F.E. Warren Air Force Base

F.E. Warren Air Force Base
Name	F.E. Warren Air Force Base
Location	Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States
Coordinates	41°09′N 104°48′W
Established	1867 (as Fort D.A. Russell)
Type	United States Air Force base
Controlledby	United States Air Force
Garrison	20th Air Force, 90th Missile Wing
Notable commanders	General John P. Jumper, General Robin Rand

F.E. Warren Air Force Base is a United States Air Force installation located near Cheyenne, Wyoming and is one of three active bases in the United States hosting intercontinental ballistic missiles. It traces lineage to a 19th‑century post and evolved through roles in cavalry, air defense, and strategic deterrence. The base hosts operational, maintenance, and support units that integrate with national strategic forces and regional civilian institutions.

History

The installation originated as Fort D.A. Russell in 1867 during American westward expansion and the post–American Civil War era, linked to the Union Pacific Railroad and frontier conflict with Indigenous nations such as the Lakota and Cheyenne Indians. In the late 19th century the post participated in campaigns tied to events like the Red Cloud's War and the broader Plains Indian Wars. Renamed for Francis E. Warren in 1930, the site transitioned through World War I and World War II periods as U.S. attention shifted to modern airpower and continental defense, aligning with entities such as the War Department and later the Department of Defense.

During the Cold War the base became integral to the Strategic Air Command posture, incorporating assets associated with the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile program and technologies developed at organizations like Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories. The establishment of missile squadrons in the 1960s reflected strategic doctrine influenced by events including the Cuban Missile Crisis and arms control dialogues such as the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks. Post‑Cold War reorganizations placed the installation under Air Force Global Strike Command and the base adjusted to treaties such as the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

Geography and Facilities

Located in southeastern Laramie County, Wyoming near the city of Cheyenne, the installation occupies historic parade grounds, cantonments, and dispersed field sites. The regional topography includes the Great Plains and proximity to the Laramie Mountains, affecting infrastructure design for hardened silos and communications. Facilities include missile launch complexes, a flightline inherited from earlier aviation roles, maintenance depots, and family housing areas developed in partnership with civic entities such as Laramie County School District 1 and Cheyenne Regional Medical Center.

Onsite heritage objects and structures reflect 19th‑century military architecture and are associated with preservation efforts coordinated with organizations like the National Park Service and the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office. The base’s utilities, runway thresholds, and telemetry sites interface with regional transportation networks such as Interstate 25 and Cheyenne Regional Airport, and telemetry links to strategic command centers in the National Capital Region and western command nodes like Air Force Global Strike Command headquarters.

Units and Organization

The principal host organization is the 90th Missile Wing, subordinate to 20th Air Force, itself a component of Air Force Global Strike Command. Operational units include missile squadrons that trace lineage to Cold War era squadrons and maintenance squadrons responsible for the LGM-30G Minuteman III force, while support units provide security, civil engineering, medical, and legal services tying into agencies such as the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and Judge Advocate General's Corps.

Tenant organizations comprise elements of Wyoming Air National Guard history and units coordinating with Defense Threat Reduction Agency initiatives, as well as partnerships with federal agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration for airspace management and the National Weather Service for meteorological support. Command relationships reflect joint service interoperability with components of United States Northern Command when required.

Mission and Operations

The core mission centers on strategic nuclear deterrence through operation, maintenance, and security of land‑based intercontinental ballistic missiles assigned to national strategic forces under United States Strategic Command. Mission tasks include missile alert operations, launch control, reentry vehicle maintenance, and rapid response protocols developed in coordination with organizations such as North American Aerospace Defense Command and Defense Intelligence Agency threat assessments.

Operational training programs align with curricula from institutions like the Air Force Institute of Technology and training wings that emphasize readiness, safety, and compliance with arms control frameworks such as the New START Treaty. Routine operations require integration with logistics chains involving contractors and laboratories such as Boeing and national laboratories that support warhead stewardship and system modernization efforts, including discussions around replacement programs and force posture reviews by the United States Congress.

Demographics and Community

The installation supports active‑duty personnel, civilian employees, and family members, influencing the socioeconomic profile of Cheyenne, Wyoming and Laramie County. Housing, schools, and healthcare services link the base population to institutions like Laramie County Community College and regional employers. Community engagement includes joint events with veteran organizations such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, civic partnerships with the Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce, and workforce pipelines to defense contractors and federal facilities.

Demographic trends reflect national patterns in military communities with attention to family services, veteran transition programs coordinated with the Department of Veterans Affairs, and local initiatives addressing education and employment among military spouses.

Environmental and Safety Issues

Environmental stewardship involves remediation and monitoring programs addressing legacy impacts from munitions, fuels, and infrastructure, coordinated with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. Activities include groundwater monitoring, soil remediation at former firing ranges, and compliance with statutes such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act where applicable.

Safety protocols encompass nuclear surety standards promulgated by Air Force Space Command predecessors and current directives from Air Force Global Strike Command, emergency management coordination with Federal Emergency Management Agency, and occupational health surveillance in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Environmental assessments intersect with regional conservation groups and federal agencies, balancing mission needs with habitat protection efforts involving entities like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Category:Installations of the United States Air Force in Wyoming