Work is still underway to build up the Space Force even as the new coronavirus raises some unexpected hurdles, the service's top uniformed officer said March 27. Three people assigned to the Space Force in Colorado have tested positive for the virus, Chief of Space Operations Gen. Jay Raymond told reporters. Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., home to the Space and Missile Systems Center, on March 25 reported its first positive coronavirus patient in the base’s Fort MacArthur housing area. U.S. Space Command, which Raymond also runs, has not seen any positive cases so far. Public announcements on what to call space professionals, what uniforms may look like, and more are coming soon, Raymond said. He indicated the coronavirus has not halted the Department of the Air Force’s planning to formally transfer about 16,000 personnel into the Space Force starting later this year.

Advancements in cloud computing have made it easier to telework as the new coronavirus outbreak spreads, but the service is still looking for a creative solution that will enable those with security clearances to work remotely. The Air Force's Advanced Battle Management Systems experiment, which incorporates new devices known as tabletONE and phoneONE, might be the solution. Originally designed to enable Soldiers and Marines in the field to view secret-level data collected by airborne and space sensors, USAF acquisition chief Will Roper said the service is now looking to quickly procure these devices so acquisition professionals can work outside of a Sensitive Compartmentalized Information Facility.

Air Force acquisition programs remain largely on course, despite some major disruptions from the new coronavirus outbreak, such as Boeing halting production at its Puget Sound-area facilities in Washington state, the service’s acquisition boss said. The outbreak has posed unprecedented challenges to the service and the way it is procuring weapons, but so far there have only been "minor issues,” and all programs are largely sticking to schedules, said Will Roper, the Air Force’s assistant secretary for acquisition, technology, and logistics.

The Defense Department has issued new guidance for commanders who are trying to maintain mission readiness while helping their personnel navigate through the uncertainties of the new coronavirus pandemic. “Commanders have broad authority to exercise sound judgment in all cases, and this guidance describes available authority and flexibility that can be applied to promote, rather than to restrict, possible solutions,” states the March 26 memo. The guidance also notes that in most cases, pay and benefits will not be affected, and it looks to clarify exceptions.

The 45th Space Operations Group's Detachment 3 is training to rescue a new generation of astronauts as the U.S. returns to manned space launch. But the niche organization is small and can feel misunderstood in the vast Pentagon bureaucracy, even as it takes on new importance in the modern space age.

The proposed merger of Raytheon with United Technologies has been approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, provided the two companies sell off some units that would otherwise give the new Raytheon Technologies a monopoly on some business areas. The new company will become the second-largest defense contractor, after Lockheed Martin.

Lockheed Martin is offering cash, the use of its corporate jets, vehicles, and facilities for help with the COVID-19 crisis, CEO Marillyn Hewson said in a March 27 statement. The grants to small businesses, veterans, workers, and retirees add up to over $66 million.