Space Warfighter Heritage: Col. Quenten A. Riepe – Space and Missile Pioneer Published Feb. 12, 2026 By John M. Lacomia, FAM/Historian CFC History Office USSF Combat Forces Command Colonel Quenten A. Riepe is an early Space and Missile Pioneer who began his Air Force career in World War II, flying troops across the European theater in propeller-driven aircraft, and ended it launching space test flights from launch facilities in the United States. Born on Apr. 9, 1919, Riepe earned a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Minnesota before joining the Army Air Corps. During World War II, Riepe was assigned to the 17th Troop Carrier Squadron as a pilot where he primarily flew soldiers and equipment across Italy. After the war, Riepe continued his military service with the Air Force and began developing military space utility and feasibility options while assigned to the Wright Air Development Center (WADC) at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Between 1951 and 1958 he worked in various roles developing America’s first military satellite system, the WS-117L Reconnaissance Satellite. By 1958, Colonel Riepe became the Chief of the WS-117L Systems Support Division at the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division (AFBMD) before moving on to direct programs at Headquarters Space System Division (SSD), including the Missile Defense Alarms System (MIDAS) satellites. MIDAS provided early warning against Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches and was the predecessor to Defense Support Program (DSP) and Space-based Infrared System (SBIRS) satellites. Between 1962 and 1964, Colonel Riepe became the Director of Program 437, where his focus shifted from building satellites to destroying them. This program was the Air Force’s first operational antisatellite (ASAT) system and was designed to intercept enemy satellites with a nuclear warhead. The warhead would launch towards its orbiting target aboard Thor boosters. During Colonel Riepe’s tenure, Program 437 conducted three successful Combat Training Launches (CTL), with the simulated MK 49 nuclear warhead passing within a five-mile satellite kill radius. These tests paved the way for a fully operational Program 437 squadron stationed at Johnston Atoll, a remote outpost in the Pacific Ocean. Colonel Riepe ended his Air Force career in 1966 as Vice Commander of the 6595th Aerospace Test Wing (ATW). The Wing conducted space test launch operations from Vandenberg AFB, California and Cape Kennedy AFS, Florida. Throughout his career, Colonel Riepe contributed to major technological advances as the Air Force established itself in space and played an integral role in the earliest development of space launch and satellite control operations. Colonel Riepe passed away in 1978. He was inducted into the Space and Missile Pioneers in 1999.