Lineage. Constituted as 18 Surveillance Squadron, and activated, on 1 Nov 1966. Organized on 1 Jan 1967. Inactivated on 1 Oct 1975. Activated on 1 Feb 1990. Redesignated as: 18 Space Surveillance Squadron on 15 May 1992; 18 Space Control Squadron on 1 Mar 2003. Inactivated on 1 Jul 2004. Activated on 22 Jul 2016. Changed status from a unit of United States Air Force armed force to a unit of United States Space Force armed force on 21 Oct 2020. Redesignated as 18 Space Defense Squadron on 13 Apr 2022.
Assignments. Air Defense Command, 1 Nov 1966; 73 Aerospace Surveillance Wing, 1 Jan 1967; Fourteenth Aerospace Force, 30 Apr 1971-1 Oct 1975. 1 Space Wing, 1 Feb 1990; 73 Space Surveillance (later, Space) Group, 1 Jul 1991; 21 Operations Group, 26 Apr 1995-1 Jul 2004. 21 Operations Group (later, Space Delta 2), 22 Jul 2016-.
Stations. Edwards AFB, CA, 1 Jan 1967-1 Oct 1975. Peterson AFB, CO, 1 Feb 1990; Edwards AFB, CA, 1 Nov 1994-1 Jul 2004. Vandenberg AFB (later, SFB), CA, 22 Jul 2016-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. None.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 8 Jul 1970-7 Jul 1971; [1 Feb 1990]-31 Aug 1991; 1 Oct 1995-30 Sep 1997; 1 Oct 1997-30 Sep 1999; 1 Jan-31 Dec 1998; 1 Jan-31 Dec 1999; 1 Jan 2000-31 Aug 2001.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 20 Jul 2023.
Supersedes statement prepared on 25 Aug 2016.
Emblem. Air Force emblem approved on 18 Jul 1995. Space Force emblem approved on 2 Mar 2022.
Prepared by Mark Usry.
Reviewed by Margaret Ream.