Department of Defense Manned Space Flight Support Office

The Department of Defense Manned Space Flight Support Office (DDMS) coordinated all United States Department of Defense (DoD) contingency support to United States NASA manned space flight programs. The office was deactivated in 2007 and replaced by a staff element that is part of the 45th Space Wing staff at Patrick Air Force Base, Fl.

The commander of U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) was the DoD Manager for Manned Space Flight Support Operations. The 45th Space Wing commander at Patrick AFB, Florida, was the Deputy DoD Manager. The DDMS offices and staff were located at Patrick and were responsible for the day-to-day operations and support to NASA's manned space flights. Additionally, DDMS maintained a Landing Support Office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Chartered in 1958 by the Secretary of Defense, DDMS was originally formed with the express purpose of providing much needed DoD support to the U.S. 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.

In the current Space Shuttle Program, DDMS had the responsibility for astronaut rescue and recovery, contingency landing site support, payload security, medical support, coordination of airlift/sealift for contingency operations, as well as other support services required in the event of a shuttle emergency. To carry out these responsibilities, DDMS receives and validates NASA requests for DoD support. The support office then selects assets best able to provide the required support, tasks selected units through appropriate command channels, and provides tactical control of those DoD forces supporting a specific Space Shuttle mission.

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