SCHRIEVER SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. – The 26th Space Aggressor Squadron marked what may be its final change of command, as Lt. Col. Aaron Pinson relinquished command to Lt. Col. Jacob Pairsh during a ceremony Aug. 3, 2025.
“This unit is the oldest Reserve squadron in the Air Force, and its legacy will endure long beyond us,” said Col. Adam Fisher, 310th Space Wing commander, who presided over the ceremony. “Both Col. Pinson and Col. Pairsh exemplify the dedication to mission and people that defines the aggressor spirit.”
The 310th Space Wing is preparing for inactivation in accordance with the Space Force Personnel Management Act, following the divestment of all Department of the Air Force space missions to the U.S. Space Force. The 26th SAS is one of only four enduring units that will remain active through the wing’s final years.
Pairsh, who delayed his retirement to assume command, emphasized continuity, closure, and commitment to the unit’s mission and legacy as he addressed the squadron.
“We will exit with dignity and step into the next chapter together,” said Pairsh. “The legacy we’ve inherited is one we will carry forward.”
The 26th SAS traces its lineage to 1917, with combat service in both World Wars and Cold War-era fighter aggressor operations. The squadron was reactivated in 2003 as the Department of Defense’s first space aggressor unit.
The 26th SAS specializes in space-based threat replication, using tactics that cause satellite communication interference to emulate adversary capabilities. These missions joint and allied forces for operations in contested, degraded, and operationally-limited environments.
| Date Taken: | 08.03.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 08.11.2025 11:23 |
| Story ID: | 545184 |
| Location: | COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, US |
| Web Views: | 19 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 26th Space Aggressor Squadron Holds Final Change of Command, by TSgt Marko Salopek, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
