Space Security: Counterspace, Cislunar, and the Commercial Opportunity
Space is now a contested warfighting domain, and the U.S. government is moving quickly to protect its satellites, extend operations toward the Moon, and bring commercial companies into national security missions. Join the Abelian Security Council for a candid conversation with the former Deputy Commander of U.S. Space Command on where space security is headed, where the capability gaps are, and what it means for investors.
On the table
The growth of space operations: how quickly military and civil space activity is scaling, and what is driving demand
Adversary threats: how adversary counterspace capabilities are evolving, and what they put at risk for U.S. satellites and operations
U.S. government and Department of War plans: how U.S. Space Command, the Space Force, NASA, and other agencies are organizing operations and acquisition for space security
Cislunar security operations: why the space between Earth and the Moon is becoming a security mission, and what operating there will require
Commercial space: where commercial companies already support national security space missions, and where the biggest openings are
Throughout each part, Tom will walk through the capability gaps the government still needs to close, and where commercial and venture-backed companies can fit.
Speaker
Tom James is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General whose last assignment was Deputy Commander of U.S. Space Command, the combatant command responsible for operations in, from, and to space. His other general officer assignments included Commander of Combined Joint Task Force–Space Operations, Commander of Joint Task Force–Space Defense, Deputy Commander of the Combined/Joint Force Space Component Command, and Director of Operations at USSPACECOM. As an Army space operations officer, he commanded the 1st Space Battalion and 1st Space Brigade, served as Director of Space Policy Implementation in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and deployed as a space operations officer to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Central Command's Combined Air Operations Center. He began his career as an enlisted Special Forces medic and Army aviator, including service with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and in Operation Desert Storm. He holds three master's degrees from the Air Force's Air University, including from the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, and a Master of International Relations from Auburn University at Montgomery, and completed the Harvard Senior Executive Fellowship Program.
Moderator: Owen Davies, CEO of the ASC
Submit questions for Tom when you register and no later than Friday, December 11. We'll do our best to make sure submitted questions are answered, but we can't guarantee every question will be covered.
Good to know
Admission is subject to pre-qualification criteria.
Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Attendees remain anonymous, and the session is held under the Chatham House rule.
A recording and transcript will not be available after the event.
Speakers participate in their capacity as private citizens. None of the views expressed are endorsed by political organizations, government, military, or current and prior employers. Events are for informational purposes only. Nothing discussed is investment advice, an offer, or a solicitation.