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 Marco Hinahon, Eric Osborne, Ryan Sandoval

Welcome to White Sands Detachment

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division

Feb. 16, 2026 | 1:27

Welcome to Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division’s White Sands Detachment (WSD), headquartered within White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, offering more than 2 million acres of testing capability. The WSD team also has access to multiple test ranges within and outside the continental U.S., including Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands in Hawaii, the Ministry of Defence Hebrides Range in Scotland, Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, and others. Lines of effort include the Suborbital Vehicles Center of Excellence; Live, Virtual, Constructive/networking via USS Desert Ship (LLS-1); Missile Assembly Facility production capability; and other mission advantages. WSD is agile and resilient with a culture of continuous learning, driving success for the organization and its stakeholders.