The Space Force has finalized a major reorganization of its acquisition structure, creating nine mission area-focused portfolio acquisition executives with broad authority over the service’s development and procurement programs.
The service announced its first two PAEs in January, followed by four more in March. It finalized the remaining three in a June 22 memo signed by Acting Assistant Secretary for Space Acquisition and Integration Thomas Ainsworth. The complete list, as follows:
- Space Access, which covers launch delivery and range operations and sustainment, led by acting PAE Col. Eric Zarybinsky
- Space-Based Sensing and Targeting, which covers battlespace awareness and environmental monitory, led by acting PAE Col. Ryan Frazier
- Missile Warning and Tracking, which covers missile warning, tracking, and defense architecture, led by PAE Gurpartap Sandhoo
- Infrastructure, which covers data and personnel management, and test and training, and is led by Col. Corey Klopstein
- Battle Management Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence, which includes Space C2, data, networks, and intelligence capabilities, led by PAE Shannon Pallone
- Satellite Communications and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing, which includes SATCOM and PNT programs, led by acting PAE Erin Carper
- Advanced Capabilities, presumably a largely classified portfolio that includes systems to “enable joint warfighting operations,” led by PAE Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy
- Electromagnetic Warfare and Cyber, covers systems that operate on the electromagnetic spectrum or in the cyber domain, led by acting PAE William Blauser
- Space Combat Power, also a largely classified portfolio focused on “space warfighting” systems, led by acting PAE Col. Bryon McClain
“These mission-focused PAE structures can and will cross all domains,” Ainsworth said in the memo. “Underpinning this construct, integration support to all PAEs remains essential to achieving success in delivering space capability consistently to the Joint Force for space warfighting.”
SpaceNews was the first to report on the final PAE structure.
The transition to this new organizational structure is part of the service’s plan to implement Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s sweeping acquisition reform agenda and transform the way the Pentagon buys, builds, and fields weapons and platforms. Part of that transformation is a push to reduce decision-making echelons and delegate more authority to acquisition experts.
Space Force PAEs will report directly to the service acquisition executive, and the intent is to empower them to make requirements decisions and shift resources between programs as technology changes and threats evolve. Congress has yet to formally give PAEs the full slate of authorities the Pentagon’s strategy envisions, but Ainsworth noted that the executives in charge of each portfolio have the ability to “pursue their assigned missions, build their organization, and drive accountability for results with the requisite authorities to capitalize on innovative technology and deliver capabilities.”
In a recent interview with Air & Space Force’s Magazine, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said he’s already seeing positive results from the acquisition reform efforts.
“We’ve delegated probably 90-92 percent of contracting authorities down into what we call these portfolio acquisition executives, so that they can make the decisions there, not only for contracting decisions, but for hiring decisions,” Meink said. “Even though this acquisition transformation and this focus has only been a year or so in, we’re already seeing the benefits and we’re seeing really good performance across the board.”