Space Force Chief: Service’s Achievements Improve Intel, Cyber, Space Operations

The U.S. Space Force has made significant achievements in its main areas of responsibility: cyber, intelligence and space operations, due to its recruitment and training efforts, according to the service branch’s highest noncommissioned officer.

Speaking Wednesday at the inaugural Spacepower Conference held in Orlando, Florida, Chief Master Sgt. John Bentivegna said it is important to tell the world the service’s story, including its responsibilities and the definition of being a Guardian. 

Bentivegna discussed the different facets of the Guardians’ journey. He shared the service’s recruitment efforts, including its achievement of attracting Guardians with an average age of over 22 years old. He also tackled comprehensive training efforts to equip Guardians with intelligence analysis, offensive cyber operations and space-related expertise, the Space Force said Friday.

Collaboration plays a vital role in the service’s upskilling success. Lt. Gen. Michael Guetlein, head of Space Systems Command, said the service’s Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve ensures that SSC has the capacity during crisis or conflict with the help of commercial partners.

In November, SSC collaborated with NASA and SpaceX to train Space Force Cyber Guardians on how to respond to threats affecting the space-cyber domain using the Moonlighter imaging satellite.