NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force, issued a call to action for service members to prepare for an increasingly complex security environment shaped by great power rivalry, with a particular focus on China and Russia.
Speaking Sept. 17 at the Air & Space Forces Association’s annual Air Space & Cyber conference, Saltzman emphasized the critical juncture facing the Space Force as it works to cement its position within the broader U.S. military framework and adapt to the evolving nature of warfare.
“Space is only going to become more important, and the pace of competition will increase along with it,” Saltzman told attendees.
The general’s remarks come as the Space Force, established in 2019, continues to define its role in national defense strategy. His address highlighted the urgency of preparing for a new frontier of military operations, where space-based assets and capabilities could play a decisive role in future confrontations.
‘Change, transformation’
“As we approach our fifth birthday as a service, the concept of change, of transformation, is foremost in my mind,” Saltzman stated.
The general acknowledged that the Space Force inherited practices and equipment ill-suited to current challenges, particularly as adversaries develop increasingly sophisticated methods to target U.S. satellites. “The peaceful use of space may no longer be assumed. And yet our nation depends on space every day, both for national security and for our prosperity,” Saltzman warned.
To address these evolving threats, Gen. he outlined several key initiatives:
- Futures Command: Introduced in February, this new command aims to forecast future operational environments, define services and operational concepts, and document the force needed for future success. Saltzman indicated it may take another year to fully establish this field command.
- Leadership Development: The Space Force has implemented a new 12-month initial skills training program for officers, covering satellite operations, intelligence operations, cyber warfare, force modernization, and joint planning processes.
- Enlisted and Civilian Training: Plans are underway to develop a Space Acclamation Course for new civilians and a comprehensive training pipeline for enlisted personnel.
Saltzman stressed the urgency of these changes, saying, “In today’s era of power competition, we face new requirements, new expectations, new threats. We’re required to field new organizations, new training, new equipment, new operational concepts.”
He acknowledged the complexity of the task ahead, questioning, “How do we take in new ideas? How do we test them? How do we align them with the art of the possible, then resource them according to the science of the practical?”
