At the AFA symposium, General Lance Lord took time to dump cold water on rumors that DOD might strip the Air Force of its current control and management of the Global Positioning System space constellation. “I don’t think that is a good idea,” Lord said, adding that, when the idea was first being pitched around in the Pentagon, there was a great deal of “misinformation” being spread about Air Force management of space programs. The space acquisition corps has pushed the envelope a little by taking some risks in constellation satellite sustainment, which makes Lord hopeful of fielding a GPS III satellite sooner than expected.
US Space Command Should Always Be Led by a Guardian
Sept. 12, 2026
General Stephen Whiting took command of U.S. Space Command in January 2024, and if customary three-year tenures hold, his tour would end in January 2027. The question now before the President and Senate is who should follow him? Whoever they choose, it has to be a Guardian—and so should every successor…
