John Stillion
Recent stories by John Stillion
Tournear Reinstated as SDA Director After Investigation
Derek M. Tournear, the director of the trailblazing Space Development Agency who was put on administrative leave in January amid an investigation into a disputed contract, will return to his duties April 17, the Department of the Air Force announced.
Space Force, Intelligence Community Say They’re Breaking Through on Data Sharing
After months of debate and sometimes public tension, the Space Force and Intelligence Community are making progress on establishing ways to work together, officials said this week—to the point where one predicted there will soon be “a sharing of data like we've never seen before.”
Caine Confirmed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs; First Air Guardsman in the Job
Gen. Dan Caine was confirmed as the 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by the Senate early April 11, making history as the first Air National Guardsman to take on the nation's top uniformed job.
Space Force Looks to Go Big on Commercial: ‘Everything’s on the Table’
Space Force acquisition leaders were already looking to see if they could shift some of their biggest programs to use commercial services or technology, but one of President Donald Trump's executive orders, signed April 9, that could super-charge that effort.
Golden Dome Is New. But Plenty of Next-Gen Missile Warning Is in the Works Already
The Pentagon’s plan to implement President Donald Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense system is still in the works and nothing final has been decided, but at the Space Symposium here, military and industry officials alike touted partnerships and work already done that will feed into ...
USSF Brings Acquisition Reforms to New Nuclear Command and Control Program
Some of the Space Force’s biggest acquisition reforms have made their way into the service’s new nuclear command, control, and communications satellite program, the officer in charge of the effort said April 8. Evolved Strategic SATCOM is one of the biggest pieces of the Space ...
New International Partnership Strategy ‘Touches Every Part’ of Space Force
The Space Force is looking at common standards, interoperable systems, robust data sharing, bigger exercises, and more with allies as part of its soon-to-be-released International Partnerships Strategy, leaders said April 8 at the Space Symposium, pledging that it "touches every single part” of the service.
Space Force Satellite Refueling Demos Coming in 2026 and 2028
The Space Force will have one of its satellites refueled for the first time ever next summer, potentially the first step toward a future where satellites can maneuver like aircraft in the sky or ships on the sea to dodge threats and hold adversaries at ...
How to Win a War in Space: SPACECOM’s 5 Keys
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—U.S. Space Command has defined five factors it believes will be key to victory should it ever need to fight a full-fledged war in space, Gen. Stephen N. Whiting said April 8 at the Space Symposium. The factors,...
Space Force Went Fast for Its Last GPS Launch. Now It Plans to Go Even Faster
The Space Force is switching up rockets for its next GPS mission—and trying to go faster than ever in preparing the satellite for launch. The goal is to take the satellite bus from storage to orbit in around three months, well ahead of the 24 months ...
Air Force Accepts Long-Awaited First New Radar for Ground Battle Management
The Air Force accepted its first new TPY-4 radar from Lockheed Martin and will start government-led testing of the system, the contractor announced April 7. It's the latest in a series of milestones for the service’s ground-based command-and-control enterprise.
Space Force Awards Up to $13.7 Billion in Launch Contracts
The Space Force awarded three contracts for rocket launches worth up to a combined $13.68 billion on April 4—and the usual players SpaceX and United Launch Alliance have got some competition in the form of newcomer Blue Origin.
Space Force’s New Core Doctrine Emphasizes Warfighting
The Space Force's new “capstone doctrine” released April 3 prioritizes space superiority and warfighting. It is the first major update of USSF's five-year-old foundational doctrine.
Air Force Changes Rules for Pregnant Aircrew—Again
The Air Force is changing its policy for pregnant aircrew, generally reverting to rules set in 2019 that barred female aviators from flying during the first trimester—or from flying in aircraft with ejection seats at all—due to potential risks to the pilot and her unborn ...
AWACS Enters the Homestretch
As USAF awaits the E-7, Airmen keep the E-3 flying. TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. Observers have called the plane aging, old, even geriatric. A few have described its current state as being in “hospice care,” as they look forward...