significantly sparked my interest in the space domain and the community it has fostered” Schriever said.

107th Attack Wing was proud to announce SSgt Schriever as NCO of the Year for 2019. For the 107th Attack Wing and 222nd CACS we are fortunate to have SSgt Schriever in our ranks and thrilled that “you can’t keep a Schriever from space.”

• Date Taken: 08.03.2020
• Date Posted: 08.04.2020 07:39
• Story ID: 375147
• Location: NIAGARA FALLS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIR RESERVE STATION, NY, US
• Hometown: ALEXANDRIA, VA, US