Back in the 1990s when visiting U.S. Space Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado, we were told space was “benign international territory” and that weapons in space was not something the U.S. was pursuing. Use of space-based assets had been critical to success during conflicts in the Middle East. Adversaries, both real and potential, knew what that meant. Today we are faced with a radically changed set of circumstances that the United States Space Force is working diligently to manage. Established in late 2019, the U.S. Space Force builds, presents and executes combat power to secure our national interests in, from, and to space.

As a Department of the Air Force Civic Leader, our recent visit to Colorado Springs was to gain a strategic perspective on key air and space force issues. Space Operations Command (SpOC) and the Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) were primary focus areas. SpOC controls and monitors space assets and utilizes various methods to preserve and protect our satellites and the International Space Station from collision and space debris. Countering potential aggressive actions to deny our capabilities is another aspect of these operations. STARCOM trains operators and aggressors to perform the various duties required. At the AF Academy, we saw how future Guardian officers are being prepared to lead the nation’s newest service.

We also visited U.S. Space Command which integrates and employs military space power into the multi-domain global operations that encompass all branches of the U.S. military. During the briefings and tours, we were able to spend plenty of time with active-duty Guardians to learn firsthand about their missions and training.

Key takeaways are:

1. U.S. economic health and national security depend on space every day, and these capabilities are taken for granted by the Americans. For example, navigation and credit card transactions use GPS timing, and weather imaging and communications satellites are essential.

2. Space is a highly contested and increasingly crowded domain where our potential adversaries have made significant strides toward capabilities for degrading or destroying our space assets. In 2015 China designated space as a new domain of warfare and since then their on-orbit presence has increased by 560% (+820 satellites). Russia also has a significant intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance satellite capability and has developed a concerning kinetic counter-space capability.

3. Integration of needed space capabilities across all Joint Forces operations is imperative to be successful in today’s conflicts. Information at the speed of need is crucial to decisions on the battlefield.

4. A small number of very expensive, exquisite satellites that have no defensive capability and no provision for refueling or upgrades is no longer the approach to take, but large constellations of small relatively inexpensive, redundant (and somewhat expendable) satellites is the better approach. Consider as an example the Starlink communication constellation which currently has 6426 satellites in orbit with 6371 operational.

5. Young officers and Guardians executing the missions are a smart and capable force. The Guardians are continuing to build the capabilities we need to succeed in a volatile and complex global environment. The unique training by STARCOM creates knowledgeable space experts to the joint effort. Cadets at the Academy likewise are building and controlling their own satellites while they complete their four-year degrees. They are the leaders of tomorrow.

We need to do all we can to support our nation’s defense efforts in space. As General Saltzman stated in his AFA Speech Sept. 2024: “Space is only going to become more important, and the pace of competition will increase along with it.”