Vandenberg

Vandenberg most commonly refers to Vandenberg Space Force Base, a United States military installation on the central California coast used for space launches and ballistic missile testing.

The base is located in Santa Barbara County, near Lompoc and the Pacific Ocean. It supports launches into polar and other high-inclination orbits and houses multiple launch facilities and range operations that serve both national defense and civilian space activities.

History and naming: The installation originated during World War II as Camp Cooke. It was transferred to the U.S. Air Force in 1958 and renamed Vandenberg Air Force Base in honor of General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, the first Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force. In 2021, with the creation of the U.S. Space Force, the base was renamed Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Etymology and other uses: The name Vandenberg is of Dutch origin and is used as a surname. In the region, it is also associated with nearby communities such as Vandenberg Village.