The U.S. Space Command, the Pentagon’s latest combatant command with accountability for area operations, is totally up and operating after its commander on Friday formally introduced that it had achieved “full operational capability.”
During a headquarters city corridor assembly, Army Gen. James Dickinson stated Space Command — first conceived through the Trump administration — was lastly prepared to meet its mission on “our worst day, when we are needed the most.”
“Since its establishment in 2019, [the command] has been singularly focused on delivering exquisite capability to the joint force to deter conflict, defend our vital interests, and, if necessary, defeat aggression,” Gen. Dickinson stated.
U.S. Space Command and the additionally lately created U.S. Space Force are separate organizations. The Space Force is a army service, just like the Army and Navy, whereas the Space Command is a unified combatant power, like Central Command or the Indo-Pacific Command. Space Command directs army operations in area and helps defend satellite tv for pc programs that present GPS navigation, safe communications and warnings of missile assaults.
“As the command has matured, challenges to a safe, secure, stable and sustainable space domain have significantly increased,” Gen. Dickinson stated. “Both the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation are fielding counter=space capabilities designed to hold U.S., allied and partner space assets at risk.”
Gen. Dickinson’s declaration of full operational functionality comes amid an ongoing political battle over the placement of Space Command’s headquarters. Former President Trump stated it needs to be moved to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala. But that call was overturned as soon as he left workplace. President Biden stated it would stay at its present location at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs.
Rep. Doug Lamborn, Colorado Republican, applauded the announcement of full operational functionality and stated it reveals that Colorado Springs is the very best location for the command.
“I am confident our Guardians will do what is necessary to maintain the highest levels of readiness to counter our adversaries’ malign ambitions in space,” Mr. Lamborn stated. “Our nation and its allies are counting on it.”
But Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, the Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, blasted the choice to cancel Space Command’s switch to Huntsville. In a contentious Sept. 28 listening to, he grilled Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, Gen. Dickinson, and Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of area operations for the U.S. Space Force, concerning the determination course of.
Mr. Rogers stated he’ll ask for an additional investigation by the Defense Department’s inspector common and also will search to droop funding for any development in Colorado for a everlasting Space Command headquarters.
“Congress gets to decide what we’re going to authorize and what we’re going to pay for,” he stated.
