USSPACECOM leaders at NDIA SWF say allied and commercial integration is key to countering space threats

U.S. Space Command leaders gathered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, August 26-27, 2026, for the National Defense Industrial Association Space Warfighter Forum, a two-day event that featured one classified and one unclassified day. Department of War leaders, industry experts, and allied military space professionals addressed topics ranging from understanding threats to the space domain to eliminating integration gaps. Speakers and panelists included Mr. Richard Palmer, USSPACECOM Capability and Resource Integration deputy director; Lt. Gen. Rick Zellmann, USSPACECOM deputy commander; and Gen. Stephen Whiting, USSPACECOM commander.

In opening remarks, Palmer outlined USSPACECOM’s “Year of Integration,” highlighted the Apollo Insight tabletop exercise series, and underscored the command’s focus on protecting the U.S. and its allies and partners. “The bottom line is that in an increasingly interdependent, interconnected world where space is a key part of everything we do, how do we bring that space capability to the defense of our homeland,” asked Palmer. “Our number one priority is to defend the homeland, to defend the American people and now, we’ve got to start thinking about threats in new ways and new opportunities that technology provides us.”

Zellmann addressed the evolution of modern warfare, noting that adversaries are leveraging low-cost effects that diminish the effectiveness of traditional assets and require new strategic approaches within the domain. “We have to get to a point that gives the adversary pause. We like having the offensive fire, but the defensive fire is also very important,” said Zellmann. “Space is big. We can’t be everywhere all the time. Having both onboard and offboard protections makes a lot of sense.”

Whiting closed the forum by invoking the preamble of the U.S. Constitution and its implications for the command—providing for the common defense and securing the blessings of liberty for current and future generations—while emphasizing USSPACECOM’s three moral responsibilities. “That’s why at U.S. Space Command we talk about three moral responsibilities. Number one, ensure that we deliver space effects to the joint force, our allies and our nation. Number two, we have to secure and defend the constellations we have today against the threats now arrayed against us. Third we have to help protect our nation, our joint force, and our allies from the space-enabled attack of our adversaries,” said Whiting.