New Pentagon Memo Lays Out Action Plan to Space Force by 2020

WASHINGTON — Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan this week issued a detailed plan for how the Pentagon will move forward to create a Space Force  as the sixth branch of the armed forces by fiscal year 2020.

The plan, laid out in a Sept. 10 memo titled "Space Reorganization and Management Tasks," includes actions that the Pentagon will pursue using executive branch authorities — standing up a unified command for space, a Space Development Agency and Space Operations Forces. These proposals were presented to Congress in a report on Aug. 9. The establishment of the Space Force as a military branch must be approved by Congress and written into legislation. Shanahan's Sept. 10 memo, a copy of which was obtained by SpaceNews, explains the steps DoD will take to develop a legislative proposal.

The memo makes it clear that the space reorganization is being led from the top down. Shanahan is overseeing the entire effort, but the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the undersecretary of defense for policy also have significant roles. The Air Force, which owns 90 percent of the military's space programs and functions, only will have a limited support role in shaping the transition to a future Space Force.  [Trump's Space Force Plan Revealed by VP Mike Pence]

The changes directed by Shanahan only apply to DoD and not to the intelligence community, even though organizations like the National Reconnaissance Office and the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency have key responsibilities in national security space. "Only DoD space functions would move into the Space Force," the memo says. "National security space components outside of the DoD should not be included in the legislative or budget proposal, but will be considered in an interagency process."

The Director of National Intelligence is cc'ed in the memo.

Shanahan's orders have short deadlines. Many of the tasks are due in the coming weeks, and the legislative proposal could arrive at the White House as early as Dec. 1, 2018. To avert concerns that a new service will saddle the military with billions of dollars in added overhead costs, the memo says the Space Force should have a "lean" bureaucracy.

A "Space Governance Committee" led by Shanahan will have the final word on any reorganization action and on the legislative proposal before it goes to the White House. Shanahan also will establish and designate the leader of a "working group" to help with the implementation that will include representatives from all military branches and relevant DoD agencies.

Upcoming steps in the reorganization

The first order of business is to stand up U.S. Space Command, a unified combatant command responsible for space. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Joseph Dunford and Undersecretary of Defense for Policy John Rood are responsible for leading this effort. A U.S. Space Command "should be established by the end of calendar year 2018," the memo says The Joint Staff will draft an amendment to the Unified Command Plan to establish U.S. Space Command and the subordinate unified command, and a detailed plan will be developed to "transfer requisite authorities and capabilities." Rood and Dunford will be responsible for "identifying any operational authorities that are needed for U.S. Space Command." [The Most Dangerous Space Weapons Ever] 

The creation of a Space Development Agency also could happen relatively soon. Shanahan directs Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Michael Griffin and Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson to "each develop a concept for establishing the SDA." The draft concepts are due to the governing committee by Sept 14.

The agency "will initially focus on rapidly developing and fielding new space capabilities that leverage commercial space technology and access in support of warfighter and U.S. Space Command," says the memo. "The concepts should clearly define the relationship between the warfighter and the SDA." Over time the SDA will assume responsibility for other space development programs. The proposed concepts should "include a transition plan for consolidating space development efforts under the SDA as the equipping arm for the space warfighter, with an initial operating capacity in calendar year 2019."

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness will organize what DoD calls "Space Operations Forces." They will "produce a complete inventory of all forces and functions conducting or directly supporting space operations and designating space operations forces." They will have to develop a plan to manage active, reserve, National Guard and civilian workers. The Joint Staff must provide an interim progress review to the governing committee by Oct 1.

The Pentagon's chief management office will be responsible to set up a new office for an assistant secretary of defense for space, the memo says. A plan, due Oct. 1, should "include options for consolidating civilian oversight of space and outline how it could evolve into the future headquarters of the Space Force." The White House Liaison Office will begin identifying candidates.

The legislative proposal for standing up a new service will be led by Rood, the Joint Staff, the secretaries of the services and DoD's legislative office. The proposal would establish the Space Force as a sixth branch of the armed forces, the memo says. It will include the roles and mission, responsibilities, relationship with U.S. Space Command, and a "lean headquarters model to avoid growing unnecessary bureaucracy." Rood will provide an interim progress report to the governing committee by Oct. 1. A final legislative proposal could be submitted to the White House Office of Management and Budget as early as Dec. 1

Shanahan directed the DoD comptroller to put together a budget proposal by Oct. 15 for the establishment of a Space Force to be included in the fiscal year 2020 request. The Pentagon's director of cost assessment and program evaluation will develop a five-year cost estimate. The memo says the budget should include the cost for the Space Force, the Space Development Agency, the Space Operations Forces, U.S. Space Command and the path for transferring space budgets to the Space Force.

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.