The DDMS offices and staff were located at Patrick SFB and were responsible for the day-to-day operations and support to NASA's human spaceflights.
In the Kennedy Space Center area, U.S. Air Force air-refuelable HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters, HC-130 tanker aircraft, pararescue and medical personnel, and U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships are deployed to support launch contingencies and astronaut recovery.
The center was the DoD focal point for managing a contingency response in the event of a Shuttle emergency landing or astronaut bail out.
The center, for example, played a key role in providing support to NASA in response to the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003.
DDMS coordinates a U.S. Air Force C-141 "Pathfinder" aircraft to transport NASA personnel and equipment supporting ferry flight operations.
The office personnel flew with the NASA team on these ferry flights, providing specialized support en route at DoD installation stops.