The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) in collaboration
with the newly reestablished U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) concluded its
participation in the 13th Air Force Space Command Schriever Wargame on September
17 at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama. The two-week long wargame
demonstrated how NRO, USSPACECOM, and the broader space community will work
together to protect, defend, and operate the Nation’s space systems and those
of our allies and partners.
“As adversaries increasingly threaten U.S. freedom of action
in space, U.S. Space Command is a critical partner for the NRO,” said Dr.
Christopher Scolese, Director of the NRO. “Space Command’s mission to protect
and defend all U.S. satellites will enhance the survivability of NRO intelligence
collection satellites and enable continuation of the national intelligence
mission deep into conflict. Exercises like the Schriever Wargames provide us an
opportunity to test and improve our joint planning process and shared defensive
action ‘playbook’ to preserve assured access to space.”
“The Schriever Wargame provides an opportunity for us to
exercise our jointly developed space protect and defend CONOPS,” said Gen Jay
Raymond, Commander, USSPACECOM and Commander, Air Force Space Command. “Recently
we’ve reached an agreement with the NRO that, when a threat is imminent, the
NRO will execute direction from U.S. Space Command to take protective and
defensive actions to safeguard their space assets.”
The ultimate purpose of this new agreement is to achieve
unified action across the continuum of conflict. Although this agreement does
not constitute a formal command relationship nor does it transfer satellite
control authority, it signifies the strong partnership between the NRO and U.S.
Space Command.
The mission of the NRO is to deliver innovative intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities and data to National policymakers, the Intelligence Community and warfighters. The USSPACECOM mission is to deter aggression and conflict, defend U.S. and allied freedom of action, deliver space combat power for the Joint/Combined force, and develop joint warfighters to advance U.S. and allied interests in, from, and through the space domain.
Source: NRO
By 
