“The Air Force has decided it needs to be much more secretive since a
Gazette story last month on the National Space Defense Center in Colorado
Springs triggered a public relations “stand down.””
…
“Security classes for Air Force public relations workers have started, and
a wider effort is aimed at a “culture shift” toward increased secrecy,
according to documents obtained by The Gazette. It’s unclear when the
service will resume normal public relations efforts.”
gazette.com/gazette-story-prompts-new-air-force-secrecy-efforts/article/1622597
Excerpts from the story from last month:
“The National Space Defense Center at Schriever Air Force Base has moved
beyond war games, with intelligence agency experts and Space Command airmen
joining forces to protect American satellites in orbit.
The center, which last year was operating with borrowed troops, has begun
operating 24 hours a day and boasts a staff of 230. Their mission is to
ferret out threats to military and spy satellites and take actions to keep
American interests safe in orbit.”
…
“The ultra-secret center operates behind a prison-like double-fence inside
Schriever’s secure area. While specifics of the unit haven’t been released,
Brost said it includes contractors, representatives of American spy
agencies along with troops from Air Force Space Command.
“This is not an Air Force unit,” Brost explained. “It’s not really even a
Department of Defense unit.””
…
.”[Schriever] also had room to spare and is so secure that airmen have long
called it “Area 52″ and local wags have joked that its where the Air Force
goes when the service wants to be alone.”
Mike