Air Force Secretary Michael Donley’s latest Letter to Airmen talks about his role in creating “balance across the Department of the Air Force.” He described a balanced approach as “prevailing in today’s operations while investing in new capabilities, force structure, skills, and technologies to meet tomorrow’s needs.” He noted, too, that a balanced approach “means delivering capabilities across the spectrum of conflict.” He wrote that a balanced approach also must distribute the service’s “diverse missions and responsibilities across active and reserve components, civilian workforce, and contractors in ways that maximize effectiveness and efficiency for joint commanders and the American taxpayer.”
The Space Development Agency is set to launch 21 Tranche 1 data transport satellites on Oct. 5—its fourth Tranche 1 mission since last fall and the first to carry Northrop Grumman-built satellites.