Reoptimization for Great Power Competition

GPC Key Decisions

USAF Case for Change

Air Force FAQ for Reoptimizing Great Power Competition

“We need these changes now; we are out of time to reoptimize our forces to meet the strategic challenges in a time of great power competition.”

~ Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall

The United States faces a time of consequence marked by significant shifts in the strategic environment. To remain ready, the U.S. Air Force must change.

In early 2024, the Department of the Air Force unveiled sweeping plans for reshaping, refocusing, and reoptimizing the Air Force and Space Force to ensure continued supremacy in their respective domains while better posturing the services to deter and, if necessary, prevail in an era of Great Power Competition. Through a series of 24 DAF-wide key decisions, four core areas which demand the Department’s attention will be addressed: Develop People, Generate Readiness, Project Power and Develop Capabilities.

Today, the Air Force once again finds itself at a critical juncture—an era of Great Power Competition marked by a new security environment, a rapidly evolving character of war, and a formidable competitor. This new era requires understanding its challenges and the attributes needed to succeed.

Embracing change is not a choice; it is a necessity. The Air Force must “reoptimize” into an enterprise prepared for high-end conflicts and long-term strategic competition.

Researchers Develop Portable Sensor to Help Agencies Detect Fentanyl and Other Chemical Threats

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center

Video by Jack Bunja

Jan. 5, 2026 | 17:19

CB Defense Today is an interview program featuring experts who discuss innovations, technologies, and partnerships relevant to the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC) and the chemical and biological defense community.
In this episode, public affairs specialist Jack Bunja interviews research physical scientist Ashish Tripathi, Ph.D., and research chemist Jason Guicheteau, Ph.D., from the DEVCOM CBC spectroscopy branch. They discuss how the latest iteration of the Portable Microscopy Chemical Detection System (PMCDS) can serve as a lightweight, non-destructive triage tool across a wide range of scenarios, from detecting chemical threats on the battlefield to identifying fentanyl pills at the border.
During the interview, Dr. Guicheteau and Dr. Tripathi explain how the PMCDS uses Raman spectroscopy, a non-destructive chemical analysis technique. In combination with optical microscopy, the PMCDS provides initial detection information to operators and users of potentially hazardous materials. The PMCDS device helps protect and support warfighters who are working in a variety of field environments. More