Washington Space Business Roundtable with Col Rich Kniseley
Washington Space Business Roundtable with Col Rich Kniseley (Senior Material Leader, Commercial Space Office, Space Systems Command)
May 17, 2024
Highlights:
- Col Knisley discussed partnerships with industry. This includes mutual beneficial relationship with Space ISAC.
- Discussed the space force commercial space strategy, emphasizing that industry plays a role in each line of effort. Also highlighted that the “strategy does not provide answers, but frames discussions to have valuable constructive conversations.”
- Highlighted the success of the TacSRT program, discussed efforts to expand this program to also support EUCOM. With this program focused on tactical operations of space capabilities and thinking through global data marketplace.
- Provided several updates on CASR. This includes an upcoming opportunity for industry to provide feedback in August. Also, planning on having CASR contracts in place this year.
- During the question and answer portion discussed the FY24 congressional add and thoughts on what this will support, progress with TacSRT, and the CASR model.
Keynote Highlights
Partnerships with Industry
- Focused on partnerships with industry and other government partners. Discussions are ongoing on commercial capabilities, roadmaps, and opportunities to deliver to the warfighter at speed.
- Acknowledge still a long way to go. Thinking through how SSC outthinks and outmaneuvers to face multi-faceted threats. Natural extension to look at partnerships with industry.
Work with Space ISAC
- Space ISAC is currently monitoring cyber-attacks. Noted increase from year to year. Cyber-attacks are driven by geopolitical conflicts.
- Threats are also noted from the proliferation of debris, increased risks associated with space traffic.
- Space ISAC has a commercial integration cell. It is a center to expand and collaborate with DoD/commercial sector. Mutual benefit relationship with helping enhance critical infrastructure and helping commercial entities stay informed.
USSF Commercial Space Strategy
- Space is the backbone of modern society. Space contributes to agriculture, communications, power grid, financial sector, etc.
- Spirit of competition includes American innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Joint acquisition and operations commitment to optimize integrated commercial capabilities. DoD has four guiding principles: 1) Balance, 2) Interoperatbility (with a focus on government and commercial solutions), 3) Resilience (this includes speed and scale) Looking at increasing number of commercial providers and diversifying supply chains/expanding use. 4) Responsible conduct.
- Noted importance of creating responsible norms as outlined by the four LOEs in the strategy. These include: 1) Collaborative Transparency, 2) Operational and Technical Integration, 3) Risk management, and 4) Secure the Future.
- Industry support and active engagement is tied to each line of effort. Looking at operational utility, feasibility ratio, and resiliency by design.
- Fielding capabilities quickly and available to the joint force.
- The strategy does not provide answers, but frames discussions to have valuable constructive conversations.
- Asking industry to come with technological innovation and emerging capabilities. Come with ideas and mature solutions.
What’s Next for Commercial Space in USSF?
- List of priority areas in the strategy. Noted the importance of TacSRT.
- USSF evaluating ways commercial market can provide capabilities. Building new commercial marketplace, beyond SDA and into [programs like] TacSRT.
TacSRT Success
- TacSRT success for USSF.
- Helps users and [brings in] commercial data analytics to rapidly deliver operational products to the combatant commands.
- TacSRT program provided 246 operations plan products in support of combatant commands. Looking at expanding to EUCOM. Moving support past AFRICOM and SOUTHCOM.
- The program has supported analysis of key infrastructure in Africa. In SOUTHCOM has supported report building on shipping companies in showing violations of international sanctions. Have demonstrated with this program that can receive commercial data 72 hours quarry from award to delivery.
- Focused on more tactical operations of space capabilities. Thinking through global data marketplace.
- Commercial data into operations done through the JCO. USSPACECOM non classified alerts. 24/7 US and 13 allied nations more in training as part of partnerships with the JCO.
Other Commercial Services Space Force is Thinking About
- Looking at Alt PNT and Weather. Recent weather summit was successful.
- SpaceWerx to fund direct to phase 2 contracts. [Have heard the feedback] that see problems with amounts up to $10 M.
- Hybrid systems need to secure best technologies including data analytics, cyber, and crypto solutions.
- Cognitive space operations and applications to BMC3 models.
- Use the SSC Front Door. COMSO was set up to welcome technology. This includes looking at financial management, visibility, and capabilities needed [from what is available from the commercial sector.
Commercial Funding
- Know that need to show [industry] that there is money [for commercial efforts]. Working hard to make happen.
- Working between USSF, OSD, Executive Branch and Congress. Looking to establish a consistent flex funding strategy. This includes an approach to on-boarding and integration of new technology through organizations like DIU, SIBRS, and Office of Strategic Capitol.
- Funding multiple pilots with TacSRT. Integration is part of facilitating these programs.
Commercial Augmented Space Reserve (CASR) Updates
- For CASR, plan on having an update in August including a chance for industry to review updated documents and provide feedback.
- Highlighted in the commercial space strategy, shows that the Space Force is serious about the program and commercial integration.
- Believe in you (addressing industry) as this continued effort.
- Benefits of becoming a member include threat sharing. Working through incentives tied to CASR as the operational community helps develop CONOPS.
- Continuing conversations with industry. Providing opportunities for feedback.
- Emphasized that program is voluntary. We want industry to be a part of this program.
- Plan to have CASR contracts this year. Have village of people and organizations working together to do it.
Audience Question and Answer
Elaborate on Congressional Add in FY24 Budget
Total addition is $50M. $10 M is in direct support to USSOUTHCOM. $40M supports all COCOMs (INDOPACOM, AFRICOM, EUCOM), thinking through how to broaden capabilities. Expect a commercial [to answer this] call. Space Force is not doing this in a vacuum. Working with NGA, NRO, CSPO. Combined effort to have SRT integrated into a larger concept. Working with COCOMs on roles and responsibilities.
Business Model of SAML and space services. How do you address potential skepticism?
Currently doing analysis on SAML. The commercial market is beyond DoD. See utility [of SAML] at GEO. [Could] help system [last] longer in the event of delay in fielding replacement until allocated for in the budget. SAML still in infancy. With Front Door, approximately 40% companies [we] see have a SAML capability. [Shows] these companies are looking at innovation within the logistics chain and interested in refueling/maneuverability. Modeling and simulation are also another factor.
Progress with TacSRT
Ongoing pilot operational program. Looking at outlining requirements to see what commercial capabilities are needed. TacSRT and ISR markets mature. TacSRT gets after speed of [getting information]. Look beyond COCOM uses such as humanitarian missions and military operations. Also looking at integrating commercial partners with exercises and evaluations.
Does the COMSO office have use for Commercial Space Stations
Have seen some U.S. companies with LEO platforms. This is future station stuff, and we can help them find who to go talk to. Opportunity for them to go through Front Door and help those companies get to people who make those decisions. Huge advantage in standing up Space Futures Command to look at this demo availability and understand if capabilities are there.
CASR Model and Financial Stability. What Do you Need to Think about Here?
Majority of this is run through a contract. What capability [are you] providing and how much cost to surge. Work with SWAC on integration with PEOs and CSRO [with] plans for Space Futures Command. For both commercial and international capabilities, not buying for commercial sake but something that is needed to get after that fight. [Understand that companies] don’t have excess capacity and have a Boards of Directors to report to, so when with the choice of joining CASR members [want to make sure that we] have done our due diligence.
Impact of CASR Draft Language in the NDAA
Supportive of it and very happy to see it there. It codifies CASR into law. No added authorities presented in the text. [Commercial integration] is clear in the Space Force strategy and OSD strategy. Contracts called out target mainly space domain awareness through marketplace. Good learning ongoing and hope to be a repeatable process. Each mission area will be treated differently.
How Start-Up Companies Can Get Involved with SSC
Industry days do a great job of wide swatch [of information and engagement] with different levels of industry. Even appropriate for startups. More conversations with investment community. Quarterly investment round tables is where want to go. This will have an impact on capital. Direct dialogue with government helping them understand dual use capabilities.