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 Alfredo Barraza

B-Roll; USACE provides reachback support to Lithuania mission from Engineer Research and Development Center

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District

April 1, 2025 | 0:48

B-Roll Description: Engineers and scientists with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Reachback Operations Center at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) based in Vicksburg, Miss., provided reachback support to the teams on the ground in Lithuania during the recent search and recovery mission where four Soldiers and their M88A2 Hercules armored vehicle were recovered from a peat bog near Pabradė, Lithuania.

Background: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was one of the many organizations that was part of the large, international team effort that went into recovering four Soldiers and their M88A2 Hercules armored vehicle that went missing near Pabradė, Lithuania.

In addition to providing their own expertise on the ground, USACE engineers on site acted as the eyes and ears for the USACE Reachback Operations Center (UROC) at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) based in Vicksburg, Miss. Based on that coordination, the reachback team of engineers and scientists at ERDC was able to develop potential engineering solutions to help the teams on the ground in their mission.