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 Master Sgt. Amy Picard

CRF at Nexus Forge 25

4th Air Force

Feb. 14, 2025 | 2:38

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 433rd Contingency Response Flight, Lackland Air Force Base, participate in Exercise NEXUS FORGE 2025, Hawaii, Feb. 2025. NEXUS FORGE is a large-scale Expeditionary Air Base certification event designed to demonstrate the readiness and skill development of Airmen while focusing on increasing interoperability and demonstrating the capability for joint, all domain combat operations to secure a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The primary mission of the 433rd Contingency Response Flight is to provide a highly mobile contingency response element to manage, coordinate, support and control global mobility forces and missions worldwide. (U.S. Air Force video by Master Sgt. Amy Picard)