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 Christopher Northfield

The Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) Approach for Assessing Wetland Functions

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center

May 19, 2023 | 6:04

The Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) Approach for Assessing Wetland Functions was developed by researchers at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) through the Wetlands Regulatory Assistance Program (WRAP), and was supported by partners from other Federal and State agencies, academia, and industry as part of an interagency national action plan for HGM. HGM is both a wetland classification scheme and a methodology for assessing the capacity of an ecosystem to perform functions, and classifies and characterizes wetlands based on their geomorphic or landscape position, predominant source of hydrology, and hydrodynamics. Since the early 90s, ERDC and its partners have developed over 30 HGM models and accompanying guidebooks, which are (1) applicable to multiple geographic regions, (2) applicable to multiple classes and subclasses of wetlands, and (3) may be used across multiple USACE mission areas or other regulatory and resource management needs of other Federal, state, or Tribal partners.