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U.S. Space Force service member assists in 704th Test Group’s mission

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Isaiah Pedrazzini
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs

The 704th Test Group, a unit of Arnold Engineering Development Complex, has an extensive history of pushing the limits of mankind's capabilities, including developing an effective navigation system. This is where the 746th Test Squadron, one of the test organizations within the 704th TG comes into play.

U.S. Space Force Capt. Gordon McCulloh, a 746th TS flight commander, is among the many service members and civilians who work to revolutionize the military's assets.

"The 746th TS is a unique organization both here and within the Air Force Test Center because our work naturally carries a high level of variety," said McCulloh. "The military wants the highest fidelity of navigation possible so that troops, vehicles, and aircraft know exactly where they are during a conflict."

Driven by a lifelong passion for space exploration, McCulloh joined the Space Force–ultimately finding his place within the 746th TS, where he and others contributed to advancing cutting-edge aerospace technology and innovation.

"When I graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy, I saw the incredible potential of a brand new, unique military branch via the Space Force," said McCulloh. "My educational background was in astronautical engineering, so the novelty of the Space Force kicked off a drive to ultimately work on space launches and satellite projects."

As the 746th TS Capabilities Development flight commander, McCulloh has faced various challenges through his work on complex projects and missions, each requiring innovative solutions and strategic thinking.

From electromagnetic warfare to positioning, navigation, and timing critical infrastructure sectors, McCulloh and the 746th TS ensure that everything is operating at peak efficiency.

"Working for the 746th TS is anticipating the future; it's like a constant game of chess, except there are dozens of players, and no one needs to wait for the other to make a move," said McCulloh. "We design capabilities, and our adversaries design countermeasures, and then we design counter-countermeasures, and so on."

The 746th TS and the U.S. Space Force collaborate to advance new technologies that improve operational capabilities and turn ideas into practical innovations.

"In the era of the Great Power Competition, Positioning, Navigation and Timing or PNT which includes GPS, and more is an ever-important and enduring requirement that underpins nearly every war-fighting capability," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Joshua Lee, 746th TS director of operations. "It’s members like Capt. McCulloh that lead the way for the 746th TS to test new, more robust technologies for all services, pushing the envelope of PNT technology."

McCulloh's dedication to advancing Space Force technologies aligns closely with the squadron's mission to tackle diverse and evolving challenges to support future operations for the military worldwide.

"I arrived where I am today through curiosity, studying and excellent peers," said McCulloh. "The 746th TS keeps me actively thinking about many different mission sets, which will help me stay engaged with the future of Space Force technologies and continue to support Holloman's mission."