- The Air Force established a space technology portfolio executive under SAF/SQ
- The role is designed to accelerate the transition of emerging space technologies to warfighters
- The Space TPE will connect the AFRL and PAEs with the commercial industry
The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration has established the space technology portfolio executive, or Space TPE, a new leadership position under the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, a.k.a. SAF/SQ.
What Is the Space Technology Portfolio Executive?
The service said Tuesday that the Space TPE will consolidate space technology transition activities under a single executive.
The new portfolio executive is intended to reduce bureaucratic complexity surrounding technology maturation and transition while helping ensure emerging capabilities reach operational users more rapidly.
The position will bridge technology development activities involving the Air Force Research Laboratory, portfolio acquisition executives and commercial industry partners, streamlining rapid prototyping, integrating commercial and non-traditional technologies, and aligning technology investments across the space enterprise.
How Does the New Role Support Defense Acquisition Reform?
The establishment of the Space TPE operationalizes a November 2025 secretary of war directive to accelerate the delivery of advanced capabilities to warfighters.
It also implements a January 2026 secretary of war mandate to transform the defense innovation ecosystem to accelerate warfighting advantage.
“SecWar has made it clear that we must transform our innovation ecosystem to outpace the threat,” Erich Hernandez-Baquero, assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration, said. “Standing up the Space TPE provides the dedicated leadership necessary to aggressively transition breakthrough technologies from the lab and the commercial sector directly to our portfolio acquisition executives.”
The Space Force has since established a broader PAE structure covering multiple mission areas across its acquisition enterprise. Each PAE delivers capabilities within its designated mission area.
