New Arctic Strategy Released | Could Space Force Adopt Navy Ranks?

July 22, 2020

Edited by Amy McCullough with Rachel S. Cohen, Brian W. Everstine, Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory and John A. Tirpak

109th Airlift Wing Kool School in Greenland

Airmen assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard, depart an LC-130 Skibird at Raven Camp, Greenland, to participate in the field portion of “Kool Skool” on June 2, 2015. Courtesy photo.

Air Force, Space Force Release Department’s First-Ever Arctic Strategy

By Amy McCullough

The Department of the Air Force unveiled its first-ever Arctic Strategy on July 21, with Secretary Barbara M. Barrett citing the Arctic’s increasing strategic importance as Russia builds up its military presence in the area, China looks to normalize its presence there, and melting ice caps open up sea lanes to more traffic, creating the potential for increased rescue operations. “The Department of the Air Force[‘s] contributions to U.S. national security in the Arctic are large, but relatively unknown,” states the strategy. “Given the Arctic’s vast distances and challenges to surface operations, air and space capabilities have long been essential to gain rapid access and provide all-domain awareness, early warning, satellite command and control, and effective deterrence ... the Department of the Air Force is the most active and invested U.S. military department in the Arctic.”

House Proposal Could Give Naval Ranks to Space Force

By Rachel S. Cohen

Space Force ranks could soon mirror those in the Navy, under a House provision that would make the Space Force dump the Air Force’s system for the sea service's. House lawmakers on July 20 backed Rep. Dan Crenshaw’s (R-Texas) amendment to the fiscal 2021 defense policy bill as part of a larger package of amendments. Even if the provision is tacked onto the House’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act, the Senate could still turn it down as lawmakers hash out the final bill. The Space Force, which began reorganizing as a separate service within the Air Force in December, is still using Air Force ranks and grades as it builds its own culture.

Esper: No Order to Withdraw from South Korea, Though Possibility Remains

By Brian W. Everstine

While Defense Department leaders have not issued an order to draw down the number of troops in South Korea, Pentagon leaders have left the door open to the possibility that U.S. forces will leave the Korean Peninsula, though key weapons systems will remain. Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper said July 21 the department is “looking at every geographic combatant command and making sure that we are optimized and positioned” to accomplish the National Defense Strategy. This could include bringing troops home, while focusing more on “dynamic force employments,” such as deploying aircraft, ships, and ground personnel as needed without basing them on the Peninsula. This “gives us, the United States, greater flexibility,” he said.

Senate Confirms Next National Guard Bureau Chief, ANG Director

By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

The Senate in a pair of July 20 voice votes confirmed the next leaders of the National Guard Bureau and the Air National Guard. Army National Guard Director Lt. Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson will receive a fourth star to serve as the 29th National Guard Bureau chief and become a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Hokanson will succeed USAF Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel, who has led NGB since August 2016 and is expected to formally pass the torch in early August. The Senate also confirmed Colorado Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Michael A. Loh to receive his third star and succeed Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice as Air National Guard director. Rice has led the Air National Guard since May 2016. A change-of-command date hasn't yet been announced.

Lockheed Martin May Go Shopping if Defense Budgets Fall Next Year

By John A. Tirpak

A downturn in defense spending may create some “attractive” pricing on companies Lockheed Martin may want to acquire, and it has the cash to pick up some bargains, company President and Chief Executive Officer James D. Taiclet said in a second-quarter earnings call July 21. If there is a slowdown in defense spending, Lockheed's backlog and cash position are such that it wouldn't feel much pain for two or three years, and the company would advise customers on upgrades that could make the most of what they already have, he said.

Virtual Events: Beames on Mitchell’s ‘Space Power Forum,’ and More

By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

Today, the Air Force Association’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies will host a Space Power Forum featuring Charles L. Beames, founder and chairman of the SmallSat Alliance. Event video will tentatively be posted on Mitchell’s website and YouTube page after the event.

Radar Sweep

Snapshot: DOD and COVID-19

Air Force Magazine

Here's a look at how the Defense Department is being impacted by and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Service Members Stuck by Travel Ban to Get Lease Relief Under New Law

Military.com

An amendment to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, or SCRA, will allow service members to end a residential lease they've entered into at a new location if they have been—or continue to be—affected by the Pentagon's stop movement order.

Pentagon Legislative Chief Calls It Quits

Foreign Policy (Subscription Required)

The Defense Department’s top legislative official will leave the agency on July 24, two officials familiar with the matter told Foreign Policy, matching the Trump administration’s record for civilian vacancies as the White House scrambles to get more nominees through confirmation.

In Memos to Force, Esper Issues Directions on Operational Security

Defense News

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper has released a pair of memos to the Defense Department, outlining concerns about operational security and issuing new guidance on dealing with the media.

Goldfein Hopes for ‘Gold-Star Transition’ to Next CSAF Brown

Air Force Times

With just a few weeks left in uniform, Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein is preparing to hand the reins to his successor, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., in what he hopes will be a “gold-star” transition.

OPINION: China's Military Capabilities Are Gaining on the US. The Pentagon Needs to Take Bold Steps.

NBC News

“To prevent conflict, the United States must maintain the military capability to deter China by demonstrating the ability to deny the success of such aggression or impose costs so high that Beijing steps back from the brink,” write Michèle A. Flournoy, former undersecretary of defense for policy, and Gabrielle Chefitz, senior associate at WestExec Advisors. “The problem is this: If the Pentagon's own reported war games and analysis are to be believed, the current force may well be insufficient to deter or defeat Chinese aggression in the future.”

F-15 Eagle Seen Loaded With Loyal Wingman Drone For Previously Unknown Tests

The Drive

F-15s carrying loyal wingmen into the fight is a fascinating proposition, but what these tests could be for beyond that is even more intriguing.

From ‘Mad Hatter’ to ‘Torque:’ Kessel Run Makes Software for F-22, CV-22

Breaking Defense

Jumping off lessons learned in the ‘Mad Hatter’ effort to help fix the F-35’s infamous ALIS system, the Air Force’s Kessel Run software ‘factory’ now is working to improve maintenance tools for the F-22 stealth jet and the CV-22 Special Operations tiltrotor.

Post-Merger, Raytheon Intel & Space Sees Role Gluing Together JADC2

Breaking Defense

Raytheon’s newly constituted Intelligence & Space unit is positioning itself as a provider of the “glue” needed to hold together future systems of systems, such as those supporting all-domain operations, explains President Roy Azevedo.

Florida Nominates Pinellas, Hillsborough, 6 Other Locations for Space Command Headquarters

WUSF News

The Air Force’s Space Command is looking for a new home. Eight Florida communities want the new headquarters and have submitted bids. In total, 54 communities nationwide are vying to host the location, which promises new jobs and economic development in host communities.

OPINION: The US Needs to Take Action to Deter Near-Peer Rivals in Space

C4ISRNET

“Looking ahead, it is prudent military planning to anticipate that our vital space-based infrastructure will be targeted in future conflicts,” write former U.S. Strategic Command boss and retired USAF Gen. Kevin P. Chilton and former Air Force Space Command boss and retired USAF Gen. William Shelton. “To deter these attacks and, if necessary, defeat them, the United States must develop and field both offensive and defensive capabilities that will make it clear to Russia and China that we will prevail in any conflict that extends into the space domain.”

US and China to Launch Mars Missions, Vying for Space Supremacy

The Wall Street Journal (Subscription Required)

The rivalry between the U.S. and China assumes cosmic proportions this month, as both countries prepare to send spacecraft to Mars within days of each other.

One More Thing

Air Force Wants a Wearable Performance Tracker to Prevent Neck and Back Pain

Nextgov

The Air Force revealed intentions to purchase a wrist-worn gadget that captures data about wearers’ health—and provides individual and team analyses from that data—to address neck and back strains felt by fighter aircrew abroad.