DECEMBER 19, 2024 – In the midst of the U.S. Space Force’s fifth anniversary week, the service’s senior leaders touted Guardian and service accomplishments during the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ “Celebrating the U.S. Space Force and Charting Its Future” event in Washington, D.C., Dec. 17.
Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman, Assistant Chief of Space Operations for Future Concepts and Partnerships Air Marshal Paul Godfrey and Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Human Capital Katherine Kelley, participated in keynote and panel discussions with industry experts and leaders. The leaders highlighted the Space Force’s feats since its formation and provided glimpses of what’s next for the service.
Saltzman reflected on the Space Force’s rapid progress since its establishment on Dec. 20, 2019, when the first Guardians had to “transform a support element into a full-up warfighting service.”
Despite hurdles, the Space Force has tripled in size annually, supported a 500% increase in space launch tempo and introduced innovative policies such as a single component comprised of full and part-time roles, enable by the passing of the Personnel Management Act.
Looking to the future, Saltzman highlighted service priorities for 2025, noting that “resources are going to dictate how far we can get over how much we can get accomplished in the next 12 months.”
These priorities include the stand up of Space Futures Command and new service components to combatant commands, expansion of launch support tempo and infrastructure capacity, accelerated development of the service’s proliferated warfighting space architecture, and the fielding of timely counterspace capabilities, among others.
“This may not be a comprehensive list of our projects, but it’s a large list for a small service,” Saltzman said. “This is work that has to get done. It’s critical to the future of the joint force and to the Space Force, critical to the lethality of the joint force, and critical to the safety and security of our nation.”
Following Saltzman’s keynote and fireside chat with his predecessor, retired Gen. John “Jay” Raymond, the first CSO, Godfrey and Kelley took to the stage to discuss Space Force efforts in the realm of fueling the force with its people and partnerships.
Godfrey stressed the importance of international partnerships and integrating allies and partners from the very beginning. His examples included the stand up of Space Futures Command and harnessing the power of the Combined Space Operations Initiative, known as CSpO, which is a collection of 10 nations collaborating in the space domain.
“All 10 nations have either stood up space commands or, in New Zealand’s case, a space squadron, within the last three years. Now is the time to be having these conversations,” Godfrey noted.
Godfrey addressed integration challenges and advocated for a comprehensive, strategic approach that integrates international perspectives into every facet of the space enterprise. Whether through forums like CSpO or tailored partnerships, he emphasized the future lies in better coordination and smarter resource allocation.
“You can’t put out a demand signal for allied liaisons in every area of the U.S. space enterprise,” Godfrey explained. “If allies jump at every single opportunity, people will be in the wrong place. It’s about having an overall strategy for how we integrate our futures together.”
Kelley discussed the Guardians serving around the globe. As the Space Force fundamentally rethinks how to attract and retain top-tier talent, Kelley spoke about how the service is reimagining aspects of traditional military life.
“We need to put [Guardians] into an enterprise that actually feels relevant to their way of life,” Kelley explained. “By modernizing not just its operations but its culture, the Space Force aims to remain an attractive career path for highly technical and innovative individuals.”
Kelley also highlighted the Space Force’s University Partnership Program. The UPP was launched to connect with academic institutions specializing in space-related disciplines and serves as a pipeline for future Guardians while fostering collaboration between the military and academia.
The conversation switched to acquisitions as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition Honorable Frank Calvelli joined the stage.
Calvelli spoke about his vision as he entered his role more than two and a half years ago when he prioritized three core areas: speed, resiliency, and integration. He explained his focus has been delivering critical capabilities faster to warfighters, ensuring space remains a reliable asset during crises, and ensuring seamless integration within the space domain and across air, ground and sea operations.
Citing Space Acquisition Tenets 1 and 9, Calvelli emphasized the effort to build smaller systems to increase speed. “When you build smaller, you go faster,” Calvelli said, noting that rapid refresh cycles for technology ensure the military can stay ahead of adversaries.
From creating a unique identity and crafting unprecedented policies to activating multiple field and component commands its first five years, the Space Force has grown substantially. All these accomplishments are cause for celebration as the service looks to its future.
“Today, against all odds, I’m proud to say without question that Guardians are the preeminent space warfighters, armed and ready to protect and defend the future of our nation,” Saltzman said.
By Staff Sgt. Adam R. Shanks
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs