Lt. Gen. James Dickinson, commander of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, said that the command is making changes in an effort to accommodate the new U.S. Space Command, Space News reported Tuesday.
Dickinson, who has been confirmed to be Spacecom’s deputy commander after being nominated for the post in August, told attendees at the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual meeting that SMDC’s space division will now operate as the Army’s component under the new unified combatant command.
He noted that Army personnel under SMDC currently handle satellite communications support and operation centers across the U.S. and overseas. Dickinson also led the reorganization of the 53rd Signal Battalion of the Army’s 1st Space Brigade to improve satcom support operations.
“We have combat veterans that are space officers that provide very valuable operational perspective,†he said. “It’s key to bring capability to soldiers in a timely manner. That is what we have to get to.â€
Other new SMDC efforts include the establishment of a Space and Missile Defense Center of Excellence. According to Dickinson, the command also seeks commercial technologies spanning communications, surveillance and position, navigation and timing.
