Reoptimization for Great Power Competition

“I’m extremely proud of the Space Force and all the good it has accomplished. But, as good as we are, as much as we’ve done, as far as we’ve come, it’s not enough. We are not yet optimized for Great Power Competition.”

~ Chief of Space Operations
Gen. Chance Saltzman

The establishment of the U.S. Space Force was a direct response to threats arising from Great Power Competition in the space domain. Nevertheless, our legacy roots leave us sub-optimized for the security environment confronting us today, and we must finish fine-tuning the service to continue meeting its National Defense Strategy responsibilities

In early 2024, the Department of the Air Force unveiled sweeping plans for reshaping, refocusing, and reoptimizing the Air Force and Space Force to ensure continued supremacy in their respective domains while better posturing the services to deter and, if necessary, prevail in an era of Great Power Competition. Through a series of 24 DAF-wide key decisions, four core areas which demand the Department’s attention will be addressed: Develop People, Generate Readiness, Project Power and Develop Capabilities.

The space domain is no longer benign; it has rapidly become congested and contested.

We must enhance our capabilities, develop Guardians for modern warfare, prepare for the high intensity fight, and strengthen our power projection to thrive and win in this new era of Great Power Competition.

Video by Tech. Sgt. Westin Warburton

352d Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Feature B-roll

352nd Special Operations Wing

Nov. 18, 2021 | 2:22

The 352d Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron provides all organizational and intermediate-level maintenance for the 352d Special Operations Wing’s fleet of MC-130J Commando IIs.

The 352d Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron uses eight career fields to enable the multi-role airframe’s special operations combat support, which allows the 67th Special Operations Squadron to operate the MC-130J Commando II, providing precise, reliable, flexible and responsive specialized air mobility.

Together, the two squadrons provide worldwide special operations support in austere, hostile, denied and/or politically sensitive territory.

This in turn enables the 352d Special Operations Wing to Execute specialized airpower and air-ground integration in support of Special Operations Command-Europe objectives.