Center for Space and Defense Studies
Department of
Political Science
HQ USAFA/DFPS
United
1. When was the center developed? What phase is it on?
The Center is a new initiative, built on the unique capabilities of the Air Force Academy to meet a nationally recognized need.
Currently, in its initial “proof of concept” phase, the Center was officially launched in April 2005.
2. Why did you decide to have a space policy center?
The Center was established in response to a need to provide an intellectual foundation upon which to develop a coherent integrated national policy toward space. However, in any discussion of the Center, it must be clear that our purpose is to study policy, not to make policy, or advocate for one specific policy over another.
The impact of this effort will enhance the creation of a space culture among Academy cadets, the Air Force, and students at other institutions of higher education.
3. Who is in charge of it?
Within the Dean of the Faculty, overall responsibility for the Center rests with the Department of Political Science, under the leadership of Colonel Douglas Murray. The Director of the Center is Ambassador Roger Harrison.
4. When will it open?
The Center is already “open for business.” The Center for Space and Defense Studies
represents a continuation of the work of the Center for the Study of Defense
Policy, formed three years ago. In
December 2004, the Center sponsored (in conjunction with the World Affairs
Council and the
5. Who is able to use it?
The primary focus of the Center to enhance the education of cadets and their development as future leaders with character in service to the nation. In developing our new textbook, fostering an intellectual dialog about space and defense policy, supporting research and internships by faculty and cadets, we expect our work at the Academy to be of benefit to the Air Force as a whole and be of interest to others in the military services, civil government, academic institutions, and the private sector. We believe a free and open dialog between all interested parties is essential to the creation of a sound, lasting, and beneficial American role in space.
6. What is inside the center? What kind of information is available?
We are working to build an intellectual base of knowledge to support learning about space which we can share Air Force wide. We are bringing together nationally recognized experts to contribute to our textbook, Space Defense Policy. We are working to produce an on-line journal Space and Defense. The Center plans to support cadet internship programs, foster research by cadets and faculty, and host an annual Forum on space and defense policy issues. We intend our website to be an interactive part of textbook which can serve as a portal for research and education about space and defense policy.
7. What is the goal of the space center?
Our mission is to provide the intellectual foundation for
the integration of space policy in the overall national security policy of the
8. Did anyone really lobby for the Air Force Academy to open a space center?
There was no specific demand from the outside that the Academy develop such a center. The need for it in the realm of education was identified by our own faculty. As we discussed our ideas with the wider community it became clear there was a general feeling of need for contributions in this area and we are responding to that need in ways which will be beneficial to the education and development of cadets and perhaps to other officer and professional development programs as well. No other learning institution, either in or outside the Air Force, possessed all of the unique capabilities of the Academy, with the ability to combine technical education and research, professional development, operational training, and policy studies.