NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE ASSOCIATION
2023 Defense and Intelligence Space Conference
24January 2023
Keynote
Honorable Frank Calvelli, The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisitions and Integration
Opening Comments:
-There is a real need to go fast. Like to share some ideas on going fast. Our current space architecture was designed when space was not a contested environment.
[Things we are doing is] ensuring development timelines by building smaller systems, acquiring ground smaller pieces [and] delivering faster, by using sound engineering designs, taking advantage of commercial systems and capabilities. Delivering programs on cost and on schedule.
Came out with tenants…Get acquisitions strategy correct which really means start of right…teamwork [is] key to success…deliver programs that work and deliver them on cost and on schedule.
Today want to talk more about…driving acquisition timelines to be no more than three years from award to first launch. Formula to go fast in space acquisition: 1) go smaller, 2) use existing technology, 3) drive contract scope to be 3 years at most, 4)used fixed contracts.
-First build smaller, to get capabilities faster have to build smaller. Simply can’t build big system fast. Big satellites take time, big components, big structures…building smaller satellites will allow to go significantly faster. Very little DoD systems need to drive to build big.
-Next…we have a culture we have to break; it’s a culture of new. Culture of new. Where government and industry like to build. Have to stop building new and tack advantage of existing designs. Very common practice today to build new, drives schedule and traditionally [causes contracts to be] contract plus. Instead, [now] need to relay on industry and investment…
-Next…baseline stability. Get baseline stability [by] shortening length of contracts and fixed speed. Instability, [includes] rethinking and modifying program scope each billing season, [this] causes a lot of instability every year on programs. Changing requirements, annual cost, re-estimating, using multiple contract actions to develop something. Way to fix this shorten contract and used fixed price.
Government needs to do its part, too. [This includes] clear request of proposals, needs clear and strong PM. Existing programs that may have already started this formula may not apply, but tenants do apply. Execute on cost and on schedule we lose so much time by simply not executing on schedule.
What if need new technology? Drive research and development to reduce risk. Keep focused on payload. Do not create new buses. Use existing components and subsystems. Want to talk about another key area is commercial services. Want to go fast need to take advantage of commercial, (SDA,…) adds speed, diversifies architecture, and adds resiliency.
-The tenants, commercial formula, [going] faster, transforming architecture, achieving operational imperatives, and counter threats to systems [are crucial]. Adversaries have figured out how to go fast, time we do the same.
Q&A
Q: In terms of looking at acquisition and focusing on the big picture…what are some major differences between organizations [NRO and DoD], what can we learn from each other?
NRO and Department awesome. There are some differences. NRO much more demanding customer when dealing with industry…Trying to change that culture at the pentagon that we need to be more demanding customers.
Another thing is relationship between program manager and contractor officer. NRO PM is the star. DoD there seems to be a barrier between the two, need to fix that culture, [which is why] ended up as one of the tenants.
Program stability and department in intelligence community is a lot better and want to bring culture.
Frustrated with [examples of] low bid happen…[working on] putting out guidance as cost and competitive realism as part of Space Force. Working with Dr. Scolese (Director of the NRO) to help institutionalized doing a similar thing [as the NRO has] at the department.
Q: Avoid programs avoid SAPSs, clearly this is something [the community has heard]. Explain the strategic rationale for this…?
To me space is a great enabler. Ground architecture…we have to break that barrier, having individual stovepipes only hurts us. We are actively working at breaking this down.
Q: With that principle elaborate on the need to award executable contracts, need for PM’s and program leaders to understand [what] contractors can do and can’t do. How to hit operational mission [and be] close to industry? What is the strategy?
Really important that every PM understand what industry can and can’t do. To me a natural part of any PM job is to keep up with industry.
Q: Do you see move to small satellites to be out of GEO more into LEO and MEO?
I see us building small everywhere regardless of orbit.
Q: Holding contracts accountable…In AF now SF programs like SIBIRS, GPS OCX (personal albatross), how go ahead and convince contractors [you are] serious ending contracts on time on schedule? Is AF willing to take this responsibility?
I think so,…with authority to start [need to] crawl. Similar approach. Long standing and troubled programs around. Need deliver OCX and get it done. Deliver Atlas, need to deliver NGU p. 1. Key programs that dragging department down for decades and this is the year needs to get it done.
Q: Commercial…We haven’t done as well on DoD side on really assessing commercial space services, doing great on launch, [but in terms of] SDA and communications especially in LEO, strategy how assess those things yet?
Progress in department…going to try, look at all requirements and put them together. [See] how much satisfy with commercial, then [the] rest build. S5 CSRO, take all communication requirements and stack them and figure out [if we] can allocate them to commercial.
Q: Continuing question in terms of balance outsourced commercial, government, what does the balance/combo look like between the two?
If we can get commercial service, we probably should. Significantly adds resilience to the architecture. Every Comm Satellite in LEO, GEO, Commercial were on, makes targeting complicated for adversaries.
Q: Getting Acquisition strategy right. Part of that comes from PEER reviews and independent reviews of programs. For a while AF doing [this] well. Had that independent assessment process, that seems to have gone away. [Any plans to bring it back]?
Taking another page out of NRO, with the acquisition strategy council…Actual strategy panel. I realize my other PEOs weren’t on it. So, I added Kelly Hammett [and others] from SSC. Started having each PEOs on their, giving advice on council.
Q: In 2023 NDAA, Congress gave two pieces of direction 1) department place requirements resiliency and protect satellites 2) SDA doesn’t operate under of J6 process.
Congress been exceptional supporter of space. Like thinking [in] making sure thought through defensive resilience. SDA so far really doing a great job, ability to get things done quickly. Excited for launch in March, and other tranche set in June…This year studying strategy for tranche two and see how process goes.
Q: SDA (Space Development Agency), agree doing great job, first tranche of satellites is somewhat delayed. Strategy [posture] for each Tranche? How much do you need to learn from prior launch?
Think keep moving forwards. Still about 30 months from contract award to launch. Very happy with progress making.
Q: Launch. Coming up to next phase of national security space launch capabilities. A lot more players a lot…What is the strategy seeing the dynamics of launch situation?
I think great for country. Opportunities across variety of players…Team working strategy we are close, start seeing in drafts next couple of months.
Q: Turn over to SDA (Space Domain Awareness) capabilities to commerce. Clearly atlas needs to perform. Some sort of remaining capabilities along with DoC (Department of Commerce). What does DoD still do, DoC needs to do. Interaction have likely to see another failed program? Build single system? Do they work together?
Haven’t been too involved. Great folks in Commerce and great folks in Defense. Like idea of Commerce taking role and know Space Force is really supportive of them.
Q: Differences in things NRO does well that maybe Space Force can learn from. More interaction between NRO and Space Force? Movement of people back and forth?
Do move back and forth. A third of force [NRO Personnel] is Space Force. Think really important to continue to do that.
Q: In crystal ball, look at what will Space Force be doing in the future. New missions can undertake, what do you see as some of more important areas?
Stay focused on current missions and get done really well. MILSATCOM, PNT, SDA, next OPIR, MW/MT. There are fundamental changes to architecture that making across all mission areas. To me cislunar is down the road. Making sure our core mission areas is resilient, integrated so General Shaw can use effective and integrated [space capabilities] with Air and integrated with the Sea.
Q: Executability of programs, seem to always want to start new ones before old ones are executed. What do you see when ready to go ahead and think about thingy…How soon going to get these right? 4 years/decade?
Progress pretty quick, start making different in next couple of years. SDA a lot of programs out of SSC out of Space RCO. Like to think about core things, but nonstop thinking about new things. Priorities right now getting space battle order right. Make architecture more resilient, supporting OIS is key.
Audience Q&A
Q: You mentioned you do not want industry building buses…what types of payloads looking for in terms of innovation?
Anything fits core mission areas. MW/MT, SATCOMM, PNT, SDA.
Q: Contractor watch list. My understanding that AF required to create [one] per 2018 NDAA. Hasn’t been used enough, thoughts using [within] contract process?
Think right, borrowed it from NRO,…but now stepping up game.
Q: [How do you know good space company, in reference to “taco bell” analogy?]
Companies deliver on cost and on schedule. Common delayed (OCX). Folks know. Tend to tab our successes. Company does execute on plan, make sure [community] knows.
[End Session]
Keynote
Lieutenant General John Shaw, Deputy Commander, USSPACECOM
Opening Comments:
-Cyber and spaces are BFF’s.
-Share three big ideas of thoughts thinking about at US Space Command. 1) First is what is new environment in regard to space domain. 2) as grown as combatant command, how do we see mission set fitting within DoD. 3) new fresh operational concept thinking about. We will find a lot of requirements coming [out] of US Space Command.
-First…I think that we are in third space age. It is a different one. The reason that it is different, putting a lot of responsibility on all of us to work together more than we ever have had before. First space age cold war/civil space. Commercial not a lot of that, up to end of cold war. Second space age starts with end of cold war. Linear growth across all of the sectors, commercial started to pick up pace…Most defining characteristic as developed capabilities and got better at across all sectors, it was benign domain.
-Now third space age. Inklings [during] 2007, China conducted first ASAT test, Like to think starting around middle of last decade.. Space threat need to start thinking about this as an operational [concept] like with establishment of NSDC 2016, and US Space Force and US Space Command in 2019. On civil side entered stage, going back to moon. Do it with a lot more international partners. Idea is going to be permanent this time.
-And in the commercial side, really taken off. What else have we seen, just recently, see commercial space systems potentially under threat. Did any commercial company build their systems thought that they would possibly be under treat? What this means, there is a conjunction of all these space sectors. Commercial or civil, have to consider may be threats. We are going to work with NASA as go back to moon. Over 100 missions to lunar environment in next decade. Going to have to have good awareness. Any time human activity anywhere, often mischief that follows. Already collaboration between commercial and civil sectors. Then better collaboration between commercial sector and national security sector…what seeing in Ukraine today.
-Second Idea. Where does USSPACECOM and Space Force fit in this. A lot of responsibility to characterize this environment and try to make that domain as safe as possible to operate in. Both USSPACECOM and Space Force [are] growing. In some ways see Space Force and USSPACECOM, starts delivering products and new capabilities. New plans and how going to integrate. Assigned an AOR, 100 km and extending outward. Relevant operational space for us will grow over time. Operational space that is relevant to us, perspective, moon looking back at the earth…Understand that AOR. Then the dependence on which joint warfighter and human society have at what goes on in that AOR.
-Third Point. Introduce a concept working on in USSPACECOMAND, look at where think mission areas going and kind of platforms going to need and will eventually inform requirements [for] Mr. Calvelli, Space Force, and any other service. Calling it “Dynamic Space Operations”. Almost all of us have worked on systems that are earth facing, purpose of these systems contributed to something that helps terrestrial. New category emerging that is not earth facing. Job to do things within the space domain itself. Puts fine point on why need to go fast and why smaller is better...But what about platform that doesn’t need to be earth facing. Want to be able to maneuver without regret. What to be as free from constraints as possible….You can’t be that spontaneous and can’t be that aggressive…At USSPACECOM, would like to be aggressive with those things, but [assets] got to last a certain amount of time. And have a finite amount of fuel on board. Constrained more than Earth facing platforms. How do we fix that? How does that drive requirements….well maybe one solution on orbit servicing….another solution, every month get one…that works to. That’s what trying to work through. Cycle [is] get after these systems.
Q&A
Q: Prioritization, we do know that USSPACECOM is focused on the threats. Last night Secretary Kendall talked about…today threat is active all the time. What would you say are top two threats in space and focus of command?
Rather than talk about specific threats. From combatant command, maybe failure modes. What focused on greatly concerned. Dependence of joint warfighter on space continues to increase, if anything accelerating. One of failure modes, somehow, we fail the joint warfighter because [cannot] protect and defend in space or deter against other capabilities.
A second failure mode will go back to have to work together to all sectors as much as possible. Failure would be to not engage and grow those partnerships across civil, across international. Continue to operate in stovepipes, then that failure risks failing warfighters.
Q: Recent remarks, talked about first space age, younger…something that happened in that time. Natural competition between Soviet Union and US. Nelson, believes race in going to Moon and race with China. Do you think we are in that in this stage? What’s Us Space Command’s role?
All politics is local…Like to [borrow], all astropolitics are terrestrial. My point is if there is a space race, it’s because having a geopolitical competition and that’s just one factor. If we conclude space race to moon, only a façade of a much broader competition between nations and it shouldn’t surprise us. We should not be surprised if end up seeing competition in space in any sector already seeing national security, seeing some in commercial, not surprised to see in civil.
Q: Trajectory with growth of commercial. There is nothing more inherent launch, that’s a tipping point in terms of commercial. From your perspective, do you think best strategy going forward? Right mix integration of commercial with other national security?
Absolutely, failure mode not leveraging commercial to greatest extent possibly could. Commercial in some ways can go a whole lot faster than government can go. And government can be a better customer and leverage the innovation that exists. Leverage the Research and Development investment. I would also add that another challenge is how do we get enough capacity to do what we want?
When it comes to right mix, think there will be a process, the right mix will be the right mix that we end up with. At start of WWII did we know what right mix of merge vessels/naval vessels was for convey, think had wrong had to figure out. May not be a perfect analogy, will be some optimized partnership.
As we are seeing potential threats, commercial systems come under potential threats, if we need capabilities from national security interest, how do we partner so don’t have another failure mode. As soon as under threat, commercial says now we are done. Have to have a continuing dialogue.
Q: USSPACECOM emphasize on partnerships like collaborative efforts with countries, academia, industry, reps of groups here today…Within that, Is set of partnerships gone right? Are things think we should be careful?
Really good example. That Space surveillance telescope went operational last fall. (With Australia). Telescope…Great partnership with Australians. Another facet of that, that telescope pretty useful equipment, Asteroids/other natural, collecting that and sharing that with NASA. One package partnerships international and government.
How do we keep after that? More allies integrated in combined space operations center. None of those pieces of progress are a mistake they have all been great. Classification, its real. That’s not releasable, why isn’t that releasable to Australia, Canada, France, and Germany. Answers not satisfying…That doesn’t mean open doors wide open, I’m telling you where we are is not at the optimal point. Something got to keep poking at it.
Q: Whether space is special or not? Said in the past that think space is cool….not special or necessarily different. What do you mean by that? How would you characterize certain aspects of space different warfighting?
Space is cool. Why is that? Next frontier, excites imagination as humans…Services struggled a bit with recruiting problem, Space Force did not…
Space is cool, not special. The first is realizing that it is not exclusive domain set apart from other human activity. Anywhere humans go brings excitement, but also there are security issues. Integrating even more and more terrestrial domains, being prepared for success in terrestrial domain.
Other piece, space domain is not air domain, land, or maritime. Own unique physics, own unique capabilities, own TTP, own warfighting expertise. Can learn from other domains, some type of capability, that translates to space. And that growing relevant operational battlespace. Offer to think about space as an AOR…How do we need to organize from security [standpoint]? Achieve success in AOR, leverage what we know and a lot of independent thinking.
Failure mode, someone else does the better thinking and that costs us success in conflict. Great responsibility USSPACECOM, Space Force, and on this generation so next generation makes sure have dominance.
[End Session]
Keynote
Honorable William Evanina National Counterintelligence & Security Center
Opening Comments:
-…As we talk about space want to talk a little bit about counterintelligence with respect, changing landscape of counterintelligence. Not counter espionage. Has grown in last 15 years…countering the adversaries, insider threats, scientists, researchers, behalf of foreign entity, not sure going to be in future but will be…Greatest most important existential threat, yes Russians can do some, but the long-term threat is the Chinese. Biggest now threat. Take a look at counterintelligence strategy. Walk through five pillars of that strategy. How they manifest themselves for you personally…
Manifest self in call to action. Call to action who. Air force, Space Force, Senate, administration. Or for the 100s corporations really amazing persistent companies that support apparatus., industries,
Baffling to me that space is not part of critical infrastructure. Protecting our critical infrastructure. What part of critical infrastructure isn’t reliable. [Also need to] ensure the protection of our supply chain. Supply chain very critical to resiliency, redundancy, and ability to stay current in everything do today…
-Third protecting economic security. Think about money spent propagating capabilities and space. That integration between government and commercial satellite world. Not enough that are invested in space. More come with effective and efficient and spending moneys collective in space. More of that is threat to our adversaries, specifically China.
-Fourth pillar influence, 5G and what communist party in China is trying to do…5G is not terrestrial, the rest of the world does not understand that. Using all tools in toolkit, really being aggressive in point a to point b.
-Last pillar, all things cyber. Close assess, cyber operations.
-Think about what you can do from where you sit. All have a role to play at protecting nation, in the last frontier. China [is set on] winning that frontier. Only two things economic viability and ability to be competitive and at least be equal in space. Doable with combine effort and ability for us to be truly together. Where we are in space, [the] commercial space, leads world in this area that partnership has never been more important than it is now...[China] has capabilities, and the intent beyond Russians do. Attack and facilitate us from all corners to propaganda and facilitating cyber threats.
-Last piece most important, work in partnership with DoD, are the weakest link in the chain. What do I mean by that. Communist party of China when come to interrupt capabilities…coming to organizations, the companies, the vendors, who are the weakest link in that chain. They will come at end product at third or fourth order vendors. Those organizations never ones breached, it was a vendor, contractor in the process. Don’t be the contractor. The things that make it work, and your company is facilitating effectiveness of X think about your role in preventing that X. Not only pride, security thing, but also a brand thing. Part of that brand that the company brings. Facilitated and partners with ecosystem, don’t be part of the newspaper when something goes bad.
-When something doesn’t happen to work, someone is going to get blamed…most important part to success in space is the individual. You don’t want to be that person. Take every one of us to be successful in counterintelligence and security manager.
-Future of what we do DoD to IC, how we manipulate and facilitate business and commerce, all domain about reliability and functionality of space.
-Let’s not let the communist part of China control the space. China more importantly as drive hypersonics program, what do they mean? They mean that…progressive mindset of space controlling licensing functional it LEO. Its DoD? No, it’s a world problem. But end of the day we can solve the problem, in our organization that supports everything do support. Ecosystem platform landscape is in the private sector. No longer spy vs spy…It is the private sector research and development that support DoD. Figure out where you could be a leader from where you sit and ask direct questions.
-How are we integrated on the latest updates? It’s not complicated, make it personal to you. As simple as changing passwords today. Don’t be that person that puts company in crosshairs because you got breached.. Our intelligence is local. The only way we continue to win in space is protect what we do in the lowest common dominator, and that’s us.
Q&A
Q: US offense companies under attack everyday by foreign intelligence services. Not being that person who has sloppy cyber hinge. What are some other steps recommending commercial companies take?
Two aspects. Viable cyber program…mesmerized how many companies don’t have a viable [one]..to have human resource organization across company to help ID employees who are at risk. Second, don’t have integrated team that can secure….in crisis management, 80 % of companies don’t have a crisis plan. Shocking how much not prepared when bell rings.
Q: Foreign counterintelligence threat morphed overtime, to spy v spy, now much broader access that adversaries can gain access to sensitive information. Companies do, to both anticipate, good defense, but also get ahead….
Though in 2019 really good place, then COVID happened, changed landscape…employees working at home. Did that without any security, any training. Securing VPs, assess. Googles, apples, laying off hundreds people. Hired all of these people, never saw them. How do we know who we are? Insider threat issue.
Q: What roles should defense contractors have in supporting security of their supply chain? How do you go about…security of supply chain?
Starts with humans, but also software. Also comes down to primes really driving hard bargain, lay out fundamentally our cybersecurity and security policies are X, if you want to contract with me as a prime, need to meet our security standards.
Q: What worries most in terms of cyber threats?
Continued lack of increased spending [on cybersecurity]…need to concentrate on lowest level. Breaches. Breaches are occurring self-inflicting words. As Americans we panic, we click on links…If we can control variables, get really successful at those wounds. Big cyber stuff will take care of self.
Q: How China targets research and development, both industry and government?
I’ll start with the understanding that it is a comprehensive strategic plan, with respect to attacking a known what. Software capability, technology, take 4 or 5 different ways to get there, starting with insider, business development folks, companies here today that close with DoD have to up game in counterintelligence training.
Q: Attacks on US infrastructure, power stations, homes businesses, etc. How worried? Speculate sources?
Critical infrastructure specifically in energy of space, highly regulated not all that secure. Case by case security…Look at what occurs each attack, and who is capable of that.
[End Session]
Keynote
Honorable Ronald Moultrie, Intelligence and Security Undersecretary of Defense
Opening Remarks:
-American people may not be aware…but globally we all benefit from collective space efforts.
Now increasingly turning space into a more comprehensive way. Space vital to nations security, prosperity, and scientific achievements. Our challenge, simply this. We are not the only nation that understand vital importance of space…expansion of global space services has placed more actions in orbits. Which is, alarmingly known that China and Russia are developing challenging space capabilities, some reversable but some that would create irreversible damage.
-Increased congestion in space poses unique hazards. Reconnaissance, reconstitute quickly and do so, with degree of increasing agility.
-Yet in order to stay ahead of competitors. Most modernize architecture. Both in space and on the ground. Just [need to be] more resilient. To that end building diversified proliferated space architecture. Both national and commercial, across multiple orbits.
-Greater time with target with increased fidelity and with a higher degree of resiliency. This includes working with combatant commands, military services to modernize tasking collection. Nation warfighters have access to data they need from space architecture. Policy makers and warfighters. Device information and decision advantage. Artificial intelligence in our architecture. Committed to integrating commercial capabilities. Allocated program and resources. Timing security and accuracy requirements.
-Second focus, policies must evolve to meet space domain challenges and opportunities. Under Secretary from policy DNI and NSC. Committed to operating by rule of law. Establishing responsible space norms, being good stewards of space domain. Potentially new policies are needed to maximize commercial sector. Game changer, major shifts in where we were before. Must keep privacy considerations paramount.
-Third, evaluating classification guidance in order to maximize sharing information where appropriate. Strengthen relationships, build new partnerships. We are working to build capacity…both around and in space. End to end space architecture most remain resilient and interoperable. Decisions make today will help guarantee space domain assess in future. Coupled with collaborative and willing cooperation of experience viable to our future.
Q&A
Q: Are you fully committed to commercial and what does that look like?
DoD is fully committed to commercial space as is DNI and rest of agency. We worked with DNI to allocate funding, $4B plus dollars for commercial space. Working with NRO and others established innovation fund. So, we can find innovative ways to approach space. Just importantly working with partners and allies. Finding the best way to secretly integrate it into current architecture will be the challenge that we have.
Q: Prioritized assured asses to space based ISR capabilities?
Look at space domain as all other domains. Mentioned cyber earlier on, area thought with challenges. Space domain, start with awareness, awareness of what is occurring in the space domain. How do we build that standard of awareness in space domain. Once developed that means of defining awareness, develop the means, develop the policies to share that information. How do you then establish the policies, establish the pipelines to the various entities that are going to need that information. Establish a way ensuring degree of resilience? How do you ensure that done all we can to defend those in space….help make us more resilient? How do we then take that put into CONOPS that work today?
Looking at Ukraine best real world situation. That conflict has enabled us to really find tune. In some ways theory, but not put into practice operationally. Deliver that to partners allies, etc as required. How do we [put] that into plans and operations...Space domain…is now operating in a more complete comprehensive. Had to learn how to operate in cyber domain and same way operating in other domains.
Q: Pull on threat of information sharing. Have many colleagues, made progress information sharing, but when we talk about information sharing that goes all the way across DoD, still barriers. What do you think those barriers are that we still have when talking about doing it at speed and scale?
Looking at space, we have committed our national defense strategy that can only enable, if we are sharing information. Have to maximize of sharing information…in this domain. We have to have policy that will enable us to do it…Thoughts we overclassify. This belief hid behind veil of classification. In some ways guilty as charged, in other ways haven’t communicated committed to doing that. Committed to lowering that veil. Asked partners and allies in doing the same.
Really important in this space ensuring that we have the means to provide that information. Agreed upon mechanism to receive information. One of the things doing, [is] working with the ODNI. What would be the best way in setting up space sharing policies that allow us to reduce the barriers in providing information. Have to do with partners and anticipate what would need information. Revisited policies and rewriting polices to develop means to share information with individuals. Have to determine what should be reduced in classification at the outset of some of our activities and then have to hold ourselves accountable for releasing that information.
Part is going to be culture change. Policies are a part of it but have to get people away from putting stuff on top of charts, have to find a way of demystifying it and normalizing.
Have to work with you. Have to work with national security council, ODNI, and our leadership. Have to preserve sources of methods. One ask of you. Work with us. Tell us where we are falling short on the mark and where we can engage in doing so. Leaders of industry. Committed to working with overseers and congress…
Q: [Elaborate your views on cybersecurity in space?]
Flip the way that we name in. [Do] not call it cybersecurity in space, call [it] cybersecurity in space domain. Not just in space, the ground infrastructure…Start looking at end to end architecture that enables in space. Starts with ability to enable ground component, and all things [that] enable ground component are secure. Then how do we to the best of our ability protect our in-orbit assets. How do we enable architecture is hardened. Gets to resilience…
Q: As we wrap up, how can we help you? Message leave with us?
Do all we can to ensure fully optimizing ability to operate in that domain. See commercial as major component. Something that we have to work on. Ask if something you see that you see that is barrier to us engaging…Also continue to innovate, because that is important to us. Things like radar. Years commercial space electro optical. Opening up to RF, domain of another organization. Opening up there. Keeping privacy things…DNI committed to peaceful application to space. Last thing need you do is to partner with us. How do we ensure that we are working across [with] each other? Need companies to also work together, we don’t want to be the final integrator. Somewhat hard [due to] proprietary information. Looking for solutions that can integrate as quickly as possible. So we can bring greatest impact as possible. Work [we] do among each other. Will help us in the long term…
[End Session]
Keynote
Air Vice Marshal Paul Godfrey, Commander of U.K. Space Command
Opening Comments:
-Real honor to talk today…. focus comments on developments of UK space command. War in Ukraine and construct devised [to] protect and defend assets in space. As we begin 2023, amazingly U.K. Space Command reaches terrible twos….lots of frustration confirm that we are there. Last year reached IOC, personnel experience all of capability programs that initiated $1.5 million pounds…Being refreshed based on impact based in Ukraine. $5.5 [million pounds] already allocated to SATCOM. Hugely helped out from all of the support in the United States. General mentioned personnel now just over 500, Solid state phased radar (300), Space assurance training test eval (40), space operations center (50), UK Space command HQ (110)…[Our] defense space strategy [has] three strategic goals and now Ukraine has highlighted protect and defend issues.
-National space strategy (Sep 2021), defense space strategy (operating the space domain feb 2022) Global Britain in cooperative age [all publications]. Those words, it easy read, objectives provide three strategic things. [These are protect and defend, enhance military operations, and upskill].
Through national space strategy protect and defend. Enhance military operations. (PNT, SATCOM, ISR). …Focal point understanding effects of space weather on jamming. Also able to provide information to our troops personnel to latest constellation. Unsurprisingly Ukraine one of those contested environments. How military considered alt methods, when GPS not at highest capability.
-Ukraine is also high ground, not having control of the air, ISR has been important. Huge increase ISR over the last years. Don’t underestimate deterrent effects of Russia. Dual use civil non ISR constellation. We will continue to work with commercial with collaborate and assess model. Advantage of own allowing us to control classification. A lot of commercial.
-Last October, at America Futures Forum…We watched initial launches. 24th targeting communication notes, bringing down both military and civilian comms. Single tweet to Elon musk, requested help to use STARLINK to represent the country. Responded within hours…Future, Elon [received] jamming and cyber-attacks have been relentless. 522 launches in orbit. It is sobering to here of that action against STARLINK also fantastic to hear [that STARLINK is resilient]. All that to say to concentrate on orbital system. But linking ground elements need to continue to prevent hostile [actors] from taking actions.
[In regard to protect and defend]. Examples…clean can also be other priority [cleaning debris]. First priority is space domain awareness, the easiest problem to crack. Is potential threat actually a threat or just passing by. Need to arrange sensors to determine if actually use nefarious activities. Wasn’t at the top of their lists.
-Skynet, expand broader. UK Strategic Command and Airbus. Requests coming from across defense with effects digital. Before passing this to AirBus as the operator. All orbital threats started to increase over the past few years leading to organization. Contracted operator solution. Ministry of defense through us and US Space command. PFI, private finance initiative. Airbus still operating. US strategic command there to protect the payload. US space command, there to protect and defends space craft on orbit. Space operations center becomes aware of particular threat on belt, including…huge amount of commercial data…Air Bus operator defense digital. [In discussing operations, options may include do nothing [or] switch barrier off event move to the space craft. May include speaking directly to potential threat operator, may include speaking out against international forms. Therefore, safety platform and risk discussion. How much risk willing to take….working hard on new organization on protection of cross ground link and authorizations. Ability to protect to defend.
Industry [has] new ideas [for] particular problem. Clearly not doing this alone, can see connections with the US. So that we can share information…Can see how match US elements. Always to defense department and state department.
-Final strategic link is upskill and cohere. Education training requirements. Responsible introduction space training course across defense, not just in the space area. Academic institutions to attend space academy. Not only can bring defense personnel. Enhance space courses. Hopefully create act. Take on overseas training billets.
-Space is highly contested. Although just about coming up to second birthday making significant progress. Understanding protect and defend. Enhance current operations within allies and partners. Other things done terrestrial perspective. None of us can do this alone. Our budget…Get this right can really make a different and support for allies in international forums. Civil service and contractors. Highlighting education. Learning lessons in UK Space be solution to multi-domain problems see in future.
Q&A:
Q: UK is investing billions of pounds in Skynet six. Future sovereign UK SATCOM. [Australia and France also invested in SATCOM] and of course US continued to refresh SATCOM networks. Are these efforts beginning to showcase allies [in terms of] defense?
Point to, two recent events. Paris, signature operations MoU NATO central excellence space being built in France. Sat down [with] France and German equivalents; how do we enhance protect and defend mission? How do we enhance SATCOM mission? Various agreement about being able to use excess bandwidth. Good conversation about things…And about future interoperability. New Zealand had combined space operations forum (with Gen Saltzman and Gen Dickinson). One in Australia…how do we actually bring these all together? How do we tie up assets in geostationary. Ukraine highlighted advantages of LEO comms. How do we design into these things? How do we make them modular. So, can in the future in space refueling. All of conversations having in the moment. Something trying to get after. Bit by bit, working at how we can do this. Looking at other side of the house. Just having international partners for interfaces. Those are sorts of things get after easily.
Q: UK has blossoming space sector and launch port, how leveraged by UK space command?
95% way there, disappointing didn’t quite make all the way there [with] Space port Cornwall. It wasn’t the rest time [as in wasn’t for nothing], FAA equivalent had licensed space port operational as space provider. Fact got through all of that make it so much easier. Next space port right in north of United Kingdom could be launching as early as august. Work hand in hand…but actual ran reactive launch trial across all of the elements. Using our air and space warfare center…Learning huge amount from this and hugely valuable. Share with partners and allies as people start considering how use in future.
Q: What’s [your] view [on the] need [for] improved commercial space collaboration development as ingredient or enabler of future government collaboration?
Biggest risk at moment, is a defense perspective. We don’t have the agile procurement processes…In an awful lot of areas it is a commercial space. Amazing startup because launch has been so cheap. Trying to keep up with newest technologies. Not being completely breaded, how do we continue to match commercial sector in advancement of technology and using technology. Really are trying to think outside normal defense acquisition paradigm. Is by leveraging commercial dialogue. More and more dialogue key and more and more forums like this to get the word out.
[End Session]
Keynote
Major General Gregory Gagnon, Deputy Chief of Space operations for Intelligence, U.S. Space Force
Opening Comments:
-[Explaining role of intel]. If it happens overseas, it happens overseas and people were surprised, it’s my fault. Integrated by design generally have allies and partners with us. Important keep historical memory and historical element [of] ourselves. Working closely with British…Helping to partner with new eligibility in Japan. Good group, large group of likeminded countries that want norms, behaved norms of international space…Degree that matters.
-Other leadership Chinese communist party want to show strength. Use maritime force to operate on eastern side of Taiwan. In future grows space strength. What I see in both China and Russia in space…
PLA December 31, birthday. PLA cyber space, PLA aerospace force, that force turned 7. What had they been doing for 7 years?...What could be more exciting, then completing their space station. Which they did this past year. More exciting than flying space plane. This one has been up for five months and like the first one conducting experiments…Having to deal with country with a lot of money. Those are larger forces that are in play international system. Space is part of that dynamic, their grand strategy…2022, banner year for PLA. PLA in outer space added almost 200 satellites, 105 of them were remote sensing satellites, electro optical, radar imaging, multispectral. All things do both in commercial sector and in national security sector. 105 of them in support of intelligence and national reconnaissance. China has rapidly moved from 38 launches to 64 launches. Continue to be in space continue to be in launch.
-I’m excited that our commercial market, talking about horizontal launch…in PLA planet know where Florida is. Have to be able to think through where that is going to go…They will know where launch sites are. Continued assured asses to space is positive thing as well.
-China wants us to know how well they are doing. In their twitter feed, put out texts like this…Hey took picture, look united states navy. They want us to fear their military strength. My job is to watch and that is specifically Space Force intelligence job. A lot of significant activity both in Asia as well as in Europe last year. Space has been tremendously valuable about bringing people together…
-Presidents Zelensky…has reconnaissance architecture that western nations have made sure shown, Putin doesn’t have that…strong group that believes in contract rights, believes in freedom battle of ideas, that IP your innovation is yours to profit from. You believe in selling goods and service in being rightly compensated. That idea is at risk, because large group of people who want to international market, has already showed us how they want to behave. What makes you rich can make you strong. Second largest economy in the world is the Chinese economy. We have to be mindful of that.
-What has [China] done with either defense budgets. Have taken PLA, cut forces and refashion forces from ground focused to join power projecting forces build out Air force and build out this Navy. More surface combatants, and fighter combatants. Had made continuous decision to build joint power projection force. Space critical part. What do they do with this new leverage? How do they behave? They take a coral reef, add drop of sand, over and over again, build airfield, hold legitimate claims of their neighbors at risk, because now they have power. Must be mindful of that power as they seek to move….
Q&A
Q: Counterspace, can you give us insight into counterspace?
My problem is not convincing you PLA has space force, or that PLA is using outer space using counterspace national security…it’s about convincing…Americans, counterspace leads to this. Counterspace….we have to move away lexicon so familiar with and comfortable with, it’s the larger team that matters and with our allies. Remember use jargon that we just don’t get. Examples, counting objects in space, that’s an analyst. All…language not really helping us.
Q: Elephant in room Ukraine and Russia…beyond Ukraine Russia situation?
Terrible situations see in eastern Europe, Ukrainians defending country with their lives, costing lives. One unexpected outcome was the rapid ability to share information. Our desire and our need to share more. And were on it we have been doing it. We believe intelligence community is gold standard. But headstrong to display coalition and partners…Tremendously powerful to talk about Russian…In past lateral been able to talk to partners, but weren’t able to do was give something effective commercial imagery was big for this.
Q: Looking [at the] international market?
Look back on 2022, was important pivot year from space launch. In 2022 due to the actions of the Russians. Increased sanctions and increased partnering across democratic nations. The Russian launch market…19 scheduled, executed 3. Its Roskosmos to have certain level of command to defer costs and pay for business. Also lost ESA. I think roskosmos, put self in difficult position with commercial.
Q: Space intelligence areas worry about or focused on today? How much focus on China about 53 percent. 25 % focused on Russia large part [due to] Russia and Ukraine [conflict]. 23% to 25% other things, space non-faring nations or understanding the market.
Internal to service, how we build space guardian intelligence professionals. Working inside service schools, retention, right jobs, give people experience. Grow and mature in way want to do twenty years.
Digital threat modeling, adversary kit, figuring out how to modify that. Trying to build best joint force. Models and situations. Need to have set standards. Huge project for us.
Q: Value of Space Force [compared] to threat awareness, how do we tie those together? What are your measures of effectiveness? Are you seeing Space Force [as] effective?
Three different measures. 1) doing operations now moved to be investment banker, series of POM discussions. Did not have to make case that adversaries have built and fielded space attack weaponry…pentagon understood that. Pentagon was saying what do we need to be resilient. We need you here…Five years ago, that was not happening.
Went out to Vandenberg to see how to build [intel portion of training], five six years ago didn’t have that. Sat down [and reviewed] every chart. Loaded up ten different intel lessons. All up to date all accurate. Yes…checked that. Learning the right stuff.
Third thing said goodbye to people going to next assignment into squadrons. Dawned on me. Somebody did their space job didn’t do another one, human capital design starting people onto second [space] assignment. One assignment space attack satellite expert but can now piece those together. End of the day in ten years have much more capable intelligence service.
Looking for counterarguments always open to them….
Q: China, what are the constraints see day to day?
One constraint PLA has don’t have us. [Place] United States in two buckets. US private secotor & commercial sector, destructive creative system. Good idea gets funded [and] succeed. Capabilities, market efficiency, and make it effective. They don’t have that…They are trying to have that...
Second thing, PLA doesn’t have, don’t have people in uniform that we have. We have highly motivated all volunteer; PLA is still conscription. My folks want to be here. See difference makes in combat see that today play out in Ukraine.
Q: Soviet military power. What are we doing today for our guardians to show same level of cultural education on what soviet military power is?
One of the last soviet military power [documents],…biggest takeaway was from 1972 to 1989 the soviets doubled the number of on orbit satellites from 80 to 160. Took them 18 years. Then thought about PLA, when stood up space force dec 2015, with 150 [satellites] today have 702 Satellites changed greatly different (4 x).
Q: Commercial data. Where do you see that assured access space perspective as well as proliferation. Lexicon?
The commercial market is expanding exponentially. How do I build enough of those if there expensive to take care of communications. Ability to proliferate architecture not just operatically difficult, but financially.
Second service ability…Whether sending environment visually ability to do that many satellites many orbits. Need to be prepared.
Key thing for us moving ahead is cyber security. Cyber security is absolutely essential for the service. Built very strong relationship with national security service. Guardian intel professionals who serve career in space force in Fort Meade be some best cyber assured transfers.
Q: Belt Road initiative. China? Last month lots of projects failing, promised countries XYZ not bulling through. Thoughts?
Belt and Road will continue to be important to President Xi Jinping, all part of a larger grand strategy. Which China isn’t simply peaceful prosperous, it’s about middle kingdom in Asia.
See narrative come out. It’s more than just failed business problem. Other countries have to make important decisions on development aide. For them it’s a tougher interest. Sometimes key interest… isn’t’ economic development it’s really access. Internal to China, legislation China/data and services available to government motoring. Dominant architecture, were are in effect affording opportunity to steal ever increasing amounts of data…Ability to have power and leverage is not a good option for us or for our likeminded partners in the world.
Q: Dynamic space operations mentioned a few times. Opinion as a guardian?
Pleased when establishing US Space Command, quickly established US Space Force. Quickly need, military service focused on organizing training and equipping. Need that service. Need to move out a little quicker. Also, need someone who fits in construct department of defense for joint.
Q: Warfighting culture, acquisition improvements, can you give them some comments where se warfighting culture of the guardians?
Mr. Calvelli, also General Guetlein, Could be singing duet and in harmony. Both understand if can buy it now get in the hands of operators. First go to. Other go to. Keep it simple, do small things, do fast, continue to move forward. Warfighting culture. Our military is probably the most experienced we have been since WWII, have had 22 years of combat, Space Force more than just space force air command, army colonel, navy captains, all services represented. That all comes from all experience from senior officers…at all grades.
[End Session]
Keynote
Dr. Stacey Dixon, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence
Opening Comments:
-Where commercial space is, and changes seen and how important it is not only American industry is in this realm, to continue to evolve make sure staying competitive make sure staying in the lead, recognize the changes around us.
Many industries that were very low tech. Space is now in place of mining and farming and areas that didn’t use to involve space [now involved]. But what we have seen with regard to spaces and users. User of commercial space. Changes in landscape of space is different players. Being threats, but national systems that are up there. Things have to take into consideration.
Q&A
Q: Used to say the following, wish I knew then what I knew now, dealing with government interacting with acquisition process…Some ways natural in some ways could do better. Challenge of rising China and how fast they are moving. Less inefficiency has beater. From seat at ODNI, team have. Expect making a little less hard?
Working with IC space coordination council, more informed better conversation about how to incorporate space. What is a threat, what isn’t a threat. Making sure have conversations. Create education for those in community. But also, opportunities to help classified discussions.
Barriers, acquisition. Whole other thing. Good step in right direction. But that is sort of working in larger context of some things working on. Have to figure out move faster in acquisition realm. We still have work to do. How do you make regulations, getting out of the way. We will continue to try to decrease amount of time it takes to do work with us…
Q: Impossible to almost to fix…built in aversion to risk. Built in there for a good reason. Good stewards of taxpayers dollars. Built a government that didn’t want to make really big fast mistakes. Because of that the good patriotic 12/GS13, just doesn’t make it GS12 mistakes. That is what we instilled. Risky, trying something new. Edge of regulation. Anything can do…?
One of the things said, was risk taking availability. Yes trying to take the conversation. Also risk of not doing something. Having something protectively. And providing top cover to GS 12, have successful. But haven’t quite figured out how to change paradigm of failure.
Q: Here’s another idea one that not great at. Tried hard way to exchange talent. Send gov officials out to industry did ok…did less well in welcoming industry into building for the same (legal/competition) is that something ODNI is looking into?
Have policies in place public private talent change. Government out to industry, also gives the authority to do the opposite. Specifically with skills. Is happening now. Have teammates, bring industry in for the opportunity, people have proposed but happened in FY…2030?
Q: ODNI rightly credited coordinated effort to expose Russian attentions before they acted, provisions of open-source information and intelligence. Were about to approach the one-year anniversary of that invention…What lessons are you taking away? is ODNI taking away?
Administration decided to expose (IC looked at us) can figure out what can we declassify to share with partners and share with the world. Commercial imagery great with this. Wild card, yes asked partner could do to support, but industry went out and provided support in other ways. Even beyond what the government was able to do. Industry stepped up and helped out.
Whenever we are in the conflict, lessons will continued to be learn. Coalition of sharing…Sharing extremely important. Created an appetite, will have to see how that plays out in other conflicts. Ability to have coalition conversations for conflicts subcontract matters that are of interest to this group. Other potentials in the world part of. Can bring anything to bear. Can allied partners share. Don’t care if coming from American company or foreign company just need the image.
Many lessons learned about what can and can’t do. The importance of being very intentional of looking for what you can share. This is classified, yes it is, this is sensitive, yes it is. Think about it in a risk management as opposed as risk aversion.
Q: More strategic employment of open source…first jobs CSIS join a working group. All good studies…104 recommendations for intelligence community to consider how to best leverage [those]? Any updates on the homework?
Subsequently taken more specific looks at how doing open source. Other ones come out over the course of the past couple of years. Recognizing some of the gaps. How do we make sure doing in common of what can be done. Not at the point that have a solution, but definitely in direction in community, year from now much better look at what that will look like internally. The need and the use for commercial imagery. An open-source intelligence continues to grow.
Q: One angle on open source question…Does come with risks, how do you think about welcoming, integrating and also accepting and realizing. People value that image. How do we make sure that that image is real and not a deep fake and hasn’t been manipulated. How do you think about dual nature?
Imagery is one thing. Any information out there that pulling into systems have to consider fact that could manipulated. Example social media.
It [is] interesting there are pieces that we can do to know when the bots. Know when imagery has been manipulated. Other solution which is how do you strengthen the population to be more better sense of knowing that what they are seeing may be the result of someone influencing something thinking, rather than automatically figuring out forward, hope we get there. Is deeper than one post. Continue to try to invest tools. How do we figure out how to invest partners. Added complexity, domestic, if there’s foreign nexus clear role, after that gets a little blurred.
Q: The interdependence between the pentagon and IC is both critical, necessary, and good. Complimenting in between those pillars. Could foresee. Needs and requirements. Sit in services. That may exceed what intel community authority budget, scope to satisfy. Implication speaking….pentagon would pick up requirements and needs View of interdependence…[thoughts?]
Huge interdependency between intelligence community and conflict. Why, I approach it is always remembering that point but not carving out…Lets do the and…rather then going in trying knee sock solution, let’s work with them what we have and how make entire system better so that can handle those needs. More and more intelligence data huge space in understanding the battle ground. Over the budget goes. And the budget could go to the pentagon, but sill ensure that the budget is something separate to intel community. How do you understand needs for moving that data around. How do we make sure looking at bigger picture what will satisfy all needs. Information both have to continue to bring forward and have debates.
Q: Build on that conversation. Statement on my part. Long history. Government acquisitions, electro optical commercial player. Enhanced view, clear view in past. US government broad base acquisition, board license agreement broad engagement with industry. Would you agree best practice contracting?
Yes, served needs in many ways…
Q: Should we expect to see that model replicated, is that a way. If government veil self of commercial services?
Trying to make sure industry has a better sense of many of requirements. Requirements of security. Letting industry see what makes sense of business perspective. The hill very excited about it, also potentially offers more business to industry.
Q: Those requirements cover intel community and pentagon. Sure, have sporty debates who pays for what. Resolution concurs contract goes, out license allows sharing across. Many things adjust in that whole model.
Also provides opportunities for new vendors
Q: Clarify…those are in the pilot states?
Ensuring that we have talent need to be successful as community, rest all that contracting and technologies well definitely underperform….clearly seen recognized respected administration, ODNI, commitment to have community that looks like our country…Diversity of views. ODNI doing on front and making sure we are unveiling ourselves to make sure have talent.
Visit more schools. Colleges and high schools. Just introduce them to the area.. Been a great feeling a lot of interest, people after left talking amount themselves. Now list of places consider applying. Number of us in community because someone invited in. My goal to exposed to as many people around the country.
Q: Military is struggling to get inputs/applicants needs to get successful…IC are we getting right?
Still getting a lot of applicants. Coming out of government challenges in pay scale. Getting people hooked on internships, go out get other experiences and come back, hooked on missions.
Things I’m watching for element of people opportunities different pool of areas come in and get job done. Some careers and work force continue to be hard to recruit. Other hiring incentives stem pay and benefits offered within government.
Q: How are we doing on the numbers, improving availability and accessibility, inclusive principles with respect to hiring?
Its incremental, community demographic report across the year. Beauty of that is data actual track. Barriers are places and particular operations. Right now is a bit incremental. Recruiting pipeline Getting people in and then keeping them in. Potentially work on that going forward.
Q: Both say to potential people thinking about career path (post college) ideas thinking about them.
Definitely consider career public service. Opportunities in intelligence is so varied and wide. Mission believe in, purpose many looking for found in intelligence community. 1) doing bring in and doing. Advocate to decrease onboarding timeline. On effort to reduce timelines, made some good progress considering where we started. Number one make it not so hard to get in (language skills, stem skills,) once they’re in, want people to be able to have a great career (4 years or 30 plus) understanding what they want, make sure getting opportunities to challenge themselves. Variety of missions to….and if they want to come back, not make it so hard to come back.
[END SESSION]
Keynote
Senator Mark Warner, U.S. Senator of Virginia, Chairman of Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
Q&A
Q: Beyond space, Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, space one of the main things concern self with. [What is the] top one and two intel challenges confronting the community?
Front of mind, is real time, circumstances of Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, possibility that autocrat may use tools not used so far. Advanced cyber-attacks and that potential for disruption…
[Second] Is technology competition with China. Private sector wireless world. To wake [up] and see wireless space Chinese company in case of…not only running tale 5G technology then supplementing that with idea. Even if didn’t create innovation, [can] set standards. We were behind in that. Also, next generation. We stepped up. As well allow chips industry to both integrate to industry abroad and in my field in executing correctly chip legislation. Can see similar technology conversations artificial intelligence…Trying to clean the mantle of being technology get to loop across all domains. Similar type of national investments. That we and friends around the world [want].
Q: Focus on Russia and Ukraine, looking back what has most surprised you and what most concerned you?
Couple positives, surprised me. Our intelligence community, overhead capabilities, so absolutely right on predicting the extent of what Putin’s intentions were (attack…Not all out war)…Surprised [with] President Zelensky administration, importance of leadership…really has responded in remarkable way. In will of Ukrainian people to defend country.
Maybe didn’t get this right how pitiful Russian operations were. Russian columns sitting for days…fact that Russian war machine, been in play last number of years operationally was so poor. Perhaps concern about what we can do pushing back. Don’t think out of woods on that. Threats. Potential use of nuclear weapons.
Negative, some IC, why didn’t [we] predict better Russian morale. Not sure [if this is a] fair criticism, can’t make judgement until see conflict in place.
Administration [has done a] good job [at] rebuilding NATO, longer ramification, nations around world rallied around Ukrainian cause. That helped Ukraine…
Q: Point just made has to do with leadership, galvanizing. How do you think going to play out?
Frame a couple of points. Fairly optimistic…Congress is authorizing…good chunk of resources. Half and half defense and non-defense rebuilding systems. On defense side, we appropriate made the process…, still got a lot of runway in terms about what’s already been appropriated.
Have concerns about some of the voices in the House. On situation of Europeans again feel better than expected…Conflict around tanks could be first breakdown, looks like its Tuesday afternoon 415 [PM] today should get resolved. Spring going to be the [real] challenge [with] Ukraine offensive and Russian offensive and [seeing] how that plays out. Situation on ground, Ukraine feels like resolve has not been weakened…could tell you know the end game here or what off ramp? Not sure if can make that claim. How this plays out, still engaged in long-haul. Find some of the things sanctioned on economy in terms of chips. Sustained power will continue, something have to keep eye on.
Q: Huge interest in security clearance reform…break through barriers, across barrier title 10 and title 50, global understanding space posture…comment where you think are security clearance reform?
I came in this position five years. A concern [from] two sides, young people wanted to join agency (600 days) before got clearance. Loved mission couldn’t wait two years to get cleared. Folks from Virginia and private sector contractors just having huge hurdles….to get clearance process for others down to 180 days. Get secret down to even 30 days. [According to] Agency Director burns, CIA is always the most challenged outlier…In terms of overhead…Urge utilization with commercial. Not just the case…security clearance for example at Commerce Department, so can see greater visibility where need to stay current on and where we need to be on development and resource side.
Making progress. If not relentless on, will slip. At the end [still] hurdles...Got to have ongoing number of clearances, [including] senior executives; ought to be able to know. If finding issues and challenges, please contact intelligence committee.
Q: Leveraging Commercial capabilities, guide what do in IC and DoD. In terms of space industry in general? Been huge advocate? What getting right? What getting wrong?
Generally, been right. First couple of years on committee [I] felt like there most of been…relentless need to move away from government only systems….more [we] move to commercial more can work to distribute... Commend NRO on who their selecting, but also NGA in terms of analytics.
Need to remember if we can get 80% of solution, sometimes need to take that. We can solve many problems that way. Do not need exquisite pixels to all definition for all tools. Welcome in audience to both give committee options also give suggestions.
Satellite side, we want to keep pushing on the edge of that. A lot to be optimistic about in terms of analytics. One other area…[is get after] old school request for proposals. RFI start that RFP then four five-year process make an award. That’s just crazy, can’t do this in an industry that is reinventing themselves every 24 months. IC makes selection process much quicker and realizes that assets need to be replaced on 24 to 36 month member cycle….
Q: What keeps you up at night? Role of China on international stage? China in role in Space? Applies to civil, national security functions. Reacting and thinking…about China’s threats against us. [What is] China doing right and wrong and how ultimately counter their advances in space?
Start how got here…What starting to change me was being on the intelligence committee. Level of IP property theft was growing rapidly (2014 circa). [With] President Xi Jinping, Chinese bought itself. Communist party chilling, to point started roughly 2017….Post covid, some folks didn’t want to talk before hand, now talking, real challenge.
Number 2, really important as policy maker to always stress [problem] not with Chinese people, it is with Chinese Communist Party, president XI…if we don’t make that clear. It reinforces concepts that simply anti-China [which is not the case]
In terms of space, what does that mean? For the most part Chinese space program started to mature [in] 2015. Have all of the legacy assets in the sky. China has already started with small satellites. It is gives a different starting point. China shined willingness. What I think we need to do. How [do we] compete with China in Space. Across all domains. Not being bipolar. Need to strengthen our ties to nonauthoritarian regimes around the world that partners well. A lot of nations around the world…that want to work in space domain. That gives resilience, gives us greater coverage. So, get into conflict, gives us an advantage. Communist party has customers not necessarily partners….that’s an advantage to us.
Q: Test ASAT Russian, space station still dodging elements of that debris….leads to discussion about norms in space. Current administration made a priority. Also gotten other nations to sign on…how important is it to create norms in space and get international community aligned in norms?
Short answer absolutely. We have not always been great about setting norms…In 90s start setting cybersecurity norms on an intentional basis. At the time, our cybersecurity so ahead chose not to participate. Looking back, shouldn’t [have]…idea shouldn’t destroy objects in space make a lot of sense do hope lean forward.
Don’t think can be done arbitrarily from US. One of things have to do [is] go [to]friends in private sector. Have to participate in all of these organizations and standups in other countries. Some small company…we need to reengage. The government does, trying to push that getting better at that. Have to do that alliances and friends around the world. Not only what seen with Russia doing.
Q: Shift gears, 17 different organizations, left 18, added first new member, United Space Force doing, [how do you think doing] in first three years?
I was not 100% sold. Very concerned….trying to bring in the NRO…that is not appropriate does not meet the mission long term harmful. Do think more and more of a believer. General Raymond gets some credit for that. Now have General Saltzman in place. As long as cannot get into jurisdiction food fights. Theme of unity of efforts. Think about protection of assets.
Security clearance, clearance reform. Share broader basis. Making progress. Visit facilities. Some great work going on. Convert something at initial stages wanted to think about.
Very anxious to learn, ideas, requests, lumps in process….promise stay on clearance reform piece. Democrat and republican all in on overhead of space…
[END SESSION]
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