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News | Aug. 22, 2022

U.S. Space Command hosted the 14th Annual Satellite Communication Working Group

By Staff Report U.S. Space Command

For the first time, U.S. Space Command hosted the 14th Annual Satellite Communication Working Group, Aug. 15, 2022, at U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
 
The annual SATCOM Working Group is a collaboration of three Department of Defense working groups and two commercial working groups who bring topics to the operational level at the Annual SATCOM Working Group for discussion. The developed topics from the SATCOM Working Group are then fed to the SATCOM Synchronization Executive Group to ensure sustained capabilities for the warfighter. 
 
“As a nation, we’ve recognized the critical role that space plays in our lives,” said USSPACECOM Army Brig. Gen. Richard Zellmann, operations deputy director. “We must continue to aggressively build new systems, reorganize, grow and adapt to deliver increased capabilities to warfighters; also we must meet the pacing challenges and technological developments in space.”
 
The ability to communicate on a global scale doesn’t happen without people talking and it affects our ability, good or bad, to conduct operations.
 
Australian Group Capt. Patrick Del Guidice, capabilities Acquisition and Sustainment Group, and attendee of the SATCOM Working Group stated that this is one of the most valuable events because of the amount of shared information.
 
“This is a wider event when discussing satellite communications because it has attendees from all the U.S. combatant commands, military services and government agencies as well as international partner and what they are doing,” Del Guidice added. “It also brings us up to date on programs and ideas that allow you to align our countries strategies and ideas. It has been very helpful to us back in Australia.”
 
This is the first time the working group is being held in Colorado Springs and will involve six partner nations including Australia, Great Britain, Canada, Denmark, Italy and the Netherlands; as well as, representatives from AFRICOM, CENTCOM, CYBERCOM, EUCOM, INDOPACOM, NORTHCOM, SPACECOM, SOCOM, STRATCOM, TRANSCOM; there will also be representatives from the Department of Defense and representatives from all service components and other key agencies.
 
“We have a team of experts from various commands and countries and these experts know the requirements,” said USSPACECOM satellite communication and spectrum division chief, Air Force Col. Darrell Apilado. “This team also knows the gaps and shortfalls and are the ones to advocate up the chain of command so we can promote the warfighters needs.”
 
The integration of space across all warfighting functions and domains underpins the Joint Force and enhances integrated deterrence.