Big takeaway from two days of briefings by United States Space Force in Colorado Springs is that space is a war fighting domain. So glad to see our space aggressors preparing the force for cyber, electromagnetic and orbital warfare in order to deter such aggression..

Informative day of briefings at the United States Air Force Academy. The chapel behind me is still enclosed in what they call the "chapbox" as they refurbish Colorado's #1 tourist attraction.

Photo with one the United States Air Force's new Collaborative Combat Aircraft, Anduril Industries new uncrewed Fury.

JULY 18, 2024 Briefing by 96th Test Wing and joining recent Wilson Center United States Air Force Fellow Colonel Michelle Sterling as she assumed command of the 96th Civil Engineering Group.

Following the devastation of Hurricane Michael, it is rebuilding as the "installation of the future." #AimHigh

Incorporates input from Airmen received while visiting European US Air Force Bases/.

At LASK Airbase where Poland will station F-35’s it purchased for itself, I witnessed part of the significant investments on behalf of the US military underway throughout the nation funded by Poland.

A collaboration among 11 European countries and the US operating in Papa, Hungary provide airlift capacity to nations not large enough to afford an independent capability. This collaboration among Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden and the US funds base facilities and three C-17 airlift planes in proportion to each country’s usage. The staffing is also shared proportionately.

Impressive base with many capabilities including the only fighter wing south of the Alps.

Having just hitched a ride over the Atlantic on a United States Air Force C-17 (behind me), two days of briefings convinced me that the US Air Force's Ramstein Air Base in Germany is indeed America's "Global Gateway." #AimHigh

In addition to learning more about how the Air Force recruits and trains, got to attend a Basic Military Training Graduation Ceremony - her with a Space Force Squadron.

Proud of the work of our United States Space Force guardians and Air Force airmen keeping us safe.

Complex now operated by SpaceX. Pad on right of photo launched Apollo 11 that resulted in Neil Armstrong being the 1st to walk on moon exactly 54 years prior to day of visit. Pad on left of photo being built for Starship to return to moon

Photo with Akiko Kawai, a former student from George Washington University.

Note Denali or Mount McKinley in background from window of a C-130.

Profile of Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, named after University of North Dakota alum.

Learned a lot at the United States Air Force Air University Air War College National Security Forum at Maxwell Air Force Base, including seeing the F-22 Raptor Demo Team.

Thanks to Colonel Becky Beers and the team at Los Angeles Garrison and Space Systems Command - SSC for an excellent briefing. The US Space Force Guardians there are doing great work keeping our nation safe.

Thanks to Col. Robert Long, US Space Force Space Launch Delta 30 commander, for briefing me in my role as a civilian advisor to the Secretary of the Air Force. Col Long also gave Debbie Kennedy and I a tour of Space Launch Complex-6 to brief me on on Vandenberg Space Force Base’s commercial launch capabilities. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Rocio Romo)

Thanks to Richard Cook, Mars Sample Return Program Manager at NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration's NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Cal Tech - California Institute of Technology Here with replicas of JPL's NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover and Ingenuity Mars helicopter.

Very informative meeting with Yasuyuki Kasai, Director General of National Space Policy Secretariat in Japan's Cabinet Office discussing U.S. - Japan collaboration in Space.

Learned a lot from my visit to Japan's JAXA Tsukuba Space Center. They are a great NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration -partner. Here inside model of Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” of the International Space Station.

"China sending a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile circling the globe in near earth orbit and then maneuvering toward its target should make it clear that the imperative to preserve leadership in space is nothing to joke about.” “Russia’s recent satellite destruction affirms, the new high ground is space, and it is contested."

Meeting with fellow U.S. Air and Space Force Civic Leader Christian Anschutz and Brig. Gen. John Olson, Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer for the Department of the Air Force and Col. Marc Brock, Commander of Space Delta

It was great to visit Guam, a territory of the United States, where America's morning begins.

Learned a lot from a roundtable conversation with base education leaders.

Kennedy said he’s “thrilled” that the University Partnership Program will involve both workforce development and research development​...

The partnership program will also serve the Colorado Springs campus, said system President Mark Kennedy, with potential to expand to the Denver and Anschutz campuses.

Attended General “Jay” Raymond, U.S. Space Command and Commander, discuss the development and expansion of the U.S. Space Command.

Op Ed with Frank Backes, Kevin O’Neil and Venkat Reddy

Great collaboration by Kevin O'Neill and team that is fueling Colorado's Aerospace industry.

“This gift will help grow our leadership in these areas for the benefit of the state and the nation,” he said in a statement.

"Colorado’s powerful convergence of academic, industry, government and philanthropic assets set us apart from the pack. We are uniquely positioned to meet Space Command’s needs and help advance its mission and strategic priorities."

"With the support and encouragement of The Anschutz Foundation, we plan to expand UCCS’ engineering building, allowing us to educate more engineers."

Pleased to make UND the host university for teh Collegiate Drone Racing Championship Competition.

Hosted conversations between Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Reserve Affairs and Airman Readiness John Fedrigo and University of North Dakota Aerospace on collaboration in training Air Force pilots.