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Happy Friday!
This week we're seeing some news from the Air & Space Forces Association Conference. Our top story shares news that the Space Force is piloting a new command structure that integrates acquisition, operations, and maintenance. Chance Saltzman says that this shift will "align responsibility, authority, and resources"--connections that are often lacking.
DoD released its Space Policy Review and Strategy on Protection of Satellites, as required by the NY 2022 and FY 2023 NDAA, and the unclassified version of the 2023 Cyber Strategy. Both involve working more intentionally with commercial partners.
DoD announced two new agreements using the DPA to increase domestic production of both nickel and lithium, used for batteries, high-temperature aerospace alloys, and stainless steel.
In acquisition news, a Defense News article notes that Navy investments in shoring up the shipbuilding vendors are paying off, with increased capacity and lower costs. There are predictions that these intentional investments will continue to pay off and address well-known limitations in production.
In ARP news, we've got a recording of a recent webinar recapping the recommendations of the Section 809 Panel. Your newsletter editor is one of the speakers, sharing information about how ARP continues tracking and researching on the panel's recommendations.
And in Congress news, we bring discussion of how DoD is failing to produce the approximately 1,000 reports required of the agency by Congress. This reminds us of the Section 809 Panel's work to eliminate some of the duplicative or outdated reporting requirements that no longer added value. Perhaps it's time for another look at this compliance burden.
In our "One More Thing" section, a reminder of the great contracting success story to rebuild the Pentagon after the 9/11 attack. Congress, DoD, contractors, engineers, and many others worked together to demonstrate an incredible emergency response. We know that, when it needs to, the complex defense acquisition bureaucracy can deliver quality, rapidly and effectively.
This Week's Top Story
Space Force to create “integrated” units responsible for acquisition, maintenance and operations
Sandra Erwin, Space News
U.S. chief space operations Gen. Chance Saltzman on Sept. 12 announced the Space Force will experiment with a new command structure where a unit is responsible for all aspects of a mission area, including training, procurement and operations.
Two integrated units will be established, each run by a Space Force colonel — one for space electronic warfare; and the other for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) satellites.
This is a departure from the current structure where responsibilities for procurement, maintenance, sustainment and operations are fragmented under separate chains of command, Saltzman said in a keynote speech at the Air & Space Forces Association’s annual conference.
The Space Force will name these units “integrated mission deltas.” Deltas are Space Force units composed of squadrons focused on specific mission areas.
“The Space Force has come to realize that to be effective; a service must align responsibility, authority, and resources for all aspects of unit readiness,” said Saltzman. “This must be comprehensive and include all activities.”
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