DMSP transferring control of satellites to NOAA

Released: Jul 15, 1998

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LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- The combined civilian and military use of space assets hit a major milestone when the Air Force and the Commerce Department announced the transfer of contr ol of Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellites to a joint-operational team at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently.

The operational merger, managed here, was directed by President Bill Clinton May 5, 1994, after a National Performance Review determined that a significant amount of taxpayers' money would be saved. Taxpayers will save an estimated $1.3 billion by merging the separate Department of Defense and Department of Commerce programs, according to the Commerce Department.

"This is a tremendous accomplishment and a tribute to the cooperative spirit of the joint Air Force and NOAA team," said Col. Jeffery A. Quirk, DMSP system program director. "Each member of both teams was committed to making this transfer a success and to continuing the high level of support to the military warfighter." (Courtesy of Air Force Materiel Command News Service)