A Congressionally-mandated commission studying US national security space policy is recommending significant changes to how military and intelligence space efforts are run, AviationWeek.com reported today. The Allard Commission, named after retiring Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO), who pushed for the commission, is calling for a major reorganization that would result in the abolition of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the Air Force’s Space and Missiles Systems Center (SMC), and perhaps other organizations. In its place would be a new entity, the National Security Space Authority (NSSA) that would handle both open and classified programs. The commission also called for re-creating the National Security Space Office (NSSO), currently a relatively small organization with limited influence, into one that would take over managing programs currently handed by NRO, SMC, and the Air Force Research Lab’s Space Vehicles directorate.
The full report has not been published yet, but will be soon, according to the AviationWeek.com article. What’s uncertain is whether the Bush Administration, in its final months in office, will take any steps to try and implement the plan. What role Congress will play is also unknown. Certainly anything that takes away power (and money and jobs) from some of these organizations, particularly SMC in Los Angeles, will be opposed by the likes of Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), a key member of Congress on defense and intelligence issues who also has SMC in her district.
Fellow Space Buffs –
Almost certainly, any “major reorganization” has no chance of being considered during the waning months of this Administration. With Election Season upon us, any proposed giveaway would go to the front of the line but any suggested efficiency measure would go to the far back of the line.
But over the next several years we will probably see the slow leak of people going from Los Angeles to Colorado Springs. The AF has been having an internal discussion for a long time about who is in charge – this has been reflected in the debate about (for instance) building new housing for Los Angeles AF Station or closing it or whatever. But while the AF has debated about building a Base Exchange in LA, they have built a huge building or two in Colorado.
We see a lot of the manufacturing moving out of the greater LA area – Huntington Beach, etc. The hourly rate for that area is just way too high. It is funny to go there and see places that used to manufacture airliners that now have been redeveloped. The engineering and management will naturally follow the manufacturing.
One of these days all of Los Angeles will be one big amusement park for Japanese and Chinese tourists. The burger flippers and cops that keep the place running will all have a commute of an hour and a half to get home.
This admin is teeing up for the next Pres a number of big bureaucracies that need reform. The Airforce with its many problems in procurement and nuclear weapons training and readiness come to mind.
NRO has had a few big expensive blunders with costly satellites that never make it to orbit due to cost overruns. So no shock that its a candidate for extinction.
All of this was bad enough when the Russians appeared to be partners and willing to live with the status quo along its borders. Now that the Russians have cleared the air on how they really feel, there will be added urgency to fix these complacent bureaucracies to address a much more dangerous world.
Charles,
Bad conclusion.
Base exchange is not a indicator. How about a construction program that that is replacing all the main office buildings for SMC.
Only launch vehicle programs have left the area. All the spacecraft manufacturers (the real bread and butter) are still in the area. Not to mention the real anchor that is going to keep SMC at LAAFB: Circle A ranch