Transcripts For CSPAN2 U.S. Space Commander Remarks On Space Force Development 20240713

And i welcome you to this if it today. The commander of u. S. Space command and commander of air force Space Command at Peterson Space of course at colorado. Were so lucky to have them join us public conversation with doctors and who director security project here. In general is going to speak first. And then well have a moderated conversation followed by an audience q a. There are very few things that can be considered bipartisan nature in washington so concern over space as base threats are one of those as i hope you dont try me and walking me the general. [applause] thank you i greatly appreciate the invitation and more portly for your leadership. I was enjoying coming to csis. I have to apologize to the team because i always get more out of these engagements that i give. It is a great and i hope that well get to that. While the group really good conversation and some things i can take away and i continue to work on. About three years ago, a little over three years ago, right before he took the commander position. Since i past held a dinner series when we brought folks and to talk about the challenges in space. I always marvel if i was prepared for these remarks. And what the folks that were in that dinner with thing today. Because we have mayday ton of progress. We have really put the accelerator down and made some great gains. The sole ton of work to do but as i reflected back on those conversations in a liquid where we are today with the advances made, they are significant. The thing that is driving us this is one simple sentence of 11 years. Space is the war fighting domain just like air land and sea. Used to be be that you cannot see that in public. Space and war fighting in the same sentence for the u. S. Was to keep the space domain safe and that is still her goal to defer any conflict for even beginning. But we cant wait couldnt see that publicly. Now every suit speech i give i usually see that right apart. In rules of her lips really easily. Theyre pretty sick if you get and the implications of really been driving my biorhythms for the last three years. So pretty much wont change. How we operate in the air force Space Command. In describing how we are building and standing up u. S. Space command. That is really will be the focus of some brief remarks upfront. So the main opportunity for me and the 11th man. As Space Command is than just a command focus on base space. It is really helping the department get its arms around global integration. You look at the National Defense strategy in the global gentle challenges that we face, we are intimately involved in those conversations. Were the best in the world of space. In august of the ceremony at the white house in the rose garden, got a little bit better. This was done up at the command and this command is singly focused. And that alone provides the commands and its not my first or secondary job this is my primary job and this is my focus and providing advances to and for our nation. Theres a potential that were going to stay on up and start planning. So took five people on a tty in san antonio texas, look five people in the room and said okay, with the plan news command. And in the evenings and that i would huddle with the team to review the planning and give direction and at the end of the way, we came out with here is how we would build this command given the opportunity. It is fascinating for me to be given the opportunity to begin planning an independent command and then sanded up and get going and lead as beginning and its a highlight of my career. We set up a little tiger team. And for the next year, we plan that command. It is pretty unprecedented if you look at doing all of this in one year from planning to standing up in the air. And very private team. Today we are about 400. An arrow in the next couple of months, the beginning of next year our numbers will raise up to about 500. Many of you know we had a u. S. Space command backend are from 1985 to 2002. Some might see wanted to bring it back. Her was different about this command compared to the one that was done in 2002. Is this in the ceremony we had, but recognize the establishment of the Space Command, this is the different command custombuilt for a different day. In his purpose built. To get after the National Defense. In his purpose built for the strategic environment that we face today. An appeal of the missions, the president signed an unified command plan, assigned to me, it is a much sharper focus on protecting and defending. And not just usm lights but our u. S. Military satellites. His partner in allied commercial satellites. There is a much sharper focus on offense and defense. And probably the biggest thing is one of the biggest things, is it geographic commands. The u. S. Speak command you can but command they didnt have an ao are. They provided Space Capabilities are the go. We still do that today. But the strength and that is the war fighting domain. In the department stood up to command in the geographic command and ao are is the hundred kilometers above the earth news surface and higher. That is a big ao are great really big ao are. To get after that protect and defend peace we custombuilt this command if you will in the first time with an operational loophole of component specially focus on that protect and defend. Thats been very helpful. We are geographic combated plan we have integrated planning elements that will embedded all of this. And stay connected with those commands. And again it is purpose built because the challenges that we face in the global challenges. In the require all combating commands. We are stronger connection with her allied partners. We have made strides in that over the last few years. A really proud of where we are. We stood at the command, weekend purpose built a combined Space Component and before i was the manner of the joy for Space Component, when we sued the cell, mayday combined command. And operating in seymour. In the same suit to centers thats going to provide huge advantages to the folks press and our partners. We also have additional policy. The department will come back with what authorities the use Space Command need to do this commands. Very hopeful that this will be in the very nearterm. Ties to our partners. There are several partners that would like to focus on. What is the joy work fighting partners. And again is the National Defense strategy states, the challenges were going to face the future are going to be global challenges. Judge of the pacific has brought just innovation, this going to require all the commands together to be able to handle this. I am convinced that in the future if we were to get into a conflict with the near peer competitor, were going to have to fight. Thus a joy work fighting challenge. This would require other command supporters in our u. S. Space command. Our partnership with our allies over the last several years increases training opportunities with our allies and exercised with exercise and we do war games with our allies and we stood up a combined Space Operation set up and back to it just got to see spot. In the commode command into a combined command center. We are very close to payloads with allied partners like japan. Britney hosted the load on the satellite we are doing hosted pay lights partnerships with norway as well. Also a close relationship with their inner agency. Our relationship with Intelligence Community is never been better. Our relationship is at an alltime high. We have a standards share strategy and share concept of operations. Weve built a ct center this is National Space center. In speeches over the last couple of years the site from preschool to about fifth greg. I did spend a handful of hours at about a week ago and i have changed. Now we are in high school. Weve made some really significant gains based on the datasharing that we are able to do based on having situational tools and waverley made some great strides. In our partnerships with commercial. And i see this as a big growth area Going Forward. When commercial integrated that combines Space Operation centers and i see great steps ahead and be able to leverage. I talk about this, that term to use but an explosion in commercial space. I say theres great opportunities ahead. Something about this command, again we built it to make the National Defense strategy and if you look at the National Defense strategy and you look at the rebuilding the radius notes and strengthening the reliance and the department. Those are all things that Space Command are tapped into. Our priorities for the commander five, five parties in first, going to transition space for fighting responsibility some use Strategic Command to u. S. Space command. Infiltrated weve done that starting in 29th of august and so we are at response over Space Operations we do that daytoday and i was so you and not only flee not miss a beat, with actually enhance the game a little bit. Were leaving this going to fall operational capabilities were moving out with a sense of urgency to be able to do that. Some are already in operations among the other things we are working on. The requirements. Component doesnt have a requirement function. Were building a requirements team. Intelligence, i will tell you that may be one of the most important things that we do early on is to rebuild that intelligence function that atrophy that once the u. S. Space command to send out in 2002 went away. I say the most significant in our highest action is planning. And not just planning by ourselves but planning in concert with the combatant commands around the world that we partner with. And that is why we are billing these integrated planning centers. In the other party is to expand key allied partial partners that we talked about. In the last one that i have images of art is going space war fighters. And as a two part problem. The scream Space Operators who understand war fighting. And it is building what you and i might consider more traditional and have a better understanding of space. So its a progress to date. Weve gone from about five people to about 500. So were building the team. I am really proud of how we have brought this Team Together and moving really quickly. Weve gone through joy manpower validation process to figure out what the man is going to look like an thats complete. Weve hired integrated planning and will send up to first integrated elements. Yukon and starcom. Working very closely with no, as well. We reach out to the combating commands and visited with africa. So it very linkedin with u. S. Strategic commands. As you can imagine north calm and in a pay count, you, and after, and really appreciated that engagement. Or embedded in the global integrating piece of the department so we are playing it were games and exercises as part of that and say not only were playing it more help leading the effort for the department. When enhance our engagements with allies. In brief, the military committee data, to get a more formal relationship going with nato. It is about to declare an operational domain in this way to be very important that we have that linkage. Where the fighting side we are developing the Campaign Plan for space. That will be done here at the beginning of next year we published our first integrated party so beginning to have much more of it influence on the budget if you will. And then again, this much strength and much more heightened voice of the combatant loophole the we were at the other loophole. The liz goes on and on. Of a sense of where were headed. We are ready now. And going stronger each everyday. Were in line with the direction from the National Defense strategy and were building and fighting of course to respond to the competitive to get justin strategic environment that we face today. We have a great opportunity as a teller team that we are not led to the pass. Restarting kind of from scratch. So we can build this command in a way that gets after the challenges that we face. And with that i say i will close and open it up for a dog. I really appreciate the opportunity to be here. I say i am extremely proud of the soldiers and marines that i am privileged to lead that Space Command. It can be more proud of how weekly this, and provided advantage to our nation and not just a nation but to our allied partners as well. Id like to take those minute to mention chief. His advisor for the command as well. He is here with the spirits again, thank you for the opportunity and look forward to the dialogue. [applause] general, i want again for coming here to see us and share your thoughts. On the future of the United States Space Command. To start with the basic definitional question because i was telling fred earlier what is going to be doing monday morning. I was doing this he met with the commander Space Command and she asked me was his job before that. Because new command and i simple basic manager air force Space Command and of course what is the difference. Can you help define our folks, one of the roles and responsibilities of the air force Space Command in the United States Space Command and how they differ and how they function. Is the great question and i want to again it quite frequently now into nine in a job in a chemical job as well. So i can yell at myself on one hat and ive gotten an opportunity to do that over the past couple of weeks. It is kind of fun to have that conversation. Back in the 80s there is a law that was done is called goldwater in the department was divided one is organized function and what is the war fighting function. Services to organize our and aviation and marines. Inmate airport space hat, i secure satellites, c2 capability to build it but we focus on organized trading equipment. In that hat and a giant hat, nor fighting hat, that is joy business. As a u. S. Space command falls in the war fighting side. Yukon and north palm starcom, we know have the a Space Command is more fighting. So it is completely different function. In my air force hat, i organized trading equipment for the air force and i present that to myself and my u. S. Space command hat to and i also have an army and that is weve god News Service Part component. I also have an Army Service Component and bring an army and so it is two different functions to different roles, but there is a close partnership. So thinking ahead to the future, one of the things that congress is debating and considering is whether or not to create a space of course and you talk space of course would be different. Absolutely. Let me see that i have been eager for congress to pass this so that we can continue have a space course. In both nets, both functions, both punches the u. S. Is looking to elevate space. To have an nt this singular focused on space mission. As of the war fighting hat, we did that we took the Component Command that used to work for the Strategic Command and elevated that to its own combatant command. Similarly on the training equipment side, today air force Space Command is the major command working for the air force. What were looking to do is elevate space separated from the air force and have a singularly focus service on this domain. Anyway it is very similar to the navy and marine corps we have a secretary there air force, that would have both the chief of staff of the space course and have a law the chief of staff of the air force. S like a navy site, theres a secretary of the navy that has part of the marine corps and chief of naval operations. So it would be there. U. S. Space command, putting on the act, you mentioned is different this time. Used to have you command that was a functional command. Nesbit reestablishes a geographic command. The rules of the geographic commands is that they put together operational plans within their area of responsibilities and centcom will have operational plans for contingencies to buy rights in the middle east and the you, while responsible for youre up and a conference Pacific Region and so on. His u. S. Space command developing operational plans that are exclusively space domain. Absolutely and as i mentioned, that is probably the highest priority we do. We started with Campaign Plans first. We made great progress in that. And again early next year that should be done. And then as we build our planning team, we are beginning the work on doing the open development. The thing that we are going to work really hard to do is to do that development in concert with the other combatant commands. This one is innovative hunting elements, will live in those other commanding commands. And we will plan together. And if you look at the challenges were going to face in the future, their global challenges. In the need to be interconnected is very important. Werent going to build these plans in partnership with the other combat commands. We largely support but they will largely it will also support us. I want to talk teams if you will. Where i already this with the other geographic commands and you know, an open land that might deal with russia and persian you wrote could also have impacts with russia may do things in the Pacific Region at the same time so we already have some seams between these different aars. Can you talk a little bit more detail about how you are working the seams between, u. S. Space command hundred kilometers and above and all of the other geographic commands that are hundred kilometers nursing blow. Especially when there might be a war fighting scenario where someone launches a missile and it is about a hundred kilometers was quite come back down below 100 kilometers or as part of contingency and one of the other theaters, as part of whats going on in the ground that makes use to attack iraq in space. How do you integrate those plans and who is in charge of operationally if we get a two oh war fighting situation the starts on earth but is in space. I mentioned in my remarks and if you look at the National Defense strategy detect about global sick challenges. And staff is really been on the former chairman news leadership and now with general millie. Really focusing on Global Integrated integration and having a globally integrated plan that addresses those things. Because limited to, if theres a conflict in one part of the world, its not just going to be the combatant command for that part of the world is going to bleed over for example in the scenario there is conflict with russia, and deterrence with your spell is conflict with russia that would require you, obviously the primary combatant command focus on the region. It will also require support from u. S. Space command and trends can and north, and Strategic Command u. S. Cyber command and you see how those plans have to be integrated so that we dont have those things. Any plan plan together and do that work together, we say that there or it will provide great effort. And so must situation you envision the Space Command would be a supporting command rather than a supported command. In most cases we want it but there are in the future as we have to fight for priority, were going to require support from other combatant commands. And you mentioned insurance can you talk a little bit about how you say deterrence in this job in the Space Component space deterrence. Wonkey lasted about space deterrence. And there is no such thing as it. Its just deterrence only. We talk about with our Nuclear Forces but i say that the deterrence is much broader than that. We do things in space that can amplify the deterrence space. Along with others. So as we look at global animators, we also need to look at as integrator for the deterrence. Because each combatant command hasnt deterrence rule and we need to make sure that working together we are sending a coordinated goal. Their primary mission goal, i shouldve said this in my opening remarks. If you look at the baseman our mission is the parties, versus deterrence. We do not want to get into a conflict that begins with an issue space. So there are things we can do that can change that suppercaseletter of potential adversary to deter. And to do that we need to do that in concert with others. The second area we will focus on is to defend and i talked about those sharper focuses on that protecting the space center and that is the second thing in the third the is what weve been really good at for years and that is to deliver. We deliver capabilities to the joy capability. Weve done that largely since desert storm. In the fourth d i mentioned my remarks is to develop. So the deterrence is number one deliver and develop and those of the 40s. Sue and i would note in his priorities that offensive actions in space. I say that there have been a lot of discussions with folks outside of the military and especially International Arms of worrying. And at the reestablishment of the United States Space Command and the creation of the space of course is somehow signaling that the u. S. Is taking a more aggressive offense of postures space how would you respond to those critics. Smack your Mission Statement is clear. World war fighting command. And we will [applause] often save and defensively fully. Our goal is to determine the way to do that is up from a position of strength. But that is our primary focus. We do not want to enter into a conflict because her is with space. Our focus is making sure that we do so from a positional strength and we have the ability with capabilities that fuel lot that. With our allies. Before i go to questions from the audience, see guys can start getting your questions ready i have family down in alabama and every now and then they send me articles about how usbased commands are trying to pick headquarters there. I dont expect your ready to make an announcement right now but feel free if you are. [laughter] but what is the process that goes into figuring out where you are going to put the permanent headquarters of the u. S. Space command. The air force has been named the lead for that process. In their forces running that process and it is a very transparent process. It is used for all of us. Not just usbased command. You hosted a meeting with agencies about the future of space and so can you give us some details of what you have had in mind this is air force Space Command and like it where they are headed so when space excellent as a rocket error with command distract. That saves significant amount of dollars. And allows for a more rapid turnaround so the range of the future how we position ourselves that we need from the joint capability. Without faster turnaround time. Working collaboratively and then just to further that dialogue with a total population. And im hoping to do this with less money. And then you have to reduce that infrastructure through autonomy which is important as well. Im from northrop grumman. It seems like you are a single focal point for everything space. [laughter] so with that there are requirements that are being developed and talk about accelerating so from industrys perspective that army coming out and to balance that and what you need to satisfy a and im trying to be as transparent as i can with industry. And you dont know just how hard industry tries i dont want you to spend a dime to try to figure that out and thats how we will operate into it by industry to come in and say we will give it to you. And with that classification issues. And if you look at the requirements Going Forward its not good enough to have that exquisite satellite system you also have to protect. And all the things that we are looking at. So understanding that when the requirements come in there with those requirements that we responded to. But with industry we want to give you the capability that you need. From what i can tell. As we transition from a war fighting focus can you go down a level of human capabilities you think servicemembers will have that they dont have now . I give a talk in the process of giving it to every airman and i have a powerpoint slide. Everybody knows that lisa limburg the pilot the birds got in the engines. If i was on an airplane i would want sally to be my pilot. And then with a different domain. Because what we have done is the luxury we have the worlds best Space Operation if you want the United States airman in worldclass and shift that to the Fighter Pilot method to understand the threats and how to understand those capabilities its a different way to do business. We transform our operatives. And then space 1020300 and then get more active. So we have greatly transformed how we do business in that best analogy is that i can use. With Nuclear Deterrence and with respect to space. So as you know technology that you state that the United States has staked out a frontier and it sounds all the more aggressive. Entirely for so long. So with that credibility of deterrence of what can point to Everything Else is behind 27 doors. And 180 degrees from that is not in their dna. And then to return joint were fighters into space. What about the nro cracks but the first that had ten questions as part of it. And i agree with the premise. That capitals is foundational to whatever. And then to develop that strategy. But the nro has their missions that we do our missions at. And then stood up a National Space Defense Center and then now doing programs together. So joint space were fighting. And then to talk about. The national Intelligence Community updating that an ie on space threats in china and russia to show exponential or major advances based and let me know. But what about those threat findings with the acquisition for gps three or the constellation of the infrared planning crack. I will not speculate. And to get back into the conversation we talked about earlier. You have to build a satellite to just survive the launch and called infant mortality. And then you have to survive in the environment. And then to build those in the future satellite programs and with our partners to have the joint Space Capabilities and every citizen relies on those capabilities. You see a lot of the commercial Space Companies buying large proliferated satellites. And to utilize those capabilities and how can that help contribute to the threats and deter adversaries . And when space excellent the first 60 satellites so then you see that growth dont quote me on this but its on the order of 15 or 1600 objects in space that is changing significantly. But we do think the biggest thing that we talked about earlier working in the office of post transformation. But the project i was given at the time was to develop a model for space. And then operates it for about 10 million. Without proliferated architecture and then that changes the Business Model. And then we need to make sure that it works. And then it takes a bunch of years to get another one. And then allows us to move with more agility. And then that hybrid approach. And that good enough capabilities. In that Business Model is important to do. With africans command cybercalm so as a requirement coming from the command we see it a little different that your command and without war fighting domain. How do you see industry and so how do you see that hybrid happening you see the beginning to happen now. It with those capabilities and then technology and those two factors in now operation relevance with a small satellites prevent one present that opportunity for i think its coming. In the Industrial Base expands. Right . And other companies to get into this market because im pretty excited about where this is going. And then say i will turn off gp gps. I would push back a little bit. And we are making some progress on that front. Thank you general. And then i would like to draw the attention to the engagement and then without operational domain with norway and then especially in germany. So what are the obstacles of the transatlantic operation. So we are working very hard to develop partnerships in the space. We havent needed them in the past. So we are working very closely france and japan. And there is an awareness issue. And that really fuels and dont understand the threat that exists today. And have a Great Partnership and then move towards mission sharing. And talking about satellites that feed information into our Situational Awareness catalog i think there is great opportunity here to develop capabilities that would be beneficial and primarily the gets back to the 16 part question that we are stronger together. I want to ask one final question. So netflix has announced they will have a new series regarding space force. What advice do you have for the makers of that show . [laughter] so a year and a half ago going to my Bank Statements at the time i wasnt a netflix watcher. I had it and then canceled it then 35 seconds from three different places around the country were my children. [laughter] so i turned it back on. [laughter] so then a couple minutes later which was about a year ago my daughter calls me she says they are doing a show about space. And steve cuomo unit i said he has to get a significant haircut then on twitter it was going around who would place a. So then the big joke was it would be bruce willis. [laughter] so asking if it would be a comedy but i tell you what nasa has done in a civil sector. And with those launch vehicles with us Space Command and more people are knocking on our door to say how do we become a part of that . I remember talking about this series that we posted a few years ago how do you inspire the next generation. And i think that is a lot of that today. Out of 1000 early 13 but i made a mistake and i gave a talk so if i am ever any help to you. And emails are coming so how do i get into space . And then i want to come to space. And in those cases and thats a great thing for the nation. And then to pay huge dividends. And then to play a part in this. And the point that we are at today it is exciting because we will provide significant advantage. So thank you for being the voice in this business. And thank you for sharing your thoughts. Thank you for coming. [applause] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]