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 Marshall Mason

Civilian-led CBRNE unit help theater commanders make informed decisions

20th CBRNE Command

Jan. 24, 2024 | 1:37

Rick A. Trombly, the laboratory manager for the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Analytical and Remediation Activity (CARA), provides a brief overview of the organization’s capabilities and personnel, Jan 24.

As a civilian-led subordinate unit of the 20th CBRNE Command, CARA can deploy and provide mobile laboratory support to unified land operations for theater validation analysis of chemical, biological and explosive agents, or materials.

CARA also provides world-wide emergency response to Recovered Chemical Warfare Material (RCWM), technical escort of surety and non-surety material, and remediation support to combatant commanders.

Headquartered on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the 20th CBRNE Command is the U.S. Department of Defense’s premier CBRNE formation. The multifunctional and deployable command has approximately 3,600 Soldiers and 250 Army civilians stationed on 19 bases in 16 states.

In addition to CARA, the 20th CBRNE Command is home to 75 percent of the active-duty U.S. Army’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) specialists and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians, as well as the 1st Area Medical Laboratory, five Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Coordination Teams, three Nuclear Disablement Teams (Infrastructure).