WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force has completed the most significant overhaul of its acquisition organization since the service was established, creating nine mission-focused Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs) that include a dedicated portfolio for Electromagnetic Warfare and Cyber operations.
A Bureaucratic Overhaul Years in the Making
The reorganization, formalized through a June 22 memorandum signed by Thomas Ainsworth — performing the duties of the assistant secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration — replaces a program-centric acquisition model with an operational mission-focused structure. Instead of overseeing individual satellite constellations or ground systems, portfolio executives will manage families of capabilities spanning launch, missile warning, satellite communications, command and control, and space operations.
“PAEs are empowered 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,” Ainsworth stated in the memorandum.
Nine New Ways to Spend Money in Space
The nine new portfolios cover the full spectrum of Space Force capabilities:
- Space Access — National security launch, payload processing, on-orbit services, and range operations
- Space-Based Sensing and Targeting — Persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance from orbit
- Missile Warning and Tracking — Overhead persistent infrared and missile tracking constellations
- Infrastructure — Ground systems, space domain awareness, and data transport
- Battle Management, Command, Control, Communications and Space Intelligence (BMC3I) — Integrated C2 architecture and data fusion
- Satellite Communications and Positioning, Navigation and Timing — Secure SATCOM, GPS, and resilience against jamming/spoofing
- Advanced Capabilities — Emerging technologies and rapid prototyping
- Electromagnetic Warfare and Cyber — Offensive and defensive space electronic warfare, cybersecurity for space systems
- Space Combat Power — Integrated space control, deterrence, and combat operations
For the First Time, Cyber Gets Its Own Acquisition Lane
The establishment of the Electromagnetic Warfare and Cyber portfolio as a standalone acquisition pillar signals the Space Force’s recognition that space operations and cybersecurity are inextricable. As satellite constellations expand and become more networked, the attack surface for cyber adversaries grows correspondingly. Recent threats including jamming of GPS signals, spoofing of satellite communications links, and potential kinetic ASAT threats have underscored the vulnerability of space assets.
The reorganization also positions the Space Force to better integrate commercial technology — a stated priority of Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall. By centralizing acquisition authority under mission-focused portfolios, the service aims to reduce bureaucratic delays that have historically slowed procurement cycles.
Why This Matters Beyond the Pentagon
For the space cybersecurity community, this reorganization creates clearer pathways for defense contractors and startups working on space system security. Companies specializing in anti-jam waveforms, secure laser communications, cyber-hardened satellite buses, and space electronic warfare capabilities now have a dedicated portfolio to engage with.
The reorganization reflects a broader Pentagon-wide effort to speed procurement and make it easier to adopt commercial innovation — a shift that could accelerate the fielding of critical cybersecurity capabilities for space assets.
