FORT GREELY, Alaska (August 1, 2026) – Today, senior command oversight of Fort Greely officially transitioned from the United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC) to the 11th Airborne Division.
This transition aligns Fort Greely within the Army’s broader Alaska command structure under the 11th Airborne Division, the Army's premier Arctic force. Under this command structure, the 11th Airborne Division’s senior commander is responsible for all primary Army assets in Alaska, including Fort Greely, Fort Wainwright, and Fort Richardson at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER). This administrative realignment ensures streamlined leadership, while preserving Fort Greely’s unique and critical role in national security.
Fort Greely’s primary mission — serving as a strategic homeland defense platform supporting 24-hour operations for the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system — remains entirely unchanged, as operational command of the GMD system remains with U.S. Space and Missile Defense Command, under U.S. Northern Command.
“The Soldiers of the 49th Missile Defense Battalion at Fort Greely, Alaska, defend the homeland 24/7/365, and remain an integral part of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command,” said Lt. Gen. John L. Rafferty, commanding general of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. “This realignment will provide the best installation support and quality of life for the Soldiers and families who defend the U.S. against the threat of intercontinental ballistic missiles.”
Daily installation operations, workforce structure, and tenant support responsibilities will continue without disruption. Furthermore, the Army remains fully committed to its longstanding partnership with the Delta Junction community, which is essential to the installation's enduring success and stability.
"Fort Greely remains one of our nation's most strategically important defense installations," said Maj. Gen. John P. Cogbill, commanding general of the 11th Airborne Division. "This transition represents a continuity of Army leadership and a steadfast commitment to the Homeland Defense mission. We highly value the rugged professionalism of the Fort Greely workforce and recognize the unique resilience required to operate in this Arctic environment."