Sega: Integration key for space operations

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mitch Gettle
  • Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  The under secretary of the Air Force and executive agent for space, Dr. Ronald M. Sega, sees space-based platforms continuing to be a vital asset to our nation’s military forces.

He is looking to get back to the basics on space acquisitions, while aiming for increased integration of individual space systems with all other space systems and greater integration across selected mission areas.

“We have to look at how space, air, and ground assets can better work together. An integrated architecture is critically important,” Dr. Sega said. This could be as basic as ensuring intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems support each other from a queuing standpoint.

Integration also includes involving the “principal customer” -- the warfighter -- with the technology, acquisition, and logistics communities, from the initial idea stage all the way to the fielding and maintenance of the system.

"Different groups take the lead in different stages, but everyone must be involved. Continuous interaction is important," he said. Integration efforts are also aimed at fostering partnerships with other government agencies and the university community.

Implementing Dr. Sega’s emphasis on getting back to basics requires increasing discipline in systems engineering for space acquisition programs. The goal is to reduce the acquisition cycle time and to enter the procurement phase for operational systems with more mature technologies, Dr. Sega said.

“We’re trying to restructure our operational space programs and acquisition processes to be more evolutionary and less revolutionary,” he said.

Hiring and maintaining quality people for space programs is going to be an important contributor to future successes in space operations. The world is moving forward, with the rate of technology and knowledge increasing -- and the Air Force and DOD must keep pace, Dr. Sega said. Because of these increases, the Air Force must stay on the leading edge. It needs to boost the number of people with engineering, science, and mathematics backgrounds, and the Air Force is trying to address those needed critical skills.

Congress has approved programs designed to re-energize scholarships and fellowships in education in these areas. Both industry and the government will benefit from an improved, broader base of technically trained persons that will want to go into space as a career field.

Efforts are already in place to retain and challenge the current space work force to maximize their talents.

“We’re very serious about improving the acquisition skills of people involved in the acquisition of space capabilities for the military,” he said.

“Operational space systems are critical for our nation. Our satellites provide warfighters in the field with situational awareness, aid operational mission planning, and are crucial for precision navigation, communications and missile defense operations,” Dr. Sega said.