Deputy commander speaks at space symposium

The deputy commander for U.S. Strategic Command kicked off the Space Foundation's Strategic Space 2005 symposium with an update on the command Oct. 5 at the Qwest Center in Omaha.

Lt. Gen. C. Robert Kehler, the first featured speaker at the symposium, shared USSTRATCOM's roadmap for the future stating that change in not optional for the command.

""Today's threats and security challenges require that we develop new approaches to both integrate and synchronize our actions with our subordinates and increase our operational speed,"" he said. ""We have to change the way we think about things, our cultural approach to problems. ""

The general stated he's proud of the command's space operations and he sees those activities as fundamental to the success in all of the command's mission areas.

""Space capabilities enable the American way of warfare,"" Kehler said. ""Today, our global awareness, global connectivity and precision strike capabilities are largely enabled by our space capabilities. Everyone in this room knows that operational success is achieved through a mixture of technology, tactics, procedures and people. Operational success is also achieved by the integration of space capabilities with new platforms. ""

Kehler said he would argue that the real operational space advances over the last 10 years have come as a result of integration, the use of the information from those platforms in new and better ways to produce an effect.

""Today's successes have been preceded by a string of long successes, but to retain the advantage will become increasingly difficult as we look to the future and that leads me to our space advocacy role,"" he said. ""We at USSTRATCOM see our role to continue the development of our nation's space power as both lead space operator and lead space advocate for combatant commands. ""

The general said the greatest challenge in USSTRATCOM's advocacy role will be achieving the culture change required to build a responsive command that can truly reach across multiple organizations and missions to deliver an integrated joint effect.

""The culture change will ensure the flexibility to shape the response to each individual adversary we may face,"" he said. ""That is the beauty of the flexibility of this command. ""

The general closed by reminding people that Strategic Air Command was around a year before there was a U.S. Air Force.

""If we reflect on the question, what would Curtis LeMay say if he was here today, I believe the answer is clear. If he were here, he'd challenge us to do exactly what we are doing, but to do it faster. ""