WASHINGTON — Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations of the U.S. Space Force, in a keynote address July 17 highlighted the role of international partnerships in safeguarding space assets and operations.
Saltzman’s address at the 2024 Global Air and Space Chiefs Conference in London came on the heels of the appointment of U.K. Air Marshal Paul Godfrey as Saltzman’s assistant chief of Space Operations for future concepts and partnerships. This marks the first time a non-U.S. officer has been integrated into such a senior position within the Space Force.
Saltzman framed Godfrey’s appointment as part of a broader strategy he terms “integrated by design,” acknowledging the Space Force’s reliance on partnerships. “Being integrated by design is fundamental to how I see the success of the Space Force,” Saltzman stated. He emphasized that this approach extends beyond military alliances to include collaborations with commercial industry, academia, and nonprofits.
He pointed out that the Space Force’s roots in the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense could lead to potential blind spots. “Every chance I get to embed a different set of perspectives into our decision-making processes, I think it adds value,” he explained. Saltzman believes that having an allied officer on his senior staff will provide invaluable insights into the internal debates and resource allocation decisions of the Space Force.
Saltzman also highlighted U.S. partnerships with India, Japan, and Norway in space activities. With India, the U.S. has signed agreements for space situational awareness data sharing and the exploration of joint space science missions. Japan and the U.S. have strengthened their alliance in space through initiatives like hosting U.S. payloads on Japanese satellites. Norway and the U.S. have collaborated on Arctic communications, with U.S. payloads integrated onto Norwegian satellites.
He also mentioned Operation Olympic Defender, a multinational coalition aimed at strengthening deterrence against hostile actions in space. This operation involves sharing information on space threats and improving mission assurance alongside allies such as Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
“Our allies and partners remain an unparalleled source of enduring strength and competitive advantage, particularly in the domain of space,” Saltzman said. “And this is not just a good idea. It’s part of U.S. policy.”
A classified space security guidance issued in June 2023 directs the U.S. to increase integration with allies and partners on space activities, operations, plans, capabilities, and information sharing. Saltzman said the directive came in response to growing counterspace threats and aims to protect U.S. and allied forces from hostile uses of space.
