John Plumb, the assistant secretary of defense for space policy, said on April 5 that the Defense Department is now giving more priority to space than ever before.
Plumb, who recently announced his resignation after two years in the role, previously worked in the Pentagon during the Obama administration. He remarked on the significant difference in how space issues are currently being handled compared to ten years ago. step down after two years on the job, previously served in the Pentagon during the Obama administration, and he noted the stark contrast in how space issues are now being handled compared to a decade ago.
At a Defense Writers Group breakfast meeting, Plumb mentioned that in the past, space policy was not taken seriously and was rarely discussed. He referred to it as a “hobby shop.”
Now, space is regularly discussed at the White House and at the Pentagon. The situation has changed significantly.
Advancements in commercial space technology and the increasing threat of adversaries’ space-based capabilities have brought space into the spotlight. It is now seen as crucial to every aspect of national security, from communications to missile defense.
The growing number of countries and private companies with space capabilities has created more competition. This prompted the Department of Defense to release a strategy document on April 2 outlining how it would utilize private sector innovation and integrate commercial space capabilities into military systems. Various agencies across the military and intelligence community have introduced initiatives to increase the use of private sector technology. However, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin wanted a more comprehensive plan to convey the message that they need to act faster. Additionally,
Plumb noted that the Department of Defense has historically been slow to innovate in space, often taking several years to develop requirements and up to a decade to deploy new satellite constellations that then remain in service for 20 years without significant technology updates, which is unsustainable given the rapid advancements made by competitors like China.
To address this, the Department of Defense needs to take advantage of private sector innovation.
Leaving unfinished tasks
As Plumb prepares to resign, there are still significant tasks pending in the Department of Defense’s space policy office.
More effort is required to determine how to collaborate more closely with allies on space security and how to share intelligence with private companies whose satellites could be targeted during conflicts.
Overall, there is a need to continue working on a space policy that protects national interests while promoting responsible behavior in space.
There are international norms and collaborations to establish clear rules for responsible behavior in space. The U.S. and other countries have adopted norms to prevent the creation of space debris, but these norms are not treaties or laws.More work is necessary to establish clear rules of the road. Surprising space developments
During his time in office, Plumb was most surprised by two developments: the rapid growth of low Earth orbit satellite communications as a game-changing technology in commercial and military applications, and the speed of China’s progress in space and nuclear capabilities.
As he gets ready to leave the Department of Defense, Plumb gave some advice to his replacement: "Choose a specific area to concentrate on and work hard to make progress."
"What's important are the results," he stated. "Identify areas where you believe you can make an impact. Otherwise, the organization will spread you too thin. You end up attending endless meetings without actually achieving anything."
John Plumb, the Assistant Secretary, commented: "Currently, discussions about space are frequently held at both the White House and the Pentagon."
