People

Former Ambassador Barbara Barrett tapped to replace Heather Wilson as Air Force secretary
From 2013 until 2017, Barrett served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Aerospace Corporation

Q&A: The changing assumptions of the small launch market
Do small launcher companies need megaconstellation business to survive? How should they approach a market that sometimes feels like its changing faster than the rockets themselves? Five launch companies discussed these topics March 13 at a Washington Space Business Roundtable discussion moderated by SpaceNews.

Shanahan’s nomination to be defense secretary gives continuity to space reorganization
Shanahan: “I am honored by today’s announcement of President Trump’s intent to nominate."

Air Force unmanned aircraft developer Mike Leahy tapped to replace Fred Kennedy at DARPA
Leahy is best known in defense technology circles as the “father of the X-45."

Senate Intelligence Committee leaders voice support for NRO nominee Scolese
Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) told Scolese that he supports his nomination.

Why a Space Force could be good for business
Wallis Laughrey, vice president of space systems at Raytheon, said a Space Force could help better align contractors with DoD space needs.

DoD IG: Air Force Secretary questioned ethics of Shanahan’s 2018 meeting with Elon Musk
DoD IG report says Musk told Shanahan that SpaceX did not win an Air Force launch service contract because it had written a poor proposal that “missed the mark.”

Space Development Agency a huge win for Griffin in his war against the status quo
Griffin has scoffed at SDA naysayers. “I’m not personally trying to shake up anybody or anything."

Op-ed | Ensuring peaceful use of space an important goal for U.S. and allies
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Goldfein: 'Our goal is to prevent and deter conflict'

A clearer outlook for NOAA weather satellite programs
To plan future constellations, the agency is conducting the NOAA Satellite Observing System Architecture (NSOSA) study. What has it revealed so far? And how will commercial satellites and data products feed into future architectures?

Air Force Chief Goldfein: To win in space, U.S. must work closer with allies
At last week's international air chiefs conference, "every country talked about their space launch business."

Air Force’s next ‘Pitch Day’ to focus on space
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for acquisition Will Roper says the Air Force is looking for innovative space technologies.

Wilson defends Air Force record on space acquisitions: “We’re moving fast”
Wilson is not opposed to using commercial LEO constellations, but is concerned about the risk.

Stage is set for critical Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Trump’s Space Force proposal
SASC wants to how the Space Force will support and integrate with U.S. Space Command and the Space Development Agency.

Raymond endorses Trump’s Space Force proposal
Raymond says he 'fully supports' DoD's Space Force proposal

STRATCOM to design blueprint for nuclear command, control and communications
U.S. Strategic Command was handed the responsibility last fall to solve one of the Defense Department’s most sensitive and complex technology problems: the modernization of the nation’s nuclear command, control and communications system, known as NC3.

Trump nominates Raymond to be commander of U.S. Space Command
Raymond today is the nation’s top space commander, overseeing space forces under the Air Force and joint forces under U.S. Strategic Command.

Swarm CEO talks past mistakes, future goals
Swarm Technologies’ self-stated mission is to bring internet access to the whole world, but it’s best known at this point for defying the U.S. Federal Communications Commission by launching four tiny SpaceBee satellites last year without a license.

Chairman of House appropriations subcommittee that funds NASA to retire
As a House appropriations subcommittee gears up for a series of hearings this week on budget requests for science agencies, including NASA, the chairman of that subcommittee said he will not run for reelection because of health issues.

Griffin: Space Development Agency to bring new capabilities that don’t exist today
The Space Development Agency will be based at the Pentagon and is projected to have about 100 people.