C2 Puzzle: Space Authority and the Operational Level of War

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C2 Puzzle: Space Authority and the Operational Level of War

J. R. Reiss

Who commands space. Who controls space. Who does space support. Who is the lucky warfighter that gains so much support from space. These pointed questions lie at the heart of space power advocates and operational commanders, as they try to decipher the conundrum known as 'space.' Commanders ask, 'What can space do for me.' and ideally the advocates can answer, 'Space can do this for you, and this and this.' However, as with most heavily debated topics, the answers clearly depend upon whom you ask. The national agency advocate (i.e. NRO or NSA) might say, 'I can provide you this, but only at certain times and under certain conditions.' The joint force advocate might say, 'I can provide you anything, unless they were previously requested by someone else.' The military service advocate might say, 'I can give you anything my satellites provide, but I need the request to come from my boss, not directly from you.' In-place C2 constructs and force development clearly shows United States space control and capabilities were originally intended and operated for strategic purposes. Space supported strategic nuclear forces, reconnaissance, National Command Authority (Presidential/Secretary of Defense) communications, and other high-level national needs. Satellites were not anticipated for operational/tactical applications, hence the creation of the programs such as Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities (TENCAP).