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 Rachel Napolitan

B-Roll: Army engineers construct $309 million JBER runway extension in Alaska

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District

Jan. 12, 2023 | 4:49

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Alaska District continues construction on the 16/34 runway extension on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. For this project, the team will eventually move 12 million cubic yards of soil, which is equal to about 800,000 dump truck loads. If lined up, those trucks would cover the distance from JBER to San Antonio, Texas. Constructing the expansion will require 170,000 tons of asphalt paving, 57,000 linear feet of utility piping and 280,000 cubic yards of topsoil. Not only is it the largest construction contract the district has awarded to date, but is the largest construction project in U.S. Pacific Air Forces’ area of operation. (U.S. Army video by Rachel Napolitan)