Rumsfeld on U.S. National Security Space Management

U.S. Department of Defense
Washington, D.C.
May 8, 2001

SECRETARY RUMSFELD ANNOUNCES MAJOR NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE MANAGEMENT
AND ORGANIZATIONAL INITIATIVE

Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld provided to Congress today his
assessment of the report of the Commission to Assess United States
National Security Space Management and Organization. The Commission's
report, published on Jan. 11, 2001, addressed the importance of outer
space and space activities.

A text of Rumsfeld's assessment follows:

This is in response to section 1624 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (Pub. L. No. 106-65) which
requested my assessment of the findings of the Commission to Assess
United States National Security Space Management and Organization.

The Commission has presented a well thought through, independent and
objective assessment. It identified the importance of outer space and
space activities to the security and well being of the United States,
our allies, and friends. The following are my views on the
Commission's recommendations.

First, a new and comprehensive national security space management and
organizational approach is needed to promote and protect our interests
in space.

Second, a Policy Coordinating Committee for Space is being established
within the National Security Council structure. The Committee will
provide a senior, interagency forum to develop, coordinate, and
monitor the implementation of the President's policy guidance for
space activities.

Third, the Director of Central Intelligence and I are meeting
regularly to address intelligence matters and are establishing an
Executive Committee that we co-chair to review intelligence issues of
joint concern. We have requested the Director of the National
Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to examine how to establish an Office of
Space Reconnaissance within the NRO and report back to us next month.
We will keep the defense and intelligence oversight committees
apprised of our future course of action.

Fourth, I have directed my staff to prepare guidance for implementing
the following recommendations to improve the leadership, management,
and organization of national security space activities. I have asked
my staff to keep Congress informed as part of this process.

The Secretary of the Air Force will be directed to assign
responsibility for the Command of Air Force Space Command to a
four-star officer other than the Commander in Chief of U.S. Space
Command (CINCSPACE) and the Commander in Chief of North American
Aerospace Defense Command (CINCNORAD).

The practice of assigning only flight-rated officers to the positions
of CINCSPACE and CINCNORAD will be discontinued to ensure that an
officer of any Service with an understanding of space and combat
operations could be assigned to the position.

The Secretary of the Air Force will realign headquarters and field
commands to more effectively organize, train, and equip for prompt and
sustained space operations. Air Force Space Command will be assigned
responsibility for and provided the resources to execute space
research, development, acquisition and operations. The Commander of
Air Force Space Command will be assigned responsibility for managing
the space career field within the Department of the Air Force in
accordance with the Secretary of the Air Force's guidance.

The Department of the Air Force will be assigned responsibility to
organize, train, and equip for prompt and sustained offensive and
defensive space operations.

The Department of the Air Force will be designated as the Executive
Agent for Space within the Department of Defense, with Department-wide
responsibility for planning, programming and acquisition of space
systems.

The Secretaries of the Military Departments will be directed to
enhance space Professional Military Education at all levels to ensure
our forces have a direct understanding of how to integrate space
activities into military operations.

The Departments of the Army and the Navy will be directed to continue
to establish requirements, maintain a cadre of space-qualified
officers, and research, develop, acquire, and deploy space systems
unique to each Service.

The Under Secretary of the Air Force will be assigned as the Director
of the NRO, designated the Air Force Acquisition Executive for Space,
and delegated Milestone Decision Authority for defense space programs
through the Secretary of the Air Force. This will align Air Force and
NRO programs and permit both organizations to use each other's "best
practices." The National Security Space Architect (NSSA) will be
realigned to report to the Under Secretary of the Air Force and
Director of the NRO.

The Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the
Service laboratories will be directed to undertake research and
demonstration of innovative space technologies and systems for
dedicated military missions.

The Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller/Chief Financial Officer
will be directed to establish a space program, budget, and accounting
mechanism to increase visibility into the resources allocated for
space activities.

Finally, I have decided not to request legislation to establish an
Under Secretary of Defense for Space, Intelligence, and Information. I
have asked staff to review the responsibilities and functions of the
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications
and Intelligence and provide me with recommendations for ensuring
appropriate senior-level policy, guidance, oversight, and advocacy for
space, intelligence and information activities.

I have consulted with the Director of Central Intelligence on this
matter, and he concurs with these decisions.

With your support of these initiatives, we can arrange the Department
of Defense to focus on meeting the national security space needs of
the 21st century and sustain the United States position as the world's
leading space faring nation.

Originals of this letter are also being sent to the leadership of the
defense and intelligence oversight committees.