The U.S. Air Force will set up a new directorate focused on space operations over the next two months as part of the reorganization of the service branch’s headquarters, the Air Force reported Friday.
Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said Friday at the Strategic National Security Space discussion in Washington that a three-star general officer will be designated to serve as deputy chief of staff for space operations to oversee the new directorate.
The new organization will commence operations by early August and will be responsible for the consolidation of space functions from various parts of the air staff.
Wilson also wrote in an article published Friday on Defense One that the directorate will oversee the recruitment and training of air personnel involved in space missions as part of the military branch’s efforts to maintain superiority in space and prepare for any future conflict in space.
She mentioned that the Air Force secretary post was reaffirmed by Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work as the principal adviser to Defense Secretary James Mattis on space issues over the next year.
With this reaffirmation, Wilson noted that she has the responsibility to advocate and manage space-related initiatives across government agencies and service branches.
