"[I]t is in the U.S. national interest to: promote the peaceful use of space; use the nation's potential in space to support its domestic, economic, diplomatic and national security objectives; develop and deploy the means to deter and defend against hostile acts directed at U.S. space assets and against the uses of space hostile to U.S. interests."

"[N]ational space policy. . . should provide direction and guidance. . . to: employ space systems to help speed the transformation of the U.S. military into a modern force able to deter and defend against evolving threats directed at the U.S. homeland, its forward deployed forces, allies and interests abroad and in space."

"If the U.S. is to avoid a 'Space Pearl Harbor,' it needs to take seriously the possibility of an attack on U.S. space systems."

Recommendations:

• The President should consider the appointment of a Presidential Space Advisory Board to provide independent advice on developing and employing new space capabilities.
• The President should direct that a Senior Interagency Group for Space be established and staffed within the National Security Council structure.
• The Secretary of Defense and the Director of Central Intelligence should meet regularly to address national security space policy, objectives and issues.
• An Under Secretary of Defense for Space, Intelligence and Information should be established.
• Assign responsibility for the command of Air Force Space Command to a four-star officer other than CINCSPACE/CINCNORAD [Command-in-Chief U.S. Space Command/Commander-in-Chief North American Aerospace Defense Command. End the practice of assigning only Air Force flight-rated officers to the position of CINCSPACE and CINCNORAD.
• Assign Air Force Space Command responsibility for providing the resources to execute space research, development, acquisition and operations. . . . Assign the Air Force responsibility to organize, train and equip for prompt and sustained offensive and defensive air and space operations...[and] designate the Air Force as Executive Agent for Space within the Department of Defense.
• Assign the Under Secretary of the Air Force as the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office [and] designate the Under Secretary as the Air Force Acquisition Executive for Space.
• [D]irect the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Services' laboratories to undertake development and demonstration of innovative space technologies and systems for dedicated military missions.
• [E]stablish a Major Force Program for Space (i.e., a separate budget category).

For Additional Information:

CDI National Missile Defense Issue Brief with Updates

CDI Missile Defense Hot Spots