The Defense Space Council (DSC), created by Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn and chaired by the recently-revalidated DoD Executive Agent for Space, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley, met for the first time Dec. 20, moving forward on one of several changes in DoD Space governance that was approved Nov. 17.
The DSC is the principal advisory forum for DoD space issues. The council will align requirements, acquisition and budget planning and execution with strategy and policy, according to the department. These improvements are designed to ensure stronger capabilities, greater efficiencies and a healthier space industrial base.
First on the council’s agenda is streamlining the many defense and national security space committees, boards and councils, according to a Pentagon statement. The DSC will review more than 15 space-related organizations and recommend their cancellation, consolidation, dissolution or realignment under the DSC. The formation of the council and its first task were among five recommendations approved by Lynn, including the realignment of the National Security Space office and a review of all executive agent support functions.
“These decisions will not only better position DoD to coordinate the implementation of space policy and strategy, they will also provide the framework for DoD’s coordination with the intelligence community on national security space,” Donley said Nov. 19 at the Air Force Association Global Warfare Symposium.
The first meeting of the DSC builds upon recent actions that have strengthened DoD’s stewardship of space including a comprehensive review and realignment of Headquarters Air Force space management and responsibilities, according to the statement released by the Pentagon.