EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Nearly 50 officials from across Space Systems Command (SSC) participated in a spirited open panel discussion at the first-ever U.S. Space Force (USSF) Front Door Morning Mixer on July 22.
The Space Force Front Door is a digital platform designed to facilitate collaboration between the USSF, government agencies and the commercial space industry. Its primary mission is to serve as a streamlined point of entry for commercial companies seeking to share or grow emerging technologies that can advance the nation's space-based capabilities and strengthen national security. It is part of SSC’s Commercial Space Office (COMSO).
“Our goal is to connect,” said Mark Royer, USSF Front Door event coordinator. “How can we better connect mission needs and commercial solutions? How can we connect our program offices with our Front Door Subject Matter Experts? And how can we connect commercial capabilities submitted to the Front Door with new government uses?”
Vic Vigliotti, director of USSF Front Door, said the Front Door system provides the market research and data reporting that enables acquisition professionals to significantly reduce acquisition timelines. As more programs and agencies feed their own data about vendors into the Front Door system, that data will become even more robust.
Audience members also heard from Front Door’s chief technical officer, Monica Alderette; navigators Loretta Childers and Dustin Roh, who review vendor submissions; and consiglieres - special advisors who work in-depth with vendors and acquirers - Justine Cromer, Dan Dempsey and Alan Lin.
Audience members included representatives from SSC’s Systems Delta (SYD) 810 (space-based environmental monitoring and tactical sensing capabilities); SYD 89 (Space Combat Power); SSC S2 (Intelligence); S4 (Logistics and Product Support); S6 (Cyber and Data); and the Aerospace Corporation.
Attendees’ questions ranged from how Front Door is working with foreign vendors and governments, to how Front Door is planning to integrate with existing program office workflows, to what specific company reports Front Door is able to provide. As interested as the audience was in Front Door’s current capabilities, they were even more excited about what future developments could offer.
The Space Force Front Door started by representing SSC and has since grown to represent all of the U.S. Space Force. Front Door has also developed partnerships with a number of organizations across the enterprise, including U.S. Space Command.
Vigliotti explained: “Instead of relying on the first company to approach an SSC program with an idea, SSC acquirers now can access the Front Door system and have a wealth of data about emerging capabilities and providers at their fingertips.”
“We’re also working pretty closely with our NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) partners, and we’ve been in early discussions with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration),” Vigliotti continued.
The Front Door team also serves as a vital resource for Portfolio Acquisition Executives and program offices seeking to hold industry days or reverse industry days throughout the year to generate commercial-government dialogue on specific mission areas.
Front Door also has team members stationed in multiple locations around major space hubs, available to meet and connect companies, individuals, and government agencies.
Childers and Roh emphasized that every vendor submission – whether it’s a mission match or not – receives an email response with relevant resources for the vendor. Front Door navigators receive submissions for everything from mowing the lawns on the Los Angeles Air Force Base to proliferated LEO (low Earth orbit) systems.
“No one is turned away,” Childers said. “Everyone gets a response.”
And that’s by design, Vigliotti said: “USSF Front door is designed to foster collaborative relationships between the U.S. government and vendors.”
Scan to connect through Space Force Front Door.