USAFA Political Science Department’s Post

At the most fundamental level, the Space Force must have assured access to space to leverage the benefits of the space domain. For systems to create desired effects in, from, and to space, they must first get to space. United States Space Force #AirForce #USAF #Airman #SpaceForce #Guardian

Massive ballooning of budgets? Who would have guessed! I foretold this way back in 2016-2018 when the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committe's "Strategic" Subcommitte - Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) - was pushing for a separate service. We in JFCC SPACE discussing the possibilities and the USAF's space professional cadre were pushing the "no growth" narrative. I knew that those promises were completely empty. Sure, you can say "we won't create Space cops and cooks and admin troops," but operationally you *know* we have a lot of growth to outpace the major threat actors in the world. Hashtag "SpaceIsHard" but also Space is EXPENSIVE. In this article, they are saying the USSF $30B budget should be TWO to THREE TIMES bigger. "...Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, who recently suggested that the Space Force’s nearly $30 billion budget should be two to three times larger in order to address emerging needs." https://lnkd.in/gCZp7qvn

The Space Force will integrate commercial satellites and systems into a broad range of missions, starting with satellite communications and space domain awareness, according to the new Commercial Space Strategy released April 10. The new strategy reaffirms the Defense Department’s broad Commercial Space Integration Strategy released last week, aiming to leverage commercial space capabilities in a way that goes beyond conventional Pentagon-industry partnership. Speaking at the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colo., Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman cited the example of commercial coal stations proving vital to the U.S. Navy during the Spanish American War. “The Navy’s operational infrastructure at that time was not complete without the commercial services completely incorporated,” Saltzman said. “In space operations, we have become more comfortable with using commercial capabilities to add capacity than we have with fully integrating commercial capabilities into our force design.” In a foreword to the strategy, Saltzman and Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition Frank Calvelli added that they envision a future state when the Space Force has “hybrid space architectures” with U.S. military, commercial, and allied space systems. Full Article: https://lnkd.in/gChvbYtz #SpaceForce #Commercial #Strategy

Defense, military, intelligence agencies, all have a hand in U.S. space acquisitions The Aerospace Industries Association released a new infographic highlighting 15 main organizations developing and procuring technologies for national security space

Here’s the latest on our Hypersonic Wind Tunnel at the Colorado State University Aerospace Propulsion and Diagnostics Laboratory (APDL), led by Dr. Ciprian Dumitrache. (links in comments) Driven by #hypersonic weapons development in Russia and PRC, in 2021 DoD outlined a “Hypersonics Development Strategy” to coordinate across agencies. In execution of the strategy, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Missile Defense Agency, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Space Development Agency, and Strategic Capabilities Office are developing capabilities with industry partners, including Lockheed Martin and many others. However, due to the limitations of digital engineering models, a wind tunnel test environment producing aerodynamic conditions at or above five times the speed of sound (Mach 5) is critical for developing new hypersonic capabilities. The urgent demand for hypersonic capabilities, paired with Colorado’s density of aerospace industry and #1 per capita aerospace workforce, means we look forward to growing more hypersonic R&D partnerships with industry and government here at CSU. CSU Office of Defense Engagement; CSU Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering; Research at Colorado State University; Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA); Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR); Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade; Metro Denver EDC; Colorado Space Business Roundtable; #homelanddefense; #peacethroughstrength; #highdemandlowdensity; Taryn Bradley; Emily Wilmsen

A topic near and dear to our hearts - Space Force! As the retired General mentions, it's time to think in terms of networking even with defense. Take a quick read and let us know what you think/ #defense #spaceforce #rdsi #defenseindustry

Completely agree with the thesis of this article. Now is not the time to move backward toward a much less efficient disaggregated approach to space. There are specific tactical systems in support of ground formations that may be in their purview but acquisition/operation of strategic systems should be the sole remit do the Space Force which was stood up to do just that.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks rightfully mentioned Project Diana during this week's Change of Command ceremony at USSPACECOM. The ceremony overlapped the 78th Anniversary of that test to prove that radar could penetrate the ionosphere and make ballistic visible to political and decisionmakers. Proving that concept, by bouncing radar signals off the moon, marked the start of missile warning advancements. Tucked deeper into her speech, she mentioned the doctrinal improvements that China and Russia were intellectually making in the space domain. The United States must expend the intellectual capital to enhance its' space domain policies and doctrine. The United States tends to fixate on technical ( materiel) solutions, but often it is the stratehic policies and doctrinal improvements that make technical advancements meaningful by forcing the DoD to reassess its' organizational structure, its' leadership and educational curriculum, and, yes, its' materiel requirements. Deciding on 'How' America will determine and fight its' adversaries will drive the rest of the needed improvements.  Celebrate Project Diana and the smooth transfer of command between Generals Dickinson and Whiting, but do not loose sight of the policy and doctrinal updates that must occur to fully integrate U.S. deterrence and to maximize multi-domain operations.  https://lnkd.in/gFhdTg-f

The big question is: How do we keep DoD innovation in these areas of commercialization moving forward in the face of stiff resistance? Government changes slowly - deliberately with some good reasons - but getting the warfighter what he needs, where he needs it and when he needs it is critical. How do we balance these imperatives?

SHARE AMERICA! An America 250 Years of History Snapshot! HISTORY OF THE U.S. SPACEFORCE - USSF US Army US Navy United States Marine Corps United States Air Force U.S. Coast Guard United States Space Force Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) The American Legion Vietnam Veterans of America United States Department of Defense Pentagon, US Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy Naval Special Warfare Command - Navy SEAL & SWCC Teams --- --- --- --- HISTORY OF THE U.S. SPACEFORCE - USSF The U.S. Space Force was established Dec. 20, 2019, when the National Defense Authorization Act was signed into law (with bi-partisan support), creating the first new branch of the armed services in 73 years.  The establishment of the USSF resulted from widespread recognition that Space was a national security imperative. When combined with the growing threat posed by near-peer competitors in space, it became clear there was a need for a military service focused solely on pursuing superiority in the space domain.  For the last 60 years space capabilities have become essential to the way a modern military conducts operations. Investments in space capabilities have increased the effectiveness of operations in every other domain.  The U.S. military is faster, better connected, more informed, precise, and lethal because of space. The same premise—that space is critical—holds true for the average American; space capabilities are woven into the fabric of daily life.  Satellites connect people in every corner of the globe, monitor weather patterns, carry television broadcasts, and the timing and navigation services of the GPS constellation power global financial networks, enable international commerce, synchronize cell phone networks, and optimize critical infrastructure.  Access to and freedom to operate in space underpins our national security and economic prosperity. However, space is no longer free from conflict. Potential adversaries are seeking ways to deny the U.S. access to the space capabilities fundamental to our way of war and modern way of life. They have developed an array of threats, both on Earth and in orbit, that continue to grow in scope, scale, and complexity.  Today, the Guardians of the USSF have been called to protect and defend American interests and to ensure our forces, our allies, and the world never experience a day without space. They serve across the globe, working 24/7 to design, acquire, field, test, operate, and defend the critical space systems the nation, and the world, rely upon. --- --- --- United States Space Force USSF #NationalFreedomAndLibertyTreeProject Sons of the American Revolution Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Daughters of the American Revolution America250 Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of California General Society of Mayflower Descendants ORDER OF THE FOUNDERS & PATRIOTS OF AMERICA