New Program Executive Officer leads Space Systems Command’s Space Sensing Directorate

June 12, 2023

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – Col. Robert W. Davis, Space Sensing’s incoming program executive officer (PEO), assumed leadership of Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Space Sensing Program Executive Office during a change of leadership ceremony held at SSC headquarters, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, June 8.

Davis succeeds Col. Brian Denaro, who served as Space Sensing’s PEO once SSC was established as a U.S. Space Force Field Command in August 2021.

Brig. Gen. Jason Cothern, SSC, deputy commander, officiated the ceremony, highlighting Denaro’s achievements for SSC Space Sensing, which he described as “undoubtedly one of our nation’s most important missions – truly our nation’s unblinking eye.”

“Col. Denaro is an outstanding leader,” Cothern said. “As we transitioned and grew into Space Systems Command, Col. Denaro took over in Space Sensing as program executive officer and has been doing an incredible job since day one.”

While Denaro’s efforts played an integral role in advancing the program’s office to support SSC’s efforts to get after the threats in space, the program office’s momentum to run and build systems will only further under Davis’ leadership.

“How we underpin the national security and nuclear security of our nation is built on the backs of [our workforce] – you know what it takes to get after the threat,” said Denaro. “Col. Davis, best of luck to you. You are coming into a situation where you have amazing and talented people who I know will continue to deliver.”

Davis, who joins as the new PEO with more than 20 years of military service, amplified the importance of the workforce’s need to remain vigilant with its ability to prevail in its given mission because, as he exclaimed, “make no mistake…we are absolutely in a race.”

In his address to the audience Davis also shared his commitment to the U.S. Space Force lines of effort, specifically Amplifying the Guardian Spirit, and encouraged the audience to read the force’s new Guardian Spirit handbook, released last April.

“It lays the foundation for how I approach my service to you, through character, connection, commitment, and courage,” stated Davis.

Davis’ previous military tours included space mission areas where he focused on space control and overhead intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities including satellite acquisition, launch, operations, and associated staff work for both the U.S. Air Force and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

Prior to assuming the PEO role, Davis served as the Senior Material Leader for the Strategic Systems Acquisition Delta within SSC’s Military Satellite Communications and Precision, Navigation, and Timing (MCPNT). In this role, he directed a combined team of military, government civilian, and contract personnel in the development and acquisition of the nation’s most critical strategic space capabilities for users across the National Security Space and Strategic Command communities.

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With broad experience in areas connected to Space Sensing’s portfolio, Davis confidently expressed to those under his leadership the promising future they share in advancing current and new capabilities, including many initiated and executed by Denaro during his time while leading the program office.

During Denaro’s tenure, Space Sensing completed SSC’s Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) constellation with GEO-6, providing persistent missile warning and launch detection crucial to national defense and deterrence. The final SBIRS GEO-6 satellite successfully reached operational acceptance three weeks ahead of schedule in March, completing the SBIRS GEO constellation. The SBIRS GEO works in concert with the Defense Support Program (DSP) constellation to provide missile warning capabilities by detecting missile launches, space liftoffs, and nuclear detonations.

Additionally, the team developed SSC’s medium Earth orbit (MEO) missile track custody program, which began as a demonstration, to a sprint event with space industry members. From that event, the program office went on to produce - from the digital track custody critical design review - the tangible fielding of the Epoch 1 space and ground systems. The first delivery of the missile warning and tracking system, Epoch 1, is planned for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. This missile track custody program delivers the latest Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) sensing technology into an entirely new satellite constellation in MEO and supports SSC’s intent to deliver satellites every three years in Epochs, incrementally building capability and robustness over time.

In the last year, the Space Sensing’s program office accelerated its posture in supporting the warfighter by redefining its mission to outpace the threat by pivoting the legacy OPIR warning mission into a more resilient missile warning, tracking, and defense (MW/MT/MD) mission. In addition, the program developed the integrated plan to acquire the MW/MT/MD expanded mission architecture by establishing the Combined Program Office (CPO) with the Missile Defense Agency and the Space Development Agency to concurrently field integrated low Earth orbit (LEO), MEO, Geosynchronous orbit (GEO), polar, and ground capabilities.

This accelerated pace fields many warfighting capabilities. Among them include the Wide-Field-of View (WFOV) satellite, which launched last summer and is providing imagery for calibration, operating as an early warning satellite to detect ballistic missile launches and its infrared detectors help to identify heat from missile engines.

Denaro departs SSC with the honor of receiving the Lt. Gen. John W. O’Neil Award, presented by the Air and Space Forces Association, General Schriever Chapter for being an outstanding senior leader, before going on to serve as a senior military advisor for the Office of the Under Secretary of the Air Force in Arlington, Virginia.

Space Sensing is one of five SSC program executive offices and is responsible for delivering space-based MW/MT/MD capabilities; space-based environmental monitoring (SBEM) capabilities; and other tactical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, ensuring end-to-end mission integration. Space Sensing mission areas include next-generation overhead persistent infrared satellites and wide field of view missile warning; modernization of ground missile warning infrastructure; advances in space weather monitoring; and systemwide digitization.

https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/3425494/new-program-executive-officer-leads-space-systems-commands-space-sensing-direct

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Next Generation Experimental Aircraft Becomes NASA’s Newest X-Plane

June 12, 2023

NASA and Boeing said Monday the aircraft produced through the agency’s Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project has been designated by the U.S. Air Force as the X-66A.

The new X-plane seeks to inform a potential new generation of more sustainable single-aisle aircraft – the workhorse of passenger airlines around the world. Working with NASA, Boeing will build, test, and fly a full-scale demonstrator aircraft with extra-long, thin wings stabilized by diagonal struts, known as a Transonic Truss-Braced Wing concept.

“At NASA, our eyes are not just focused on stars but also fixated on the sky. The Sustainable Flight Demonstrator builds on NASA’s world-leading efforts in aeronautics as well climate,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “The X-66A will help shape the future of aviation, a new era where aircraft are greener, cleaner, and quieter, and create new possibilities for the flying public and American industry alike.”

The X-66A is the first X-plane specifically focused on helping the United States achieve the goal of net-zero aviation greenhouse gas emissions, which was articulated in the White House’s U.S. Aviation Climate Action Plan.

“To reach our goal of net zero aviation emissions by 2050, we need transformative aircraft concepts like the ones we’re flying on the X-66A,” said Bob Pearce, associate administrator for NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, who announced the designation at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Aviation Forum in San Diego. “With this experimental aircraft, we’re aiming high to demonstrate the kinds of energy-saving, emissions-reducing technologies the aviation industry needs.”

NASA and Boeing sought the X-plane designation shortly after the agency announced the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project award earlier this year. The Air Force confers X-plane status for development programs that set out to create revolutionary experimental aircraft configurations. The designation is for research aircraft. With few exceptions, X-planes are intended to test designs and technologies that can be adopted into other aircraft designs, not serve as prototypes for full production.

“We’re incredibly proud of this designation, because it means that the X-66A will be the next in a long line of experimental aircraft used to validate breakthrough designs that have transformed aviation,” said Todd Citron, Boeing chief technology officer. “With the learnings gained from design, construction, and flight-testing, we’ll have an opportunity to shape the future of flight and contribute to the decarbonization of aerospace.”

For the X-66A, the Air Force provided the designation for an aircraft that validates technologies for a Transonic Truss-Braced Wing configuration that, when combined with other advancements in propulsion systems, materials, and systems architecture, could result in up to 30% less fuel consumption and reduced emissions when compared with today’s best-in-class aircraft.

Due to their heavy usage, single-aisle aircraft today account for nearly half of worldwide aviation emissions. Creating designs and technologies for a more sustainable version of this type of aircraft has the potential for profound impact on emissions.

NASA’s history with the X-plane designation dates to the 1940s, when its predecessor agency, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) jointly created an experimental aircraft program with the Air Force and the U.S. Navy. The X-66A is the latest in a long line of NASA X-planes. Additionally, NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, has provided technical expertise and support for several additional X-planes.

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/next-generation-experimental-aircraft-becomes-nasa-s-newest-x-plane