Optimizing the Navy's Investment in Space Professionals

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Optimizing the Navy's Investment in Space Professionals

C. W. Miller

The U.S. Navy relies heavily on the capabilities and advantages provided by space assets. Today's Navy would face severe operational challenges without space-based communications and navigation and surveillance capabilities. A small group of space professionals within the Navy diligently works with other organizations and services to ensure these capabilities are continuously available. The origins of the Navy's involvement with space and rocketry dates back to pre-World War II, when rockets for use on aircraft were developed and tested at the U.S Naval Academy. Since then, the Navy has had an undeniable need to ensure that space systems are available to support naval and joint operations. The Navy's collective knowledge of the space enterprise is therefore invaluable to current naval operations and must be preserved. This study is a reassessment of the current Navy Space Cadre construct based on the implementation and effectiveness of the 2004 Naval Space Cadre Human Capital Strategy. Its purpose is to examine current and historical utilization rates of Navy space professionals, compare the Navy space personnel management construct to that of the other services, identify the current challenges and shortcomings of the Navy Space Cadre, and offer reasonable recommendations that could optimize the Navy's investment in space professionals.