WASHINGTON — Defending the nation won’t be the only concern for the Air Force as it takes the lead in the Pentagon’s restructured space program. Offensive tactics too will have to be developed.
Six or seven nations already have voiced interest in developing technology that could undermine the effectiveness of U.S. satellites, both military and commercial, said two Air Force space leaders who briefed reporters Thursday following Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s recent announcement to reorganize the space program.
The United States, in turn, is creating ways to quash potential attacks, like encrypting communication or moving satellites in unpredictable patterns, said Lt. Gen Robert "Doc" Foglesong and Brig. Gen. Michael Hamel.
The same things the United States is working to guard against also could be used against U.S. enemies, they said.
But the generals hedged on providing more information — not wanting to incite another possible arms race, for one, or divulge classified information.
On Tuesday, Rumsfeld unveiled the Pentagon’s plan to give the Air Force the lead responsibility in space management. The Navy and the Army still will maintain some control over what programs, manpower, intelligence and equipment the services want, but all efforts will be funneled through the Air Force.
Policies are being articulated, and leaders are figuring out who’s going to do what. But they have established that setting up a direct chain of command is paramount.
The under secretary of the Air Force ultimately will be in command, and will focus on space-related budgets and polices. The Commander in Charge for Space Command, or the Space CINC, will lead operations.
"The journey, in a sense, is just started for us in the space commission," said Foglesong, deputy chief of staff for air and space operations.
The Air Force will establish a "cradle-to-grave" approach, overseeing inceptions of policies, technology, satellites and weapons and being around when they’re no longer needed, Foglesong said.
The Air Force also will assume command of the National Reconnaissance Office — but not before studying operations to make sure they adopt what works and tank what doesn’t.
The "fragmentation" of space initiatives didn’t make sense, and a single office in the Pentagon will now oversee programs, said Hamel, director of space operations and integration and also deputy chief of staff for air and space operations.
Air Force officials will closely follow recommendations proposed by the Congressionally mandated Commission to Assess United States Security Space Management and Organization.
Despite the nation’s increasing dependence on space, it has been one frontier grossly neglected, concluded the commission, once headed by Rumsfeld. He stepped down after Bush nominated him for defense secretary.
The lack of attention makes the United States "an attractive candidate for a space Pearl Harbor," the commission reported.
The United States depends on space more than any other country, for military surveillance, weather forecasts and cellular phone connections, to name a few.
Instead of having the individual services do their own thing in the space area, the commission recommended creating a new undersecretary position to coordinate national military and intelligence activities related to space — which the Pentagon readily adopted.
Rumsfeld’s reorganization will have little impact to servicemembers and civilian personnel in this field, the generals said. If anything, it’s likely to translate to an increase in jobs because of the growing need to expand.