NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AFNS) -- Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman announced Space Systems Command’s Front Door initiative has been renamed the Space Force Front Door during his keynote address at the Air and Space Forces Association’s annual Air, Space and Cyber Conference Sept. 23. The rebranding underscores the initiative’s vital role in connecting industry partners with offices across the Space Force and beyond.
The Space Force Front Door will continue fostering collaboration between government agencies and commercial companies, facilitating the exchange of proven and emerging technologies to advance U.S. space capabilities and enhance national security.
“Your concepts are now vetted against the needs of organizations beyond just SSC, including all Space Force equities, broader Department needs, other government agencies and allies,” Saltzman said. “Every bit of new technology that gives us an advantage is a win for the Space Force and the nation.”
Since its launch in 2023, Front Door has received more than 1,700 technology submissions from more than 1,400 companies interested in connecting to the appropriate government agency to share their innovations and technologies. Those connections have contributed to more than 750 contracts for new space capabilities that Space Systems Command awarded during the first half of this year. Front Door has also supported the execution of 30 Industry Day or Reverse Industry Day events which provide an environment for government and commercial sectors to interact on issues important to the future of U.S. space capabilities. Feedback from these events informs government and industry alike as they work though issues challenging the future of the Nation’s space capability.
The relaunch includes the debut of a number of new functionality features. Users who visit the Front Door online portal will now find a section where Space Force and other government agencies can share challenges, desired capabilities or requests for information from vendors. This section will grow more robust with time in order to assist vendors who are looking for opportunities to do business with the government. Front Door will provide options for vendors to acquire deeper insight to Space Force and government needs.
The Space Force Front Door will continue to provide current and new registered users with Orbital Watch, which shares critical unclassified threat information authored by Headquarters Space Force Intelligence with commercial space companies to ensure commercial providers can build resilient systems and mitigate threats.
“We have thoughtfully grown Front Door from a nascent commercial entry point, to a full service informational and connective hub for innovators who are creating space capabilities,” said Victor Vigliotti, director of Space Force Front Door. “The online portal builds on our past success to gather innovative ideas from across the commercial sector. As space threats continue to evolve - from cyber intrusions and electronic warfare to adversarial on-orbit activities, Front Door is also providing valuable unclassified threat information to enable our commercial portfolio to create greater resilience in their products and capabilities.”
Space Force Front Door will continue to be operated by Space Systems Command’s Commercial Space Office (COMSO), which is responsible for accelerating commercial partnerships to deliver fight tonight capabilities aligned with warfighter needs. Space Force Front Door will continue to grow in its integral role of coordinating across combatant commands and syncing with partnership initiatives across the U.S. Space Force, Department of War, and agencies involved with space capabilities and development.
“The Commercial Space Office supports execution of the U.S. Space Force Commercial Space Strategy,” explained the office’s director, USSF Col. Timothy Trimailo. “We need industry to bring us your best ideas. If we don’t know we need them yet, tell us why we need them. When an idea is a good match, our Front Door will connect you with the appropriate office to see where your innovation or technology might enable our missions.”