Space Force

Department of the Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and the top-ranking military leaders from the Air Force and Space Force told a House committee April 17 that adequately defending the nation against modern-day adversaries demands the services modernize quickly and that Congress deliver funding in a timely and predictable manner.   “As you are aware, the six-month delay has had a real impact. That time cannot be recovered, but at least we can now move forward with our urgent modernization priorities,” Kendall told the House Armed Services Committee, referring to the current year’s budget being finalized last month instead of Oct. 1, 2023, when the fiscal year began.   “Time is my greatest co...

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AFNS) --  Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman unveiled the U.S. Space Force’s new strategy April 10 to better integrate commercial skill, talent, and products into the service as a key step for ensuring continued superiority at a time when space is more important and dangerous than ever.Long in development, the U.S. Space Force’s official Commercial Space Strategy is a detailed blueprint for allowing industry to be more immersed in Space Force plans, development, and operations. It also recognizes, Saltzman said, that the traditional approach of a military service dictating terms and needs to industry partners is no longer sufficient or wise.“This strategy acknowledges that old ways of doing business will not produce...

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) --   In our democracy, elections are quite common, and with a presidential election this year, we can expect many opportunities for citizens to participate in the democratic process. With this in mind, it is important to be aware of specific guidelines that apply to service members and federal employees on acceptable behavior.  Military personnel and civilian employees are encouraged to carry out their obligations of citizenship, which include the right to participate personally in the political process. These rights are protected by the U.S. Constitution that all military members have taken an oath to support and defend. Because of that oath, service members and civilian employees also have a duty to ens...

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AFNS) --  Department of the Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told a space-focused audience April 10 that the United States must – and will – remain pre-eminent in space, but the job is complicated by uncertain and untimely budgets at home. A prime example, he said in keynote remarks at the Space Symposium in which he also summarized his tenure so far and the priorities ahead, is the budget for the current fiscal year. That spending plan should have been adopted and put in place on Oct. 1, 2023. In reality, Congress approved it in March 2024, six months past the deadline.“Bet...

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AFNS) --  Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman and Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force John Bentivegna hosted military space leaders from 17 other countries at the annual Space Chiefs Forum on April 11. The event is part of ongoing Space Force efforts to foster multinational collaboration that builds enduring operational advantages.First held in 2021, the forum is a key opportunity for global partners to collectively assess the space security environment, evaluate new cooperative concepts, and discuss steps that can be taken together to maintain the safety, stability, and long-term sustainability of the domain.This year’s iteration explored ways to increase cooperation across a range of mission areas and featured a s...