Spacepower Podcast

On the worst day imaginable, the day a nuclear decision has to be made, the President of the United States needs to talk to commanders and allies anywhere on Earth. That conversation runs through space. And the people responsible for delivering it just did so two full years ahead of schedule.But this episode isn't just about a single acquisition win. It's about a fundamental shift in how the Space Force thinks about buying capabilities. For decades, a cultural wall separated the people who acquired systems from the people who fought with them. Requirements passed over a fence. Timelines drifted. By the time a capability arrived, the threat had sometimes already moved. System Delta 88 exists to make that model obsolete.In this episode of the Spacepower Podcast, SFA Founder and host Bill Woolf sits down with Col. A.J. Ashby, Commander of System Delta 88 at Space Systems Command, to discuss how the Space Force is rewiring military satellite communications acquisition and what it looks like when acquisition becomes a warfighting function.In this conversation, Col. Ashby discusses:Why the Space Force created System Deltas in 2025 and how they differ from traditional program officesWhat "acquisition is a warfighting function" actually means in practice, not just on a slideHow SYD 88 won the 2025 David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award, the Department of War's highest acquisition team honor, for delivering a critical NC3 capability two full years earlyThe cultural wall between acquirers and operators, and the specific steps SYD 88 is taking to tear it downWhy new SYD 88 personnel earn a SATCOM patch the same way an operator earns a ratingWhat "zero daylight" between SYD 88 and Mission Delta 8 looks like in a weekly ops meetingThe commercial-first philosophy: where industry solutions win outright and where the hard military-specific problems beginWhy vendor lock is one of the biggest risks in the SATCOM portfolio and how open architecture changes thatWhat it means to deliver capability at the speed of threat relevance, not just the speed of the program scheduleHow junior acquirers who have never read a requirements document are being trained to think like warfightersMilitary satellite communications is invisible on a good day. It has to be invisible, reliable, and unjammable on the worst one. This episode is about the team building it and the reform changing how the Space Force buys for war.Hosted by Bill Woolf Produced by Ty HollidayGuest: Col. A.J. Ashby, Commander, System Delta 88, Space Systems Command Col. Ashby commands System Delta 88, the Space Systems Command unit responsible for developing and delivering military satellite communications capabilities to the joint force. Under his command, SYD 88 received the 2025 David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award for delivering a critical nuclear command, control, and communications capability two years ahead of schedule. It was the largest source selection in Space Force history across a $24 billion portfolio.Learn more about Space Systems Command: https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/ Learn more about the U.S. Space Force: https://www.spaceforce.mil/ Join SFA: https://ussfa.org/Subscribe for more conversations on spacepower, national security, and the future of the space domain.

Space has been a contested domain for years. The doctrine, the training, and the culture needed to fight and win in it have been built, mostly quietly, at a squadron at Nellis Air Force Base. Most people who care about the Space Force have never heard of it. Most of the people shaping how space warfare is conducted today came through it.This year, the 328th Weapons Squadron turns 30. Three decades after the Space Division was stood up at the Air Force Weapons School in 1996, the institution that started by teaching fighter pilots how to integrate space support into their missions now graduates the tactical and operational leaders who will contest the domain against peer adversaries. The transformation is real. And according to the officer commanding the 328th right now, it's far from finished.In this episode of the Spacepower Podcast, SFA Founder and host Bill Woolf sits down with Lt. Col. Brian "Knuckles" Peterson, Commander of the 328th Weapons Squadron, to talk about what the space weapons officer community has built, where it's going, and what the next 30 years demand.In this conversation, Lt. Col. Peterson discusses:Why the 328th is a domain WIC, not a platform WIC, and why that distinction changes everything about how space warfighters are trainedWhat it means to graduate 450 weapons officers over 30 years in a service that still needs to double in sizeHow the course evolved from space support integration to full orbital warfare and EW combined arms, and why that shift wasn't just curriculum, it was cultureThe debrief culture that distinguishes weapons officers: why failure is designed into the course, and what that teaches about decision-making under real-world pressureThe feedback loop between operators, testers, and acquirers, and why building the widget before figuring out how to fight it is one of the Space Force's cardinal sinsWhat it looks like when a Guardian truly understands the joint force, and why that connection is the foundation of everything the 328th producesWhy the school is expanding: a new building, an intelligence course, a cyber course, and what that signals about where the Space Force is headingWhat the 30th anniversary Reblu is actually for, and why reconnecting 450 graduates matters as much as the classified combat updates on day oneWhat the 328th needs to keep producing to ensure the Space Force wins the fights that are comingThe Space Force of 2045 is being built right now at Nellis. The 328th turns 30 this month and the celebration isn't just about what's been accomplished. It's about what the weapons officer community owes the joint force in the next three decades.Hosted by Bill Woolf Produced by Ty HollidayGuest: Lt. Col. Brian "Knuckles" Peterson, Commander, 328th Weapons Squadron, Space Delta 1, Space Training and Readiness Command Lt. Col. Peterson commands the Space Force's weapons school at Nellis Air Force Base — the institution responsible for producing the Space Force's tactical and operational warfighting experts. He brings a background in missile warning, three combat deployments, and time in the Space Force's futures division to the role.Learn more about the U.S. Space Force: https://www.spaceforce.mil/ Join SFA: https://ussfa.org/Subscribe for more conversations on spacepower, national security, and the future of the space domain.

The Space Force needs to double in size. That's not a talking point, it's a legislative ask, a budgetary argument, and a warfighting requirement all at once.In this episode of the Spacepower Podcast, SFA Founder and host Bill Woolf sits down with Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force, CMSSF John Bentivegna, to break down exactly what it would take to grow the Space Force from roughly 11,000 to 25,000 Guardians by 2031, and why the threat environment leaves no room for delay.Most people hear the headline and assume it is a budget conversation. It's much more specific than that. Congress controls how many people each military service can have. That ceiling is set in the National Defense Authorization Act every year. Raising it requires requirements, justification, infrastructure, and a pipeline, and the Space Force is building all of it simultaneously.In this conversation, CMSSF Bentivegna discusses:Why end strength growth starts with requirements, not headcount, and what China's on-orbit capabilities have to do with that mathHow the Space Force's enlisted-led operator model works, and why it's the right design for a warfighting domainWhat a Guardian on console actually does, and how officers, NCOs, and civilians each fit into an operations floorThe World-Class Master Sergeant initiative and why developing elite E-7s is the key to scaling quality without diluting itWhere the next 10,000 Guardians actually come from, recruits, cross-service transfers, ROTC, OTS, and the Personnel Management ActWhat SPAFORGEN is, why you can't train for high-intensity conflict while running daily operations, and how that tension drives force sizingGuardian Arena, what it is, what it tests, and why it's becoming the cultural centerpiece of the serviceThe Space Force was built for this moment. The question is whether it will be built big enough, fast enough, to meet it.Hosted by Bill WoolfProduced by Ty HollidayGuest: Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force, CMSSF John Bentivegna The senior enlisted leader of the United States Space Force, responsible for the health, welfare, development, and utilization of all enlisted Guardians.Learn more about the U.S. Space Force: https://www.spaceforce.mil/Join SFA: https://ussfa.org/Subscribe for more conversations on spacepower, national security, and the future of the space domain.

What happens to the American economy, not just the American military, if China wins the space race?In this episode of the Spacepower Podcast, SFA Founder and host Bill Woolf sits down with Randy Schriver, Chair of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, and Mike Kuiken, its Vice Chair, joined by co-host Dillon "Brick" Cox, Chair of SFA's National Spacepower Center Committee. Together they work through one of the most important questions in national security that most Americans aren't asking: what does contested space actually cost us?The Commission's 2025 Annual Report to Congress was approved unanimously by all twelve commissioners, six Republicans, six Democrats. In a Washington where almost nothing gets bipartisan agreement, that consensus is the story.Randy Schriver served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs. He describes returning to government, getting his clearances back, and walking into his first briefing: "My mind exploded." General Saltzman called China's space advancement "mind-boggling." That's not a phrase you hear from a four-star general.Mike Kuiken spent nearly 23 years in the U.S. Senate, over a decade on the Armed Services Committee and then as Senate Majority Leader Schumer's National Security Advisor. He led the legislative strategy to pass the CHIPS Act.In this conversation, Randy, Mike, and Brick discuss:Why China's space advancement exceeded even experienced Pentagon officials' expectationsThe carrier battle group problem: how China went from intermittent tracking to persistent targeting of U.S. forces transiting the PacificWhat breaks first for ordinary Americans: GPS, telecommunications, financial timing, the power gridWhy China's military-civil fusion means there is no such thing as a Chinese civilian space programThe CHIPS Act parallel: are we making the same mistake in space that we made in semiconductors?Why the Space Force has a visibility problem no other service faces, and why that makes building legislative support nearly impossibleWhat it would take to make a Fortune 500 CEO truly understand 48 hours without GPSThe one thing Randy and Mike would tell a lawmaker who wants to do the right thing but doesn't know where to startHosted by Bill Woolf Co-hosted by Dillon "Brick" Cox Produced by Ty HollidayRandy Schriver, Chair, U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Previously served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs.Mike Kuiken, Vice Chair, U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Nearly 23 years in the U.S. Senate, including over a decade on the Armed Services Committee and as Senate Majority Leader Schumer's National Security Advisor. Led the legislative strategy to pass the CHIPS and Science Act.Read the 2025 Annual Report to Congress: https://www.uscc.gov/annual-report/2025-annual-report-congressLearn more about SFA's National Spacepower Center: https://ussfa.org/national-space-center/Learn more about the U.S. Space Force: https://www.spaceforce.mil/Join SFA: https://ussfa.org/Subscribe for more conversations on spacepower, national security, and the future of the space domain.

The Artemis Accords brought dozens of nations together around shared principles, but principles without structure aren't policy. In a domain where commerce, exploration, and national security increasingly overlap, non-binding norms aren't enough. And the window to act is narrowing.In this episode of the Spacepower Podcast, SFA Founder and host Bill Woolf sits down with Dr. Eric Sundby, CEO of TerraSpace, SFA Board Member, and now the first maritime space officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, to make the case for something more formal: a Space Treaty Organization.Drawing on his PhD dissertation, published op-eds, and direct experience working across the civil, commercial, and national security space sectors, Sundby argues that the United States needs to move from bilateral handshakes to binding multilateral frameworks, before China and Russia fill the vacuum.This conversation covers:Why the Artemis Accords are a critical first step, and why they aren't enoughWhat a Space Treaty Organization would actually do (and what it would not look like)The Wolf Amendment, ILRSCO, and the legal contradictions already undermining U.S. space cooperationWhy SEATO failed and NATO succeeded, and what that means for space governanceHow China's strategy on Earth (artificial islands, territorial claims, debt diplomacy) maps directly onto its posture in spaceThe commercial angle: how TerraSpace's critical minerals work depends on clearer property rights and reduced regulatory frictionWhy inaction at this point in history equals ceding groundReal-life Starfleet, and why the values we carry into space matter as much as the capabilitiesFrom the South China Sea to the lunar surface, the patterns are already clear. The question is whether the United States and its allies will build the framework that keeps the space domain free, or wait until the other side has already poured the sand.Hosted by Bill WoolfProduced by Ty HollidayGuest: Dr. Eric Sundby, CEO, TerraSpace | SFA Board Member | U.S. Navy Reserve (Maritime Space Officer)Dr. Sundby holds a PhD focused on space governance and international cooperation frameworks and is the author of the op-ed "America Needs a Space Alliance."Read Dr. Sundby's Op Ed: https://spacenews.com/america-needs-a-space-alliance/Join SFA: https://ussfa.org/Subscribe for more conversations on spacepower, national security, and the future of the space domain.

Episode Recorded Friday, Febuary 27th, 2026In this episode of the Spacepower, host Bill Woolf sits down with Gen. Stephen Whiting, Commander of U.S. Space Command, to discuss the growing importance of space in the Indo-Pacific and how the United States is preparing for an increasingly contested space domain.From missile warning and satellite communications to precision navigation and intelligence, space systems underpin nearly every aspect of modern military operations. As strategic competition intensifies, ensuring those capabilities remain resilient and available to the joint force has become a central mission for U.S. Space Command.Gen. Whiting shares insights on the evolving counterspace environment, the role of international partnerships in maintaining a stable space domain, and how the command is thinking about deterrence and readiness in the years ahead.This conversation is part of the newly upgraded Spacepower Podcast, bringing deeper conversations with the leaders, operators, and thinkers shaping the future of national security in space.Listen in for a thoughtful discussion on how spacepower is shaping the strategic landscape today and what it means for the future of global security.

Damon brings 30+ years of leadership across defense and commercial space sectors—including senior roles with the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, and the Space Development Agency. In his role as President of the SFA Huntsville – Rocket City Chapter, Damon has been instrumental in building regional engagement, fostering collaboration between military and industry leaders, and expanding awareness of SFA’s mission throughout the southeastern U.S.

Space Machines Company (SMC) is an Australian space startup founded in 2019 that provides orbital logistics, in-space servicing, and space resilience solutions. Its mission is to act as “roadside assistance in space,” offering rapid response capabilities to protect and support satellites in Earth orbit and beyond.Founded: 2019, headquartered in Sydney, Australia.Global Presence: Offices in Adelaide (Australia), Bengaluru (India), and Denver (USA).Core Mission: Safeguard space assets and enhance resilience in congested and contested orbital environments.Orbital Logistics & TransportationDeploy spacecraft into LEO, MEO, GEO, and beyond.Provide payload hosting services using the Optimus platform.In-Space ServicesSatellite inspection and imagery (down to 1 cm resolution).Refueling and life extension.Active debris removal.Spacecraft servicing and repair.ExplorationScientific and commercial missions to the Moon and deep space.Space ResilienceOrbitside Assist: Rapid on-orbit response to monitor, assist, and protect satellites.Positioned as “first responders” for allied space operations under AUKUS and QUAD partnerships.Sustainability: Build resilience in space defense and commercial activities.Innovation: Develop affordable, accessible platforms for on-orbit servicing.Future Outlook: Envisions a future where all satellites are serviced in orbit, reducing costs and extending mission lifespans.In essence: Space Machines Company is positioning itself as a critical enabler of safe, sustainable, and resilient space operations, combining orbital logistics with rapid-response servicing to protect satellites and extend their utility.Would you like me to also compare Space Machines Company with other orbital servicing startups (like Astroscale or Orbit Fab) so you can see how their approaches differ?🚀 Company Overview🔑 Capabilities & Services🌌 Strategic Vision📊 At a GlanceAttributeDetailsFounded2019HQSydney, AustraliaGlobal OfficesAdelaide, Bengaluru, DenverFlagship PlatformOptimusKey Service“Roadside Assistance in Space” (Orbitside Assist)CapabilitiesOrbital transport, servicing, debris removal, explorationPartnershipsAUKUS, QUAD footprint for allied resilience

Brig Gen Damon Feltman served for over 30 years in the USAF focused on space operations. This interview captures some of his thoughts on the USSF Personnel Management Act, space as a warfighting domain and SFA Huntsville Chapter activities.

How will AI help the space industry? In this discussion with Matt Domo, he provides his perspective on the need for developing teams to help with how to integrate this technology to help shape the future space economy.

True Anomaly is out of stealth mode. Listen to SFA President, Bill Woolf gain insights from Even Rogers, Co-founder and CEO of True Anomaly

CMSgt Scott advises senior USSF leaders on all matters relating to readiness, training, professional development, force utilization, operations tempo, health, morale, welfare and leadership of the enlisted members of the USSF. Topics we will be discussing include: Rank structure Culture Diversity and inclusion Future organizational structure Sister service affiliation The reserve component plan Education/training/PME

ON this edition of “A Space Pro”, I interview retired Air Force Colonel Brian “Yosh” Yoshimoto who has over 25 years experience working in the space domain. As an industry leader steeped in the mission, Yosh has a unique perspective on the importance of this new service.