EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- USSF Lt. Gen. Philip A. Garrant and participating members of Space Systems Command’s (SSC) leadership team addressed space acquisition reform head-on at the 40th annual Space Symposium, emphasizing the critical need for accelerated space acquisition to ensure Joint Force lethality in an increasingly contested and threatened space domain.
“Lethality in the modern battlespace isn’t just about firepower — it’s about delivering advantage at speed,” Garrant stated. “Acquirers are at the heart of delivering our Joint Force the capabilities necessary to be lethal warfighters for our Nation.”
Alongside Lt. Gen. Garrant, leaders and experts from SSC supported that message through conference presentations, panels, booth interactions, and media interviews. Their briefings centered on the message that space capabilities are foundational to enabling the Joint Force to maneuver rapidly, respond in real-time, and stay ahead of adversaries. Programs such as the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3, Orbital Watch, Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve (CASR), Tactical Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Tracking (TacSRT), and Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) were highlighted as key examples of how SSC is driving innovation and integration across space and ground systems.
“When we say, ‘Space Starts Here,’ we mean it,” Garrant said. “We protect and defend war-winning capabilities, working across portfolios to outpace threats. We drive the pace and set the tone for how advantages in space enable the Joint Force.”
Col. Jon Strizzi from SSC’s Space Systems Integration Office reinforced this sentiment during the Fireside Chat: AI-Powered Defense — Balancing Technology and Trust. Strizzi discussed how SSC is leading efforts to develop and integrate AI capabilities, prepare the workforce for AI adoption, build trust in autonomous systems, and collaborate with industry and allies to accelerate innovation.
SSC leadership also highlighted the growing need for agile acquisition strategies that can keep pace with evolving threats, emphasizing cross-domain collaboration and strong partnerships with allied nations. In today’s space environment, the warfighter does not have the luxury of time—acquisition strategies must evolve with the same speed and agility as the threats they are designed to counter. Mission success is significantly enhanced through robust collaboration, not only with industry partners but also with international allies who are committed to addressing shared challenges in the space domain.
Maj. Dale Hartley, Enhanced Polar Systems-Recapitalization Branch Lead at SSC, along with the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) team, echoed this message at the Space Generation Fusion Forum. Joined by partners from Northrop Grumman, Space Norway, and Viasat, the team discussed how they worked together to deploy the first-ever operational U.S. Department of Defense payloads hosted on an allied satellite.
Throughout the conference, SSC experts and innovators connected with countless attendees, journalists, industry partners, potential recruits, STEM students, and even Olympians and Paralympians at a Space Unified event that embodied the values of excellence, determination, and inspiration — a wholesome reminder that unity fuels progress, and space is ultimately a team sport.
“Our message at the Space Symposium was clear: space is a warfighting domain, and we must continue to deliver capabilities at speed, enhance lethality, and ensure the Joint Force has the space-enabled tools required to win and protect American interests in space,” said Lt. Col. Trisha Guillebeau, SSC director of Public Affairs. “With a reimagined structure and a forward-leaning “exploit, buy, build” mindset, SSC is delivering innovation and agility at the speed of relevance. Space is ever-evolving — and so are we.”