Lawmakers express concern over DOD 'space cadre'

Aerospace Daily & Defense Report07/23/2004

House lawmakers expressed concern over the development of the Defense Department's "space cadre" during a House Armed Services subcommittee hearing in Washington July 22, with committee chairman Rep. Terry Everett (R-Ala.) saying that current plans for the cadre lack detail.

"The committee is concerned about the breadth and depth of the current Department of Defense plan," said Everett, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee's Strategic Forces Subcommittee. "It seems to lack sufficient detail and structure for implementation."

The Rumsfeld Space Commission in 2001 recommended the creation of an experienced cadre of space professionals. The Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2004 directed DOD to develop a strategic plan to coordinate the development of space personnel career fields across the services.

In his opening statement to the subcommittee, ranking member Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) said he expected to be "disappointed" after hearing about DOD's progress so far in developing the cadre.

Peter Teets, undersecretary of the Air Force for space, said one of the challenges facing the development of the space cadre is a shortfall in engineering expertise. "Our aim is to have our acquirers [of space systems] proficient in sound engineering practices and appropriate risk management decisions," Teets told the subcommittee.

Another challenge is ensuring that the space cadre in each service gets optimum opportunities for career progression and promotion. "We are determined to ensure that the space cadre disciplines do not become stovepipes that stifle development and kill careers," Teets said.

Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) told witnesses that he was concerned that space cadre members won't begin thinking about space as a potential battleground itself, not just as a medium for supporting ground operations. "If we let the services define their role, they're not going to do that," Thornberry said. "They're going to support the other things that they have going on."

Teets responded by saying that Air Force Space Command has been given the lead role in space defense and control, and is thinking about both the protection of space assets and the possible development of offensive military space systems.

Identifying the cadre

Gen. Lance Lord, commander of Air Force Space Command, said that the Air Force already has made good progress in identifying the personnel that make up its space cadre. The service has categorized 7,058 people on active duty and 3,000 guard, reserve, and civilian personnel as part of the cadre, he said.

Air Force Space Command began offering its "Space 200" education course to personnel last July and now has offered the class to more than 200 students to date, according to Lord. The course is reserved for space professionals with eight to ten years of experience in their space-related careers. The classes have included students from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and NASA, he said.

The Air Force also is developing a Space 100 course, which would be an entry-level offering, and a Space 300 course for senior-level managers. "We estimate we will be able to educate over 400 students per year starting in the very near future," Lord said in his written testimony.

- Jefferson Morris 

(jeff_morris@AviationNow.com)