Rick Hanson

The 44th Missile Maintenance Squadron (44th MMS) was a key unit within the United States Air Force, primarily associated with the maintenance and support of the Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) systems. Activated during the Cold War, the squadron was stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, and operated under the 44th Missile Wing. Its mission centered on ensuring the operational readiness, security, and reliability of the nation’s nuclear deterrent force. The 44th MMS played a vital role in maintaining America’s strategic missile capability until its inactivation following the end of the Cold War and the deactivation of the Minuteman missile complex at Ellsworth AFB in the 1990s.