OCR Text |
Show Hilltop 4 TIMES HILLTOP TIMES March 20, 2014 Officials update Congress on military space policy, challenges BY ARMY SGT. 1ST CLASS TYRONE C. MARSHALL JR. American Forces Press Service W ASHINGTON — If potential adversaries are to challenge the United States, they must do so in the space domain, the Defense Department's top space policy official told Congress here March 12. Douglas L. Loverro, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for space policy, joined by Gen. William L. Shelton, the cornmander of Air Force Space Command, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee's strategic forces subcommittee on the department's space program posture. "Over the last 15 years, other nations have watched us closely," Loverro said. "They have recognized that if they are to challenge the United States, they must challenge us in space. And they are endeavoring to do so. The United States has successfully addressed such challenges before in air, sea and land domains, and now we must, likewise, respond in space." This must be done against the backdrop of decreasing budgets that challenges both the ability and speed with which the United States can act, he said, adding that this in no way diminishes the importance of successfully sustaining the crucial advantages that space provides. "Our strategic approach for these issues remains consistent with what we outlined in the 2011 National Security Space Strategy and reaffirmed in DOD space policy in 2012," Loverro said. While Loverro acknowledged he is concerned about the contested nature of space, he said it remains important to national defense. "Space remains, and will continue to remain, vital to our national security," he said. "It underpins DOD capabilities worldwide at every level of en- gagement, from humanitarian assistance to the highest levels of combat. It enables U.S. operations to be executed with precision on a global basis with reduced resources, fewer deployed troops, fewer casualties and decreased collateral damage." Space empowers U.S. forces and allies to win faster and to bring more warfighters home safety, he said. "It's a key to U.S. power projection," Loverro said, "providing a strong deterrent to our potential adversaries and a source of confidence to our allies." But the evolving strategic environment increasingly challenges U.S. space advantages, he said, because space no longer is the sole province of world powers — it is a frontier that is now open to all. Space has become more competitive, congested and contested, Loverro said, referring to that condition as the "so-called three C's." As an American, he said, he welcomes the competitive aspect of today's space environment. "I'm highly confident that, with the right policies, the U.S. is well positioned to remain ahead in that environment," Loverro said. The changes Congress authorized two years ago on export SCOTT M. ASH/U.S. Air Force Air Force Gen. William L. Shelton, commander of Air Force Space Command, testifies before the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services' Subcommittee on Strategic Forces March 12, 2014, in Washington, D.C. Shelton testified on military space programs in review of the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2015 and the future years defense program. Four other witnesses testified: Douglas L. Loverro, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy; Dr. John A. Zangardi, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Information Operations and Space; Lt. Gen. David L. Mann, Commander, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command and Joint Functional Command for Integrated Missile Defense; and Cristina T. Chaplain, Director, Acquisition and Source Management, Government Accountability Office. control reform, Loverro said, DOD have embraced on comcoupled with changes NASA and mercial launch, are just two of the many reasons he isn't concerned with the competitive nature of space. "On the second V,' congestion, I am not quite so welcoming," he said. "But I am optimistic. Congestion and debris in space is a real issue, and it threatens to put our use of space at risk." Loverro praised efforts such as the Air Force's Space Fence program that are aimed at reducing this risk, as well as the work DOD, the State Department and the United Nations are doing internationally to set "rules of the road" for outer space. The space situational awareness sharing that U.S. Strategic Command is leading, he said, also is aimed at bringing a similar focus on this issue to the community of spacefaring nations. Shelton voiced similar concerns regarding the contested margin of U.S. advantage in space. "Our nation's advantage in space is no longer a given," he said. "The ever-evolving space environment is increasingly contested, as potential adversary capabilities grow in both number and sophistication." The general said providing budget stability and flexibility in the dynamic, strategic space environment is necessary to maintain and bolster the viability of the nation's space capabilities. "Given this new normal for space, I believe that we are at a strategic crossroads," he said. "It is a reality that requires us to address how we protect our space systems, challenge traditional acquisitions practices and consider alternative architectures that are more resilient and more affordable." Shelton thanked the committee for supporting the military space program. "I look forward to working with the Congress to keep you abreast of our efforts to provide resilient, capable and affordable space capabilities for the joint force and for the nation," he said. Blake paved way for thousands of Air Force women BY DR. ROBERT KANE Air University historian MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. — The women of today's Air Force can look back with pride to Staff Sgt. Esther McGowin Blake. "We consider her the first lady of the Air Force," said William Chivalette, the curator of the Enlisted Heritage Hall at Gunter Annex here. "She raised her right hand to enlist in the U.S. Air Force on the first minute of the first hour of the first day, July 8, 1948, that women could join the United States Air Force, created nine months before on September 17, 1947." Less than a month before, on June 12, 1948, President Harry S. Truman had signed the Women's Armed Services Integration Act (Public Law 625-80), which authorized women to serve as regular members of the U.S. armed forces. Born on July 7, 1897, in Escambia, Ala., Blake served as a civilian employee of the Army Air Forces Air Service Cornmand at the Miami Air Depot, Miami, Fla., now a part of the Miami International Airport, after World War II started. In March 1944, she enlisted in the Women's Army Corps after the War Department notified her that her oldest son, 1st Lt. Julius Blake, a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot in England, had been shot down over Belgium and was reported missing. He remained "missing in action" for nine months. Her younger son, 1st Lt. Thomas Blake, who flew a B-25 Mitchell bomber in Italy, later said that his mother joined the Wornen's Army Corps hoping to free a Soldier from clerical work to fight, thus speeding the end of the war. "If I can do this," Blake said, "my efforts will be worthwhile." While Thomas was also shot down after 50 combat • Hill AFB Job Openings Site Internal civilian announcements are posted on the USAJOBS web site. Announcements for bargaining unit positions are posted any week day. The website is www.usajobs.gov . On the home page type "HILL" in the box titled "What". In the box titled "Where" type "UT" and hit the Search Jobs button. To view all vacancies that are currently open, under "Refine Your Results", top left hand section, select the "Jobs for Federal Employees" bubble. missions Blake saw both of her sons return home by the end of the war with only minor wounds and many decorations. During the war, Blake served at several bases throughout the U.S., including one year in Alaska near the Aleutians and in the Yukon territory. She separated from the Army in November 1945 and returned to her civil service job in Miami. However, heeding a recall for women in the military services, she reenlisted in the Army in April 1947. The Army assigned her to Fort McPherson near Atlanta, Ga. The Air Force became a separate military service on Sept. 17, 1947. After the enactment of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act on June 12, 1948, the Air Force within a month established the Women in the Air Force as a separate organization to oversee the training and administration of WAF. At the time, Congress had limited the number of women in the Air Force to 300 officers and 4,000 enlisted members, assigned primarily to clerical and medical career fields. The Air Force inactivated the WAF in June 1976. At the first available opportunity to return to her roots, Blake transferred from the Army to the Air Force on July 8, 1948, minutes after the start of the first duty day for the WAF, along with 11 other women at Fort McPherson. She remained on active duty with the Air Force until 1954, when she separated because of a disability and went to work as a civil servant at the Veterans I ;ode Shad Ingram, DDS Low cost and clone in 20 ininutesM See the difference right awe y Elitersexcv exam and x-rail Don't deal with the anymore. Call tie now! E(Prabor. oat: 12/31 ti 3 pain made it possible for other women to follow," said Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Horn, the Air University command chief. "Her success opened the doors to allow future women the opportunity to serve with pride. Our Air Force is emphatically better for her efforts." Today, nearly 20 percent of the active-duty members of the Air Force are women. In comparison to the women of Staff Sgt. Blake's Air Force, women in today's Air Force serve in 99 percent of the available career fields, including as security forces members and combat pilots. "Staff Sgt. Blake's spirit of service to country and duty to the Air Force lives on in the women of today's Air Force," Chivalette said. Denied VA Compensation or Social Security Disability? We specialize in Now Of I erine,In-Office Whitening lreatiOn41 Administration Regional Headquarters in Montgomery, Ala. Blake died on Oct. 17, 1979, at 82 years of age, at the Veterans Hospital in Iliskegee, Ala., among fellow veterans. On Oct. 1, 1987, the Air Force named one of the student dormitories at the Air Force Senior NCO Academy at Gunter Annex, Ala., in her honor. "In singling out and recognizing in such a special way one of your own, you pay respect and tribute not only to Air Force Staff Sgt. Esther McGowin Blake, you honor all of us who knew and loved her and who were privileged to share her life," her son Thomas said at the dedication ceremony. "It's never easy being the first. The trail that Esther Blake blazed Richard Ingrami,DIAD DREAM SMILES 780 S 2000 W. Ste. F-1 Syracuse, UT 84075 www.vipclreamsmileo.com 801-770-X00 Call Ban Law Office Joel Ban Social Security Accredited VA Attorney helping Veterans at all levels of the Appeal Process. Main #250 SLC, UT 84101 170 S. 801-532-2447 www.banlawoffice.corn |