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 U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

NRL, BSEE Demonstrate Low-Emission Burner for Oil Spill Response

U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

Aug. 27, 2021 | 3:10

Whenever there is an oil spill out on the ocean, there are two possibilities, a surface spill and a sub-surface spill. In both cases, as the oil gets on the surface, wave action and wind starts to actually turn the oil with the ocean water into an emulsion, which is really difficult to ignite or dispose of.

U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) engineers and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) advanced a low-emission burner system’s technological readiness to clean up emulsified crude oil and reduce the Navy’s carbon footprint.

“We’re excited about this technology because it’s not only going to get the emulsified crude off of the marine environment, it will help protect our first responders that are out on the water and keep them healthy,” said Karen Stone, BSEE oil spill response engineer and program manager. “We hope this technology can be used closer in-shore; maybe in fast-water environments on rivers and near population centers or in areas that we don’t have a lot of infrastructure, such as off of Alaska.”

For more information visit: www.nrl.navy.mil and www.bsee.gov