Cavalier Chronicle, March 2, 2000

Effective February 4, Cavalier Air Station is officially designated as Cavalier Air Force Station (CAFS). Air Force Space Command, headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, announced the change for all of its Air Stations located in the U.S. In addition to Cavalier, air stations at Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Cape Canaveral, Florida; Clear, Alaska; Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado; Eldorado, Texas; New Boston, New Hampshire; Onizuka, California, and Pillar Point, California are changing designations to Air Force Stations. Air Force Space Command initiated this effort to highlight the Air Force's stewardship of these critical installations.

Cavalier Air Force Station is the home of the 10th Space Warning Squadron (20 SWS) which operates the world's only Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System (PARCS). The mission of the squadron is to provide detection and warning of a ballistic missile attack against the U.S. and Canada. Additionally, it uses its radar to track thousands of man-made objects orbiting around the earth. The 10th Space Warning Squadron is supported by a team of contractors from Mason & Hanger Corporation for operations and maintenance; Magic P.I. law enforcement; Midwest Management Technologies Inc., and ServiceMaster Janitorial Services.
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The installation was originally known as the PAR site as part of the Grand Forks AFB Anti-Ballistic Missile Complex later referred to as the Stanley R. Mickelsen SAFEGUARD Complex. When the Air Force assumed responsibility of the site from the Army in 1977, it was designated as Concrete Missile Early Warning Station (CMEWS).

In 1983, the Air Force approved changing the name to Cavalier Air Force Station based upon the 1982 closure of the post office in Concrete, and to provide a closer tie between the Cavalier community and the base. This also recognized Cavalier Air Force Station as a fully operating Air Force installation and not just a missile early warning station.

In 1993, the name was changed to Air Station, as the Air Force attempted to standardize all bases and units under a new organizational structure. Today, Cavalier Air Force Station returns to its previous designation to highlight the Air Force's roles and missions in space operations.