Insight | Innovation toward a unified Space Force vision for SATCOM
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No longer satisfied with “status quo,” the Space Force has sought to partner with industry to swiftly field flexible SATCOM systems, networks and products that significantly improve resilience and operational agility.
“(We) will leverage (military) and commercial systems, capabilities and products to deliver connectivity to users in all operational conditions, especially in CDO (contested, degraded and operationally limited) environments,” said the “United States Space Force Vision for Satellite Communications”, released just a month after the Armed Forces branch was launched in December 2019. “Within tactically-relevant timelines, (we) will quickly reroute users and their networks to other SATCOM resources and dynamically adjust to any unpredictable CDO environment. The enterprise will provide interoperability and enhanced resiliency by giving users the ability to access multiple diversified and proliferated SATCOM capabilities, allowing users to operate through CDO environments.”
While taking part in a panel discussion at the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) 18th Annual DoD Commercial SATCOM Workshop, I had the opportunity to elaborate upon how Inmarsat’s business model is already well-aligned with the Space Force’s vision. We are focused on implementing solutions with government users in mind, delivering SATCOM mobility, flexibility, redundancy, throughput, resilience and protection to complement government satellite resources, anytime, anywhere.
Our vision is fully aligned with the Space Force’s current and future requirements – an integrated space, air and ground communications architecture supporting multi-service operations worldwide along with an Enterprise Network Management system for situational awareness and control.
Inmarsat owns and operates global, multi-orbit, multi-band, spacecraft-diverse networks, including ELERA L-band and Global Xpress (GX) Ka-band. The addition of ORCHESTRA’s GEO, HEO, LEO and 5G will further enhance robustness, seamlessness and flexibility for government customers.
We have developed a fully-funded, strategic roadmap based upon innovation and improved capabilities, with the following examples of our user-centric, complementary innovation supporting the Space Force vision:
It is very encouraging to see that there seems to be a consensus between the military and industry about what is needed: The pursuit of the right mix between government and commercial space-based capabilities, resiliency, flexibility, security and affordability. Military and government users need immediate and assured access to resilient, robust, diversified and cyber-protected SATCOM services that support mobility around the globe, across the full spectrum of engagement. Thus, it has become abundantly clear that an architecture that integrates commercial with MILSATCOM represents the correct path forward.
As the Space Force locks in on its future vision, our business model presents advantages that are both practical and innovative for our ongoing partnership. Our near-future technology innovation and long-term advancements will continue to deliver immense amounts of SATCOM capacity, capability, flexibility and data security/cybersecurity anywhere in the world, with the reliability and availability that proves critical to achieving mission success. If you would like to learn more about our collaborative and technically assured approaches, then please contact us.
Steve Gizinski is President of Inmarsat Government Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Inmarsat Group Holdings Limited, and the world’s leading provider of global mobile satellite communications to the United States government.
Mr. Gizinski is responsible for the technical and operational activities of the company. Under his leadership Inmarsat Government is dedicated to delivering innovative customized, secure communications capabilities to land, maritime and aero users, meeting mission-critical connectivity needs around the world through robust partnerships. Inmarsat Government works with best-of-breed partners to develop innovative solutions and deliver reliable satellite communications services to U.S. government end-users worldwide.
Mr. Gizinski brings to this role more than 30 years of leadership and in-depth experience overseeing mission-critical technology efforts for commercial, Intelligence and U.S. Department of Defense customers. Additionally, he previously served as President and CEO of CVG, Inc.; in various management positions at Northrop Grumman, Hughes Space and Communications, Lockheed Martin; and as a fellow in the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) technology fellowship program.
Mr. Gizinski holds a Master of Science in Systems Management from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Central Florida.