The Western Development Division (WDD) was established on 1 July 1954 by Brigadier General Bernard Schriever.
Organized as a component of the United States Air Force's Air Research and Development Command, the Western Development Division's was stood up to accelerate the development of the SM-65 Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
Later in the year the Division gained responsibility for the development of the HGM-25A Titan I, which was a backup to the Atlas.
By the end of 1955, the Western Development Division added another missile system, developing the PGM-17 Thor intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM).
These three missile systems would become known as "First-Generation Missiles".
Throughout its missile development, the Western Development Division pioneered the use of concurrent development on the largest scale since its inception.

On 10 October 1955, the Western Development Division also gained the military space mission, assuming responsibility for the Military Satellite System, better known as Weapon System 117L (WS 117L), from the Wright Air Development Center.
WS 117L has a family of different subsystems, with the most important being a photographic reconnaissance payload and a missile warning payload.
The Western Development Division (WDD) was established on 1 July 1954 by Brigadier General Bernard Schriever. Organized as a component of the United States Air Force's Air Research and Development Command, the Western Development Division's was stood up to accelerate the development of the SM-65 Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Later in the year the Division gained responsibility for the development of the HGM-25A Titan I, which was a backup to the Atlas. By the end of 1955, the Western Development Division added another missile system, developing the PGM-17 Thor intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). These three missile systems would become known as "First-Generation Missiles". Throughout its missile development, the Western Development Division pioneered the use of concurrent development on the largest scale since its inception.
On 10 October 1955, the Western Development Division also gained the military space mission, assuming responsibility for the Military Satellite System, better known as Weapon System 117L (WS 117L), from the Wright Air Development Center. WS 117L has a family of different subsystems, with the most important being a photographic reconnaissance payload and a missile warning payload.
Space and Missile Systems Center