PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. –
Deputy Secretary of Defense David Norquist and Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett completed their first official trips to Peterson AFB to learn about military space operations from U.S. Space Command and Air Force Space Command leaders and space operators Nov. 1.
This was the first time Norquist and Barrett toured the National Space Defense Center and the 1st Space Operations Squadron at Schriever AFB in their positions.
Barrett was administratively sworn in as the 25th Secretary of the Air Force two weeks ago. Norquist was sworn in as the 34th Deputy Secretary of Defense July 31.
“It was our privilege to host Secretary Norquist and Secretary Barrett,” said Gen. Jay Raymond, USSPACECOM and AFSPC commander. “We appreciate the opportunity to showcase our space warfighters and their critical contributions to our joint missions.”
USSPACECOM and AFSPC leaders provided command mission briefings and conducted roundtable discussions with Barrett and more than a dozen of military space leaders, some of whom gave mission and training updates.
As part of the training updates, Brig. Gen. Deanna Burt, AFSPC director of Operations and Communications, highlighted landmark changes to space professional development. AFSPC will now train its space operators in one of four Major Warfighting Functions: Orbital Warfare, Space Electronic Warfare, Space Battle Management, and Space Access and Sustainment.
“The Air Force is transforming the way we develop our space combat tacticians,” said Burt. “We are laying the foundation for a trained, ready crew force who are prepared to operate, protect and defend, and, if necessary, fight and win in space.”
Barrett also received briefings from Maj. Gen. Bill Liquori, AFSPC director of Strategic Requirements, Architectures and Analysis, on the future developments and challenges facing the space mission, and from Maj. Gen. Kimberly Crider, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, AFSPC, on the importance of the AFSPC’s new enterprise data strategy.
After a visit to NORAD/U.S. Northern Command, Norquist later joined Barrett at Schriever AFB, where they conducted a table-top exercise which highlighted the fact that space has become a warfighting domain. They then toured the NSDC Operations Floor and the 1st Space Operations Squadron, where they had the opportunity to interact with several space warfighters.
“Space professionals are deterring potential adversaries in space and defending the U.S. and allies,” said Barrett. “The re-establishment of U.S. Space Command was the right step. We look forward to a Space Force singularly focused on organizing, training and equipping those professionals.”