Joy White: “We have to get a clearer access point for the commercial industry’
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Space Forces procurement unit based in Los Angeles launched a new effort for commercial space companies to work with the government. Joy White, executive director at the Space Systems Command, stated Feb. 16.
White stated that Space Force representatives will be assigned to different locations in the United States to engage with interested companies and find opportunities for the Space Force, which could include investing in high-potential technologies.
White, who is also the head of contracting at Space Systems Command said that the initiative was called SSC front door even though it is still in its infancy. We’ve got to get a more clear access point for commercial industry to come in and to bring us their ideas, and bring us their technologies. This is what the SSC frontdoor is supposed to do.
Teams assigned to the SSC front door effort will be based at the commands headquarters in Los Angeles but also at other space industry hotbeds like NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Others will be based in Colorado Springs and Kirtland (New Mexico), where the Rapid Space Capabilities Office as well as the Air Force Research Laboratory are located. In the future the plan is to bring people to the Washington, D.C. area as well, she said, because there’s so much opportunity there to talk with folks and understand what capabilities are out there.
The Space Systems Command is a large organization with a $11 billion annual budget, and almost 10,000 employees. White stated that the command has set the goal to transform the military’s space architecture away from being dominated by large satellites in geostationary Earth orbit and towards more proliferated networks in lower and higher orbits, making it more difficult for adversaries.
White stated that the command has a 2026 target date for new satellite networks in orbit and requires assistance from the private sector.
The Space Systems Command was established in August 2021. It replaced the Space and Missile Systems Center, which was first established in 1954. This makes it the oldest space organization in U.S. military.White stated that over the years programs have been hampered by traditional processes. The new chief Space Systems Command, Lt. General Michael Guetlein is reorganizing the organization to be more agile she stated.
White said that the front door initiative is just one of many efforts to keep up with the pace of innovation in the commercial sector.
She said that the command is still working on fine-tuning front door concepts so it doesn’t become too complicated for small businesses. One thing I worry about, is whether we have too many entrances. It could be confusing how to get in. We need to tighten that.
