SMDC CTO addresses space community on Army cooperation

Courtesy Photo | Dr. Steve Pierce, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command chief technology officer, addressed the Huntsville Chapter of the Montgomery, Alabama, AFCEA Chapter during a virtual meeting Dec. 10 on “How Space Enables Multi Domain Operations in the Army.” (U.S. Army photo)  

REDSTONE ARSENAL, AL, UNITED STATES

12.18.2020

Story by Jason Cutshaw 

U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Alabama – A U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command technology leader spoke with the community to address space science and technology initiatives.

Dr. Steve Pierce, USASMDC chief technology officer, addressed a Huntsville and Montgomery Chapters partnership event for the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association during a virtual meeting Dec. 10 on “How Space Enables Multi Domain Operations in the Army.”

During his time, Pierce discussed the 21st century “landscape;” to include global trends, the strategic environment and operational context. He then talked about what is unique about the cyberspace, space, air, sea and land combat domains.

“The Department of Defense is increasingly dependent upon space based capabilities to accomplish the defense mission,” Pierce said. “The Army is the biggest user of space and the threat has clearly recognized DoD reliance on Space and is developing capabilities to limit our Space capabilities. The bottom line is both the demand and risk are increasing in space support to the warfighter.”

He said the mission of SMDC is to develop and provide current and future global space, missile defense, and high altitude capabilities to the Army, joint force, and our allies and partners, to enable multi-domain combat effects; enhance deterrence, assurance, and detection of strategic attacks; and protect the nation.

“U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command develops, fields and executes tactical space capabilities,” Pierce said. “SMDC is unique in that it is an organization that is responsible for combat development, identifying and developing new technologies as well as training, equipping and manning our space forces.

“The Army and other services are developing doctrine to support multi domain operations,” he added. “Space capabilities – to include satellite based global communications; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; weather; and early missile warning – are critical to successfully executing multi domain operations.”

Pierce said the synchronization of the command’s mission areas is an ongoing process that advances in three key directions: Horizontally throughout the command and with our close partners at Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense, Joint Functional Component Command for Space and other Army Service Component Commands; Vertically with Headquarters, Department of the Army, U.S. Strategic Command and our major subordinate elements; and laterally with the rest of U.S. Government, our allies, partners and industry.

He then talked about two of the command’s brigades that conduct 24/7 space operations in support of the Army and the joint force.

Pierce talked about the 1st Space Brigade and how it conducts space operations to deliver decisive combat power in support of the Army and joint warfighting communities. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the brigade supports joint forces and their critical dependence on space capabilities and products through the unique mission sets of its subordinate battalions and associated unit battalion.

The second brigade he mentioned is the U.S. Army SATOPS Brigade. The brigade integrates as a modular element within Combined Force Space Component Command’s SATCOM Integrated Operations Division. It is operationally postured for presentation of satellite communications forces to the joint commander, and manages satellite payload controllers, managers and planners organized under a single commander to improve operational agility and synchronized action.

He then talked about the Space and Missile Defense Center of Excellence where concepts begin for space, high altitude and global missile defense and integration into the fight is executed. The SMDCoE develops concepts, codifies requirements and rapidly integrates innovations to enhance Army and joint warfighting capabilities.

Pierce also described the SMDC Technical Center and explained how it conducts research, development, test and evaluation; executes space and missile defense research and development; researches high energy laser technologies to counter rockets, artillery, mortars, UAS, and other threats; investigates space-based capabilities in low earth orbit to directly enable next-generation Army communications and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tactical systems; conducts test execution support for space, missile defense, and hypersonic technologies and ballistic missile targets; operates the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site; and executes space operations and space surveillance missions in support of U.S. Space Command.

“SMDC plays a critical role in the execution of multi domain operations, providing space capabilities down to the warfighter and protection of our homeland,” Pierce said. “It also ensures that our doctrine and concepts of operations support the principles of multi domain operations while identifying and developing new technologies that will provide our warfighters the advantage in future conflicts.”

• Date Taken: 12.18.2020
• Date Posted: 12.21.2020 12:02
• Story ID: 385375
• Location: REDSTONE ARSENAL, AL, US