Department of Defense Manned Space Flight Support Office

The Department of Defense Manned Space Flight Support Office (DDMS) coordinates all United States Department of Defense (DoD) contingency support to the United States manned space flight programs.

History

Chartered in 1958 by the Secretary of Defense, DDMS was originally formed with the express purpose of providing much needed DoD support to our initial manned space flight effort ... putting people into space and returning them safely to Earth.

Since those early days, the support office has continued to be the focal point for all DoD contingency support to Project Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Apollo/Soyuz Test Project and Space Shuttle.

This support included astronaut and space capsule recovery, worldwide communications, tracking and data relay, public affairs, and medical support.

Leadership

The commander of U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) is the DoD Manager for Manned Space Flight Support Operations.

The 45th Space Wing commander at Patrick AFB, Florida, is the Deputy DoD Manager.

Location

The DDMS offices and staff are located at Patrick and are responsible for the day-to-day operations and support to NASA's manned space flights. Additionally, DDMS maintains a Landing Support Office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Responsibilities

In the current Space Shuttle Program, DDMS has the responsibility for astronaut rescue and recovery, contingency landing site support, payload security, medical support, coordination of airlift/sealift for contingency...
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