NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — In a move aimed at addressing the Pentagon’s ongoing acquisition overhaul, the Space Force has introduced a new office focused on aligning operational requirements with emerging industry capabilities.
The Technology Portfolio Executive office will report directly to Erich Hernandez-Baquero, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration. During a panel discussion at the Air, Space and Cyber conference hosted by AFA, Hernandez-Baquero emphasized that this office will collaborate closely with the newly designated portfolio acquisition executives (PAEs) to facilitate the transition of new technologies into active operations.
“This office will be fully empowered, acting as a peer to the PAEs, concentrating entirely on bridging the ‘valley of death’ — collaborating with industry to create pathways for companies’ developments to become viable product lines,” Hernandez-Baquero stated.
In line with the rest of the Defense Department’s restructuring, the Space Force is reworking its acquisition framework to streamline and enhance procurement processes. It plans to establish nine PAEs, each with the authority over all programs within specific mission areas.
While the new organization grants the Space Force enhanced acquisition flexibility, Hernandez-Baquero expressed concerns that the PAEs may not have sufficient capacity to identify and develop novel capabilities on their own.
In contrast to the PAEs, the Technology Portfolio Executive will oversee a wide range of research and development initiatives, collaborating with various industries, including commercial ones, to facilitate prototyping efforts.
“I want someone solely dedicated to identifying promising technologies and driving the prototyping initiatives necessary to mature them to the level where a PAE can approve them for inclusion in their product paths,” he explained during a media roundtable at the AFA conference.
The Space Force has already established the Technology Portfolio Executive office and is in the process of recruiting a leader for it.
Written by Mikayla Easley
Mikayla Easley writes about the Pentagon’s acquisition strategies and emerging technologies. Before joining DefenseScoop, she reported on national security and the defense industry for National Defense Magazine. She holds a BA in Russian language and literature from the University of Michigan and a MA in journalism from the University of Missouri. Follow her on Twitter @MikaylaEasley.
