4
Welcome
Welcome to Peterson Air Force Base
and the 21st Space Wing, the Air
Force's only organization providing
missile warning and space control to
unified commanders and combat
forces worldwide.
As the Air Force's most widespread
and diverse wing, Team Pete members
can be found in 44 units at 26 locations
in 4 countries.
In addition to our operational mis-
sions, the 21st also serves as host unit
of Peterson AFB for four major mili-
tary headquarters-North American
Aerospace Defense Command, U.S.
Northern Command, Air Force Space
Command and SMDC/Army Strategic
Command as well as the 302nd Airlift
Wing (Reserve) and many tenant units
from other major commands.
Peterson AFB is located adjacent to
and east of Colorado Springs off U.S.
Highway 24. Colorado Springs is the
second largest city in the state, and has
a population of approximately 500,000
people. Colorado Springs also hosts the
United States Air Force Academy to the
north, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force
Station to the west, Fort Carson Army
Post to the south, and Schriever AFB to
the east.
When it comes to magnificent
scenery and natural beauty, Colorado
Springs has it all. It’s the home of
America’s fabulous mountains, the
Rockies, nestled at the foot of the
famous 14,110-foot Pike’s Peak. These
“purple mountain majesties” inspired
Katharine Lee Bates to write “America
the Beautiful” a century ago.
The city’s altitude is 6,035 feet, and
some newcomers experience slight
fatigue at first. New arrivals should
allow time for their bodies to adjust to
the elevation. Peterson is obviously in
the Rocky Mountain region. Summers
can be hot and winters cold in Col-
orado, but the dry climate is generally
quite agreeable, whatever the season.
The Colorado Springs Airport, which
shares runways with Peterson AFB,
serves 10 airlines with more than 100
flights daily, offering non-stop service
to 15 U.S. cities and easy connections
to almost any city in the world.
Our unique combination of geog-
raphy and climate make Peterson a
true national asset. But the real
st