The Space Force is launching a new course for new acquisitions officers. This 10-week course is focused on ensuring space acquisitions expertise. The goal is to provide new acquisition officers a deep dive into program management, contracting, and space system testing.
This change expands on the Space Force’s decision to change training for its officers. The Space Force recently graduated eighty-four space professionals from their Officer Training Course (OTC), which is now a yearlong program. OTC has expanded to a year to ensure Guardians are well trained in all aspects of the service’s mission rather than a single specialty.
Chief of Space Operations Gen B. Chance Saltzman gave remarks about the changes made within the Space Force at the keynote at AFA’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference on Sept 22nd. “We want Guardians to have a variety of experiences early on, allowing us to find their strengths, helping them understand where their passions lie,” Saltzman said. “Then we can match the skills, strengths and desires of each Guardian to the training and experiences they need to thrive across the wide range of Space Force missions.”
New approach to Acquisitions
The new approach to acquisitions, a career field that by percentage is the largest of all the military branches, is more in line with the Army and Navy. While in the Air Force officers can start in acquisitions from the very beginning of their career. Although Air Force leaders have also pushed to give acquisition officers more operational experience.
The new program not only gives students the chance to learn about program management, engineering, contracting and testing of space systems. There is also an opportunity for students to learn from experts in the space industry and be mentored by leaders in the Space Force.
“Earlier this month, the first cohort of students began learning about program management, engineering, contracting, and testing of space systems. I’m sure we’ll see these Guardians creating tremendous benefits across the force very soon,” Saltzman added.
This new course is also not only for Guardians just starting their career but also includes an on-ramp for operators looking to transition to acquisition roles. Right now, the Space Force needs more acquisition officers.
Losing ACQUISITION Leaders
The Space Force has been seeing an outsized impact from the Trump administration cuts to the civilian workforce. In May at a Senate Armed Service Committee hearing, Saltzman shared the service had lost nearly 14% of its civilian personnel to early retirement and staffing reductions, many of those civilians worked as acquisition professionals.
When asked by reports the impact of losing so many from the acquisition workforce, Saltzman told reporters that there has been a gap in both institutional knowledge and technical skills. The Space Force has been working with Office of the Secretary of Defense to get hiring authorities for critical acquisition and contractor roles. Now they are working to use those authorities effectively to fill the holes where they are most needed.
Looking to the future
“Space acquisition is one of the most intricate professions on or off the planet, and it can take years to master,” Saltzman said. “At the pace the joint force is demanding our capabilities, we will need an expert workforce to deliver. So, it’s imperative that we invest in developing our workforce so that our Guardians can effectively play their role in system delivery.”
