AFA Air, Space, Cyber Conference, September 16

Below are notes from the six panels from Day 1 of AFA Air, Space, Cyber Conference, held today, Monday September 16. 

The panels include: 

Key Takeaway: Secretary Frank Kendall delivered updates on where DAF stands on the Operational Imperatives and Reoptimizing for Great Power Competition. He hopes for the opportunity to continue to serve following the election. 

Key Takeaway:  Frank Calvelli, Andrew Hunter, Gen Michael Guetlein, and Gen Jim Stifle participated in a panel discussion on modernization. The panel discussed modernization challenges such as balancing resources and shifting the current cultural acquisition mindset. 

Key Takeaway:  Space and air superiority are essential for future conflicts. With immediate threats from China and Russia targeting U.S. space assets and lessons from Ukraine showing the consequences of lacking air superiority, maintaining dominance in both domains is critical for national security.

16 September 2024

AFA Air, Space, Cyber Conference

Keynote Address: Implementing Change to Prevail in Great Power Competition

Frank Kendall, Secretary, USAF

Middle East

-I’ve recently been to the Middle East, Europe, INDOPACIFIC.

-Middle East and Israel and Hamas, we have endured limited attacks and have suffered casualties. We do not want to be drawn into the conflict. We’ve been successful in limiting the scale of conflict so far. Hamas strategy has failed, so far.

Russia 

-There is a very real fear of Russia amongst our allies. Russia is an acute threat for all of NATO. Regardless of when, if, and how this war ends, they are likely to remain an acute threat. NATO in the meantime has become both larger and stronger. We’ll continue to demonstrate American resolve. 

-I have been impressed with both Sweden and Finland and how prepared their forces are. We are already learning a lot.

China

-China continues to push boundaries of acceptable behavior. I’ve been closely watching the evolution of the CCP and they are not a future threat. They are a threat today. They have a growing space order of battle. China continues to expand its nuclear forces. We can expect these trends to continue. 

-Our partners in the region continue to be concerned. The likelihood of war in the region is increasing. Xi Jinping has told us to be ready by 2027. China is preparing for conflict with the US. To prevent conflict and prevail in conflict we must be ready.

Opening Comments

-Progress has been considerable. 

-We all know there is an election coming up. We will have a new President on Jan 20. My hope is that I will have the opportunity to continue to serve. 

Operational Imperatives Update

We received the first tranche of funding from Congress and the next tranche is in FY25 which we are anxious for Congress to pass. New Quick Start authority was provided by Congress.

-Space Order of Battle. We started work on several distributed and resilient constellations to replace legacy systems. Distributed multi orbit MW constellation is on contract and being fielded. A distributed tactical communications architecture is also on contract and being fielded. Next tranche will follow soon.

-We have received quick start authority to start additional low-cost GPS satellites. We’ve initiated this program.

-Counter space, we’re making great progress with several systems that at this point are still classified. 

-C3 Battle Management, USAF and USSF systems are taking shape. Early components have achieved initial operational capability. 

-Maj Gen Cropsey and his team are spearheading this effort. Their impact has become more visible in both USAF and USSF advanced battle management. 

-DAF is the executive agent for combatant command level Joint Fires Network JFN. This recognized progress being made and the value of achieving JFN and DAF Battle Management. 

-As part of Quick Start, we have moved to accelerate C3 battle management and moving target indication. 

-Targeting against surface and air threats, we are making progress. We have a great partnership with NRO. We are making sure this capability will meet the needs for DOD and IC. We are moving more sensing capabilities into space. 

-Next Gen Air Dominance, we are moving full scale ahead. Both new aircraft will be flying in the near future. The technology is improving rapidly. We let software fly the plane against the F16 and it was a pretty even fight. We are not walking away from the core function of USAF which is providing air superiority. We are looking at what we need to achieve air superiority. 

-Resilience, we need to resource additional locations. We need to make more progress on active air defense against a full range of threats. This is a joint responsibility we’ve been studying with Army.

-B21 and Sentinel program are essential. Progress is good.

-Cybersecurity, we have made progress in addressing our concerns. 

Operational Enablers

-Mobility, EW, Munitions, Training and Testing. 

-Mobility and EW, the threat is reaching out to longer and longer ranges. This is a problem for aerial refueling and fighters. We started an analysis of alternatives. We’re about to complete this analysis. We issued an RFI for this. We have a strong sense of urgency here. 

-We’re working closely with the OSD staff  as we get answers on the analysis. Standby.

-Electronic warfare is a key enabler for almost all of our OIs. This is a historically neglected area. We’re bringing more focus and conscious awareness to this area. We’re working to advance kill webs. We’re making fast progress.

Reoptimizing for Great Power Competition

-Progress has been excellent.

-Four members of senior leadership of DAF meet monthly on all 24 decisions we’ve made. We’ve since added to the list. We do not have the time for arguments about turf. We cannot move at the speed of bureaucracy.

-Integrated Capability Office has been established. Small but critical org to help with OIs. I brought on Tim Grayson to help facilitate this work. He’s my agent to pull modernization efforts together. We wouldn’t be where we are without Tim’s leadership and his team. The Office is fully established. 

-Competitive Activities Office, they will act as agents for the senior leadership team. They’re focused on secret activities and SAPs that DAF manages for partner orgs. 

-New Program of Analysis & Evaluation Office. They will support the senior leadership team as we conduct strategy planning, balance risk, and will act as our collaborative agent across OSD.

This will be invaluable. We’ve identified great candidates to lead this and we will make announcements soon.

People

-We have great people that are awesome. I’ve visited over 50 installations and at every one I’ve seen passion and excellence. 

-Our airmen and guardians are our competitive advantage. You deserve the best quality of life that we can provide. SecDef Austin continues to work to do this and improve issues like housing, physical and mental health, and frequent moves. We’re working to address suicide, discrimination, sexual assault and more. 

Resources

-I’m grateful for the support DAF has received over the last several years. FY25 budget we were constrained by the two-year budget agreement but we have funds to move forward if the President’s budget is enacted on time. 

-SecDef Austin has made clear a CR will have negative impacts.

-Space Force is undergoing a transformation that needs to be done as quickly as possible. That takes resources. 

-My promise to you is I will spend whatever time I have left working as hard as I can to get DAF the necessary resources. 

[End]

Keynote Address: One Air Force

Gen David Allvin, Chief of Staff, USAF

GPC

-We are in an environment that has great power competition in the background and has characteristics that we need to understand. 

-PRC is building more capacity in all domains and they want to be able to impede our ability to project power.

-We have to be able to command and control and target at scale.

-We cannot win if we do not have space and it’s the same with cyber.

-Make no mistake, if our USAF is called upon to fight, we will fight and win because we are the most dominant force on the planet. But the question is at what cost? As we lean into the future, are we positioned to be competitive over time? Our airmen and joint force deserve better. We’re doing better. 

Projecting Power

-Mission Generation Force Elements, we’re starting here.

-A-Staff & Groupless Wings, we’re going to expect more than warfighting functions. We finalized the command selection list. The summer of 2025 wings will be under this construct. 

-A6 Standalone Organization, it will be stood up come next spring.

AFSOUTH- Service Component Command, we have elevated this component and we plan to do that with the others.

-Units of Action- Combat, Institutional, and Air Base Wings, we’re getting wings in the right positions. We’ll have five stood up by 2025. 

-Air Task Forces are serving as the bridge. 

Generate Readiness

-Combat Readiness Inspections- Mission Requirements, we’ve executed 11 of these. In 2025 we will have 40 inspections.

-Optimized Assessments- Evaluation Readiness

-Developed Quantifying Analytical Report Tools

-Implementing Large-Scale Exercises

Develop People

-17x Technical Tracks, we currently have 21 on the cohort side. 

-Airman Development Command (ADC), this has been critical to have one commander accountable. It’s not just education and training.

-Warrant Officer Accessions, we selected 88 and 30 start class in two weeks. 

Develop Capabilities

-Realigned PEOs

-Air Force Nuclear Systems Center and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Directorate

-Information Dominance Systems Center

-Air Force Air Dominance Systems Center

-Integrated Development Office

-Integrated Capabilities Command

[End]

Failure is Not an Option: Confronting the Modernization Challenge

Melissa Dalton, Under Secretary, USAF

Andrew Hunter, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, USAF

Frank Calvelli, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, USAF

Gen Michael Guetlein, Vice Chief of Space Operations, USSF

Gen Jim Slife, Vice Chief of Staff, USAF

Moderator: Kirk Rieckhoff, Leader of McKinsey & Company’s Public Sector Aerospace and Defense Practice

Modernization Challenges

Guetlein

-For USSF we have a vertical curve. For this we need people and money. There’s a capability gap between us and the adversary. The gap is in our favor but it’s closing, and we need resources.

Slife

-Military Personnel, Modernization, Readiness, it normally comes down to these trades in the budget. We already know we have critical shortages in a number of career fields. The other alternative is readiness but we don’t want a hollow force.

-The difficult work is getting enough resources and making tough choices.

Hunter

-We have requested resources and executive programs in a way that’s caused stovepipes. With the restructuring we’ve done with PEOs, new programs, IDO, we’re solving this problem.

Calvelli

-We have to get the systems engineering done up front, then comes the right acquisition strategy, then comes delivery.

Guetlein

-With this threat, we are never going alone. We have to fight in an integrated fashion. We need to acquire differently. 

-It’s not only a technology challenge but a culture challenge. It’s a mind shift we haven’t done yet.

Changing Cultural Mindset

Slife

-Acquiring like this has been countercultural. 

-The necessity for us to operate as an integrated joint force is greater than it’s ever been. If we get this right it’ll be the greatest advantage. 

Hunter

-We understand the key ingredients and we know what it takes to be successful. 

-Technical architectures are huge enablers. There’s a series of key enablers we’re getting a good understanding of that’s allowing us to have a tailored application for today’s needs.

Calvelli

-To our contractors and partners, it’s your job to ensure what you’re delivering actually works and can integrate in. 

Guetlein

-We need to change our incentive structure. How do we get the sense of urgency and focus? We’ve got to flip the incentive structure.

Next Steps to Ensure Modernization

Guetlein

-Our entire force today is optimized for efficiency and peace. Our industry is optimized for efficiency. We’ve somehow got to get comfortable with an inefficient system that’s more combat effective and have it integrated together.

Calvelli

-It’s all about speed and to get this we have to build smaller. We have to be careful not to worship technology. If there’s existing technology we need to take advantage of that.

-Derek Tournear and his team have done a great job.

Slife

-We have to look at ways to reinflate our industrial base. Part of this is instead of asking for exquisite platforms, we’re able to disaggregate and have companies focus on a particular thing that fits into the larger structure.

Hunter

-We have to practice what we preach at the leadership level. 

-Capability Development Executive Officer, I just signed for this position. It’s for S&T things, pre program of record, that are almost ready to go but need a little more work like the ability to integrate in. 

-We’re doing an RFI to help establish vendor pools. It’s a message to the industry on how we’re going to work with them. It’s about creating a pool of talent that we’ll continuously tap into.

Help Needed

Slife

-For airmen, we need help understanding how to characterize the risk we’re carrying across the USAF. 

-How do we balance requirements with the resources available and what is the risk in doing that and it’s leadership’s job to determine whether that risk is acceptable or not. 

Guetlein

-Characterize risk not avoid risk. You have got to be willing to step out and make sure we’re making conscious decisions.

-We have the greatest airmen and guardians on this planet with a lot of creativity. We need you to inform us on the risks we’re taking so that we can make conscious decisions. 

Calvelli

-Industry, when you bid on a program, bid realistic cost and schedule. Two, if you don’t have the skills to do the job, please don’t bid. 

Advice For DAF & Industry

Guetlein

-Everyone needs to understand the threat. 

-We need to be experts on the threat and joint doctrine so we can be productive.

-Have fun with your people, communicate why they’re here, and take care of one another.

Slife

-We have to grow comfortable not being able to see the complete end destination. We know we’re heading in the right direction but we can’t always know the exact end. 

Hunter

-We need to embrace the approach of making integration the priority over other things and we need to fully understand the trade offs we’re making. 

Calvelli

-There are a lot of positive examples. 

-Space based infrared first GEO satellite, it took 15 years. SSC through great action strategy and the use of middle tier acquisitions, they will deliver the next gen vehicle in 7 ½ years. That’s a 50% reduction of a satellite much more complex than SIBRs GEO 1.

-Space Rapid Capabilities Office delivered in two years from concept to fielding what they call the remote modular terminals, jamming system in two years.

-SDA, they’ve shown that by using commercial and existing technology, you can go from contract to launch in less than three years time.

-There’s a lot of positive examples across the Space Force and I would turn to those as we look towards the future.

[End]

The China Problem

Speakers:

-Dr. Brendan Mulvaney, Director, China Aerospace Studies Institute, Air University

-Dr. Kevin Pollpeter, Director of Research, China Aerospace Studies Institute, Air University

-Wayne Ulman, National Intelligence Manager for East Asia 

Dr. Brendan Mulvaney:

China’s Military Modernization and Budget:

“They are leveraging their entire system against ours at the direction of the Communist Party.” 

“The PLA has made the biggest strides over the last 15 years… longer-range ballistic missiles that’ll attack aircraft carriers or tankers or all the things that we need to enable our better to get in.” 

On Xi Jinping:

“Xi Jinping increased the size of the rocket force by 33% over four years. They are intermingling nuclear and non-nuclear forces intentionally.”

“Xi Jinping has really put a focus on space since he came in, and that’s how they’ve been able to get that fast and far.”​

Dr. Kevin Pollpeter:

On China’s Space Capabilities:

“Space is one area where China has really come on strong… Fast forward 25 years or so, China now has over 800 satellites in space.”

“China sees space as an Achilles’ heel for the U.S. because we derive 90% of our intelligence from space-based resources.”

“China could strike first in space, believing that any conflict with the U.S. would begin in orbit before moving to the terrestrial battlefield.”

“Whoever controls space controls the earth. That’s the real sentiment—they believe space superiority leads to terrestrial victory.”

On Counter-Space and Electronic Warfare:

“China is trying to develop the capabilities to threaten our space assets from the ground all the way up to geosynchronous orbit.”

“They have directed energy weapons that can degrade or disable our sensors, and they can jam GPS and communications.”

Wayne Ulman:

National Security and China’s Strategic Shifts:

“This is the third big shift… organizing around China as the primary organizing principle.”

“We’re not good at reading each other’s signals, and they’re not particularly good at reading ours. That’s a real risk for accidental conflict.”

“They’re learning from the Russian-Ukraine conflict how to harden their own economy and reduce reliance on foreign technologies.”​

[End]

The Wars We’re Fighting

Speakers:

-Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command

-Lt. Gen. Adrian Spain, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations

-Lt Gen Douglas A. Schiess, Commander, U.S. Space Forces – Space and Combined Joint Force Space Component Commander, U.S. Space Command 

Lt Gen Adrian Spain (Air Force)

On Balancing Risk and Capacity

“One of the keys of how you balance is really about articulating the capacity and risk that you have in a service.”

“If I have 24 [combat wings], I don’t have 25… We will have to reconstitute and come back.”

“The services generate, organize, train, and equip to present forces for the Secretary of Defense’s use, and part of our job is helping the Secretary of Defense understand the risks in balance between the future and current force.”

On Future Conflicts and Air Superiority

“What war looks like when you don’t have air superiority… we don’t want to be there.”

“Russia wouldn’t fight NATO the way they’re fighting Ukraine. China wouldn’t fight the U.S. the way Russia is fighting Ukraine.”

“The importance of air superiority is a key takeaway from the Ukraine war—when neither side has it, the conflict becomes bogged down.”

On Force Generation and Readiness 

“We’ve unveiled new force generation concepts in the Air Force, with units of action, squadrons, and combat wings moving into predictable deployment cycles.”

“Part of this unit of action is not only forming them in a certain way but training them to be prepared for that environment.”

Lt Gen Douglas Schiess (Space Force)

On Space Force Operations and Threats

“We have to protect the joint warfighter from space-enabled attacks… It’s not a future threat, it is our threat now from the PLA.”

“Both China and Russia are working on co-orbital anti-satellite capabilities, including jamming ISR satellites.”

“We now have direct ascent anti-satellites that could take our satellites out.”

On Lessons from Ukraine

“We are learning lots of lessons from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine… They are jamming communications, GPS, and ISR satellites.”

“Proliferated low Earth orbit communications have made it much harder for adversaries to jam systems. Starlink has demonstrated the value of these networks in Ukraine.”

“The ability to geo-locate jamming sources and then put them on a joint target list for elimination is one of our top priorities.”

On Space Force Readiness and Budget 

“Our risk is how fast can we get to the capabilities we need… We were built as a merchant marine and now we must act as the U.S. Navy, defending the space domain.”

“The Space Force has struggled with force presentation because most of our forces are employed in place, but the new model allows us to package forces and ensure advanced training.”

“The readiness of Space Force combat squadrons and their ability to defend assets, especially from China and Russia, is critical to U.S. national security.”

Lt Gen Michael Conley (Air Force Special Operations Command)

On Adapting to Great Power Competition 

“It’s an exciting time to be in AFSOC. We are leaning very hard into future capabilities and figuring out what our role is in a future fight.”

“We have to make sure the men and women we send into harm’s way are ready to go… but we’re also looking ahead to contested environments.”

On Crisis Response and Force Generation

“AFSOC has a crisis response mission, and when we get tasked to go out the door by the SECDEF, we go.”

“We’re learning from our force generation cycles, but the challenge is extending forces out of cycle during crisis response… Over time, this presents a risk to future readiness.”

“We still have men and women in harm’s way right now… we don’t have the luxury of looking just at the future.”

On Lessons from Ukraine and Innovation 

“The Ukraine crisis has highlighted the ability to scale innovation quickly and at scale. The use of UAVs and asymmetric capabilities has shown the importance of rapid adaptation.”

“Ukraine has demonstrated the need for constant adaptation, from low-end capabilities like drones to more advanced technologies that need to be updated regularly.”

[End]

Space as the Supported Command

Speakers:

-Air Marshal Paul Godfrey, Assistant Chief of Space Operations for Future Concepts and Partnerships, USSF

-Rear Adm. Heidi Berg, Deputy Commander, Fleet Cyber Command and Deputy Commander, Navy Space Command

-Rob Atkin, Vice President, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems Group

-Robert Lightfoot, President, Lockheed Martin Space

Lt. Gen. Adrian Spain (Air Force)

On Balancing Risk and Capacity

“One of the keys of how you balance is really about articulating the capacity and risk that you have in a service.”

“If I have 24 [combat wings], I don’t have 25… We will have to reconstitute and come back.”

“The services generate, organize, train, and equip to present forces for the Secretary of Defense’s use, and part of our job is helping the Secretary of Defense understand the risks in balance between the future and current force.”

On Future Conflicts and Air Superiority

“What war looks like when you don’t have air superiority… we don’t want to be there.”

“Russia wouldn’t fight NATO the way they’re fighting Ukraine. China wouldn’t fight the U.S. the way Russia is fighting Ukraine.”

“The importance of air superiority is a key takeaway from the Ukraine war—when neither side has it, the conflict becomes bogged down.”

On Force Generation and Readiness 

“We’ve unveiled new force generation concepts in the Air Force, with units of action, squadrons, and combat wings moving into predictable deployment cycles.”

“Part of this unit of action is not only forming them in a certain way but training them to be prepared for that environment.”

Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess (Space Force)

On Space Force Operations and Threats

“We have to protect the joint warfighter from space-enabled attacks… It’s not a future threat, it is our threat now from the PLA.”

“Both China and Russia are working on co-orbital anti-satellite capabilities, including jamming ISR satellites.”

“We now have direct ascent anti-satellites that could take our satellites out.”

On Lessons from Ukraine

“We are learning lots of lessons from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine… They are jamming communications, GPS, and ISR satellites.”

“Proliferated low Earth orbit communications have made it much harder for adversaries to jam systems. Starlink has demonstrated the value of these networks in Ukraine.”

“The ability to geo-locate jamming sources and then put them on a joint target list for elimination is one of our top priorities.”

On Space Force Readiness and Budget 

“Our risk is how fast can we get to the capabilities we need… We were built as a merchant marine and now we must act as the U.S. Navy, defending the space domain.”

“The Space Force has struggled with force presentation because most of our forces are employed in place, but the new model allows us to package forces and ensure advanced training.”

“The readiness of Space Force combat squadrons and their ability to defend assets, especially from China and Russia, is critical to U.S. national security.”

Lt. Gen. Michael Conley (Air Force Special Operations Command)

On Adapting to Great Power Competition 

“It’s an exciting time to be in AFSOC. We are leaning very hard into future capabilities and figuring out what our role is in a future fight.”

“We have to make sure the men and women we send into harm’s way are ready to go… but we’re also looking ahead to contested environments.”

On Crisis Response and Force Generation

“AFSOC has a crisis response mission, and when we get tasked to go out the door by the SECDEF, we go.”

“We’re learning from our force generation cycles, but the challenge is extending forces out of cycle during crisis response… Over time, this presents a risk to future readiness.”

“We still have men and women in harm’s way right now… we don’t have the luxury of looking just at the future.”

On Lessons from Ukraine and Innovation 

“The Ukraine crisis has highlighted the ability to scale innovation quickly and at scale. The use of UAVs and asymmetric capabilities has shown the importance of rapid adaptation.”

“Ukraine has demonstrated the need for constant adaptation, from low-end capabilities like drones to more advanced technologies that need to be updated regularly.”

[End]

Space as the Supported Command

Speakers:

-Air Marshal Paul Godfrey, Assistant Chief of Space Operations for Future Concepts and Partnerships, USSF

-Adm. Heidi Berg, Deputy Commander, Fleet Cyber Command and Deputy Commander, Navy Space Command

-Rob Atkin, Vice President, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems Group

-Robert Lightfoot, President, Lockheed Martin Space

Air Marshal Paul Godfrey

On Space as a Warfighting Domain

“We need to start thinking about space as a supported warfighting domain in its own right. This shift has profound implications for doctrine, force structure, and operations across the entire joint force.”

On Space Force and Collaboration

“One of the primary partnership areas in space is with CSpOC, the Combined Space Operations forum… now 10 nations including Five Eyes, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, and Japan.”

“When we stood up UK Space Command three and a half years ago, NATO had only just declared space as an operational domain.”

On Deterrence and Operational Readiness

“We have got to the point now where we’re calling it a warfighting domain because of its criticality to any warfighting in any other domain as well.”

On Threats from Russia and China

“There had been classified, but in and around, somewhere around 500 Chinese satellite overflights of the United Kingdom that people weren’t talking about.”

On Space Debris and Budget Concerns

“If you get a Kessler event and all of a sudden it’s taking out everything, then no one’s navigating anywhere.”

“Don’t underestimate the cost of those sorts of capabilities… the budgets are reasonably small.”

On Ukraine and Cyber Threats

“The very first shot fired on the 24th of February [in Ukraine] was actually a cyber shot that took out the Viasat network… the first salvo of 100 missiles, many of them taking out communications infrastructure.”

Rear Adm. Heidi Berg

On Integration of Space and Naval Operations

“Almost everything we do that involves going over the horizon… is dependent on space… from assured command and control to long-range logistics.”

On Deterrence Against Russia and China

“Russia has proven to be an irresponsible actor in space… the whole-of-government approach is essential, combining sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and credible military threat to deter irresponsible behavior.”

“China is developing an extensive counter-C5ISR network to track, target, and strike the Joint Force.”

Theme: Focuses on the growing threats from Russia and China in space and the importance of having a credible deterrent to counter these adversaries.

On Multi-Domain Integration for National Security

“We have made this an integrated staff with cyber, cryptology, and electronic warfare… and it’s part of building the broader ecosystem that we need as a warfighting domain.”

On Russia and Ukraine Lessons

“In the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the importance of a resilient, redundant architecture has become essential for assured command and control.”

On Space Force Support to Navy and Joint Forces

“We play the away game specifically… forward deployment allows us to create the terrestrial maneuver force for US Space Command.”

“The Space Force’s forward presence supports the Navy’s global deployments, ensuring space-based capabilities are integrated into naval operations.”

Rob Atkin

On Space Defense Infrastructure and Budgeting

“We only have a few places to launch from, and the industrial base doesn’t have very many companies… It makes sense because they’re large spacecraft, but we need to push towards a broadened industrial base.”

On Technological Innovation in Space Defense

“We’re transitioning towards smaller spacecraft and mobile ground stations… so that the adversary doesn’t know where the command and control nodes are.”

On Jamming and Cyber Threats in Space

“The amount of communication that we need to push through can become a target… If you can reduce the amount of data, you can use waveforms that are inherently more difficult to jam.”

Robert Lightfoot

On Budget and National Security Concerns

“We didn’t acquire them or build them to be stitched together… Now we have to do that… I think we have the capability to do that, and I think that’s going to be the biggest strength across industry.”

On Role of AI in National Security

“AI is going to be a big leverage point… not to make the decisions, but to get the right information to the decision-maker at the right time.”

On Space Assets Vulnerability and Integration

“It’s not just the physical asset, the satellite, it’s the entire infrastructure that comes with it. How do we enable an architecture? It’s really an architectural discussion, not a single platform.”

On National Security and Deterrence in Space

“If we don’t protect that capability and deter others from getting involved with it, we’re going to be in trouble.”

[End]