In his testimony before Congress last week, Air Force Undersecretary Ron Sega acknowledged that the Air Force will be losing many experienced space professionals through retirement, saying that USAF must “focus on the basics of recruiting, training, and mentoring” to develop a balanced space workforce. He told the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee that the Fiscal 2007 defense budget contains “roughly twice” the amount of the 2006 request for the National Defense Education Program, which targets undergrad and grad students studying science, math, and engineering. He urged continued Congressional support for such activities.
The Air Force wants more companies able to produce its new, multi-use, anti-radar missile that one expert says will prove vital in any future peer conflict and would be in high demand for the war in Iran if stocks were available now.