Space and Missile Systems Center will play a key role in Congress’s requirement that DOD develop operationally responsive space capabilities, Lt. Gen. Michael Hamel, commander of SMC said Tuesday at a breakfast meeting with Washington-based defense reporters. He explained: “We today and for the past 40 years have been the stewards for DOD’s space test program. We fly routinely experiments and satellites for the Air Force and other agencies.” In fact, he said that SMC has already made some organizational realignments to meet the new requirements, because “we think these two things together, operationally responsive space and our already ongoing space test program will provide very good synergy.” However, Hamel was quick to point out, “There’s got to be resources to get put into this because we can’t just hope for—imagine—that there’s going to be satellites and launchers.”
Unit commanders are being told to separate service members who can’t shave their cheeks and chin for medical reasons for more than a year, according to new guidance from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.