COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –
U.S. Space Command’s Joint Operations Division (J3) hosted the first-ever USSPACECOM artificial intelligence-enabled summit Nov. 18-21, 2025, at the command’s Bayfield facility and the MITRE facility–operated by MITRE Corporation, a not-for-profit organization established to advance national security.
In a decisive move to accelerate its warfighting readiness, USSPACECOM recently convened the landmark Augmented Planning and Execution (APEX) Summit. This pivotal event brought together more than 70 key leaders, including seven division chiefs from USSPACECOM and leaders from its components, to forge a path toward a more integrated and agile future.
By harnessing the power of AI, the APEX Summit streamlined complex planning processes across the entire command and its components. The summit delivered critical, actionable inputs for the 2026 Coordinated Campaign Order, marking a significant step forward in ensuring USSPACECOM is battle-ready for the challenges of a rapidly evolving and contested space domain.
“The summit addressed two critical goals: refining our approach to human–machine teaming for the USSPACECOM J35 integrated campaign order and establishing a governance model for the responsible incorporation of artificial intelligence into operational planning,” said Genna Ibsen, supervisory program analyst, USSPACECOM J3.
During the summit, each USSPACECOM joint directorate and component command received five campaign objectives and command guidance to align efforts and produce strategic contributions for the campaign order. They carefully selected and refined inputs, including procedural documents, doctrine, references, and manuals, to ensure the AI systems processed the most relevant and accurate information. The AI-generated output was then verified by staff members, a process Ibsen described as “AI generated, human curated.”
Participants were arranged into four teams during the summit and used three different AI tools to evaluate processes.
“By design, teams used one AI tool on the first day and then transitioned to a different tool on the second. This deliberate rotation exposed participants to contrasting prompting methods—structured campaign‑order prompts, self‑directed exploration, and engineer‑guided collaboration—while also leveraging a large language model to synthesize insights. The two‑day approach deepened the AI experience, allowing participants to compare outcomes, refine directives, and unlock richer operational futures aligned with the command’s strategy,” Ibsen said. “The process ensured that outputs emerging from the summit were not only innovative but also operationally relevant.”
These tailored AI capabilities helped participants unlock strategic insights and combine human expertise with machine intelligence. This approach enabled them to explore operational futures, test assumptions, and develop mission-ready directives, ensuring alignment with the command’s AI strategy.
Each team was given distinct strategic lenses: USSPACECOM as a supporting command; USSPACECOM as a supported command; Multinational Force Operation OLYMPIC DEFENDER collaboration; Nexus: Space, Cyber, and Special Operations collaboration.
“We specifically created four lenses with which to examine our Campaign requirements and generate a high number of options with different perspectives. APEX required the teams to produce a tentative concept of operations and scheme of maneuver that captured required campaigning activities to achieve success through the specific lens,” said Col. John Gibson, USSPACECOM J35 Future Operations.
He added, the group focused on the lens USSPACECOM as a supported command generated the most options for how the Joint Force could support the command’s mission.
“Getting the components, staff members, and AI tools to work in the same room provided us with an interesting perspective and built new relationships. Everyone walked away with a better appreciation for our operational challenges, while learning more about how to re-imagine collaboration within the command,” Gibson said.
In March this year, USSPACECOM signed its first AI/Machine Learning and Data Analytics Strategy and is operationalizing it across prioritized mission areas including integrated space fires; command and control; modernized, agile electronic warfare architecture; enhanced battlespace awareness; space systems cyber defense; and sustainment and logistics.
Gen. Stephen Whiting, USSPACECOM commander, wrote, “This AI strategy is necessary for our Combatant Command to quickly and effectively adapt to what is emerging as an era-defining technology that demonstrates significant and growing relevance to national security … We must lead the way in ensuring a safe and secure space domain for our nation, our Allies and Partners, and the rest of the world.”
This summit demonstrated one way the command leveraged AI to enable rapid senior-level decision-making. The 2026 Coordinated Campaign Order will integrate the best inputs produced during the summit.
As the command synchronizes multidomain global operations with the joint force, allies, and partners, it will refine and integrate AI into its processes to enhance decision-making, operational efficiency, and mission success.