Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Photo: DoD

U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced Tuesday a series of reforms first suggested by a panel he once chaired that will increase the importance of space within the American military.

The reforms, outlined in a letter Rumsfeld sent to Congress, include establishing the Air Force as the primary branch of the military for dealing with space matters and placing the Air Force Space Command under the leadership of a four-star general.

"More than any other country, the United States relies on space for its security and well being," Rumsfeld said at a press briefing where he announced the reforms. "Our dependence on operations in space, however, makes us somewhat vulnerable to new challenges. It's only logical to conclude that we must be attentive to these vulnerabilities and pay careful attention to protecting and promoting our interest in space."

The organizational changes outlined Tuesday are designed to recognize space's key role in the military and improve how the military integrates space into its overall planning. "Space issues are complex and merit a renewed focus," he said. "A more comprehensive management and organizational approach is necessary to assign clear responsibilities and accountability for national security space programs."

As an example, Rumsfeld cited a case where an Air Force general spent "literally an entire weekend" at the Pentagon trying to get a simple space-related question answered, but failed. "There is no way to get all the threads from all the departments and all the agencies and all the pieces of this enormous place and bring them up through a needlehead and get an answer for the president of the United States," he explained of the present situation.

By contrast, under the new reforms "a person will be able to come in here at some point and push a button on a human being and say ŒYou're it. What's the answer?' And that person ought to be able to get the answer in a very short period of time."

Those reforms including designating the Air Force as the "Executive Agent" for space within the Defense Department, giving it the responsibility for planning and programming as well as acquisition of space-related systems throughout the department. Other branches of the military, which do have some space-related efforts, will retain them, but will be coordinated by the Air Force.

An artist's concept of a Defense Support Program early-warning missile detection satellite. Photo: USAF

In addition, the Air Force Space Command, the section of the Air Force assigned these new responsibilities, will be placed under the leadership of a four-star general. Previously the Space Command was headed by a four-star general whose responsibilities also included the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD); the reforms will separate the two positions. The reforms will also break the long-standing tradition of assigning only ex-fighter pilots to those positions, a policy that had been criticized by some as keeping out those best qualified to lead those commands.

The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the once-secret independent division of the Defense Department that handles the nation's reconnaissance satellites, will be more closely aligned with the Air Force under the new reforms. The director of the NRO will become an Air Force undersecretary and be given responsibility for defense space programs within the Air Force. However, Rumsfeld said that the NRO would not be merged into the Air Force.

Other changes announced Tuesday include the creation of a space program budget and accounting system within the Defense Department, increased emphasis on space research projects, enhancement of space-related military education and training, and the creation of a policy coordination committee within the National Security Council that will focus on space activities.

The reforms closely follow the recommendations laid out in a report published in January by an independent commission established by Congress to investigate how the military could improve its handling of space activities. That is not surprising because the commission was led by Rumsfeld, at the time a private citizen who had previously served as defense secretary in the Ford Administration. Although Rumsfeld resigned from the commission when he was nominated to become defense secretary, the commission has essentially completed all its work, and published its report before Congress could even confirm Rumsfeld's nomination.

Not all the commission's recommendations were approved, though. Rumsfeld decided not to create a position of Undersecretary of Defense for Space, Intelligence, and Information, deciding instead to evaluate how that role could be incorporated into the duties of existing department officials.

Rumsfeld's changes were well-received by members of Congress who pushed for reforms. "The Space Commission really came about because a number of us were concerned that space has not been getting the attention that it needs," said Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX). The changes announced Tuesday, he said, will "elevate space in the order of national priorities."

The reforms come at a time when the Bush Administration is making a renewed emphasis on creating a national missile defense system, but Rumsfeld said the two are unrelated. "These proposals have nothing to do with that," he said. "These proposals have to do with organizational arrangements within the Department of Defense that put a focus on the important issues relating to space."