The 139th Intelligence Squadron is the newest unit of the Georgia Air National Guard, focusing on intelligence operations. The commander of the 44-member intelligence squadron is Lt. Col. Kimberly Chatfield, and the detachment commander is Lt. Col. Jeff L. Thetford, both former members of the 116th Air Control Wing. The unit will employ 37 traditional and seven full-time Guardsmen.
History
The 139th Intelligence Squadron was officially activated on May 29, 2008, at Fort Gordon, Georgia, becoming the ninth Air Guard unit in the state and the first new Georgia Air Guard unit in more than 30 years. The leadership was composed of an all woman team, the Commander, the Superintendent and the First Sergeant. Originally activated in February 1942 as the 139th Signal Radio Intelligence Company with a cadre of 13 intercept and traffic analysis operators, the unit was designated the 2nd Radio Signal Mobile in 1944, and a year later deployed to France with the 9th Air Force. The unit was later transferred to the Department of the Army where it operated under the Army Security Agency while in Germany. In 1983, the unit was called to duty again during the Cold War and combined with the 6911th Electronic Security Squadron and re-designated as the 402nd Intelligence Squadron. In 2000, the 402nd was inactivated until it was reactivated as part of the Georgia Air National Guard.
Mission
The mission of the 139th Intelligence Squadron is the executing of cryptologic intelligence operations to satisfy strategic, operations and tactical intelligence requirements of national decision makers, combatant commanders and combat operations. The 139th IS enhances preexisting intelligence capabilities at Fort Gordon. As home of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, Fort Gordon is the largest communications electronics facility in the world. The Distributed Common Ground Systems for the Air Force also resides at Fort Gordon. In addition, the it has an important state mission of providing a trained and equipped force to assist the citizens of Georgia in times of emergency.
Emblem
Ultramarine blue and Air Force yellow are the Air Force colors. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations. Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel. The Cerberus symbolizes the three-fold nature of the unit’s National, Air Force and State intelligence missions. The gray ring represents the intellectually stimulating and changing nature of intelligence operations. The red key signifies that intelligence provides the key to Air Force operations.
