The Pentagon has quietly replaced Marc Berkowitz as the space policy czar, with his former deputy, Michael Gancio, now serving as the acting assistant secretary. Gancio has a background in intelligence, previously advising Sen. Tom Cotton, who chairs the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
The change was not formally announced, but sources noted that Berkowitz left the position on Wednesday. The Defense Department’s website now reflects this update, indicating Berkowitz as the “former” assistant secretary and listing Gancio as the acting secretary.
Berkowitz could not be reached for comment, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense did not respond to requests for information. However, insiders suggest that Berkowitz, confirmed by the Senate in December, resigned following conflicts with his superior, Elbridge Colby, who reportedly does not prioritize space initiatives, leading to frustrations within the department.
