WASHINGTON — U.S. Space Command, the Defense Department’s combatant command chargeable for space operations, has achieved full operational capability, its commander Gen. James Dickinson announced Dec. 15.
Briefly, because of this U.S. Space Command is now fully up and running. It has the staff, infrastructure and plans it must handle its mission of conducting space operations and protecting American and allied assets and interests in space.
U.S. Space Command, established in 2019 in Colorado Springs, is tasked to watch space activity and threats, support other military units with space capabilities like communications and surveillance, reply to crises involving space, deter aggression and defeat enemies if needed.
The declaration that it has reached full operational capability comes after an in depth evaluation of the command’s ability to perform its mission, Dickinson said, including the power to execute operations “on our worst day, after we are needed most.”
Dickinson said the command just accomplished a large-scale wargaming exercise with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, “which served as a significant step in validating the headquarters staff as a ready, joint force.”
While declaring full operational capability is a milestone, Dickinson said, more work lies ahead because the complexity of space operations continues to grow. The command will need additional resources to maintain pace with emerging threats from rival nations, he said.
Fight continues over headquarters location
U.S. Space Command’s declaration of full operational capability comes amid a virtually three-year political battle over the placement of its headquarters. President Joe Biden in July said that the headquarters would remain at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado Springs, reversing plans made under former President Donald Trump to maneuver it to Redstone Arsenal, in Huntsville, Alabama.
So while the Space Command now says it has the staff and capabilities to perform missions, its long-term home base continues to be caught up in partisan Washington fights. Congress within the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act passed this week included language barring Space Command from spending money on a brand new Colorado Springs headquarters constructing until further investigation of Biden’s basing decision is accomplished.