2023 Defense Conference Recap

October 19, 2023

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, Dr. John F. Plumb, also serving as the Principal Cyber Advisor for the Secretary of Defense, highlighted the growing integration of space into the broader national security framework. Space is no longer a separate entity but a vital component underpinning the security and defense of a country, evident in the context of space-dependency throughout the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He emphasized that force structures are increasingly designed around securing access to space, a fundamental aspect of modern warfare. Competitors have recognized this and are actively developing capabilities to disrupt this access, with China notably viewing counter-space efforts as a means to prevent U.S. intervention in a Pacific theater conflict. In response, the Department is taking steps to ensure access and addressing counter-space efforts from competitors in this evolving environment, Additionally, Dr. Plumb has conducted systematic reviews and updates to space policies over the past three years focusing on these issues. Three key priorities have emerged: space control, space cooperation, and reducing space over-classification. Notably, China has also been building its own space capabilities, and the 2022 National Defense Strategy outlines their intentions to leverage space for striking longer-ranged targets in the Pacific theater, underscoring the growing significance of space in modern conflicts.