17 May 2024
Last week’s Air and Space Power Conference (ASPC24) came at the ideal time, according to Commander Space Command Major General Greg Novak.
Just five months into his role at Space Command, Major General Novak took time to reflect on the last week at ASPC24.
“The conference two years ago coincided with the launch of Space Command and the first time Space had been included with Air Power in the event,” Major General Novak said.
“With fundamental changes and growth to our command since then, this year’s conference was a great opportunity to show our international partners just how far we have come.”
Attended by more than 1500 people in person and 800 virtually, from 28 countries, the conference brought national and international leaders and experts from military, academia and industry to Canberra to discuss emerging issues in the context of the National Defence Strategy.
When asked for his highlights of the week, Major General Novak said that across the Space Domain, from partners and allies to industry, it was increasingly understood that space capabilities were a critical component of national defence.
“The Conference theme was building readiness and resilience in national air and space power across the spectrum of competition, which was something I enjoyed discussing and exploring on a panel with colleagues across all five domains,” Major General Novak said.
“With fundamental changes and growth to our command since then, this year’s conference was a great opportunity to show our international partners just how far we have come.”
“It was particularly significant for me to share the stage with my good friend and colleague Major General Ana Duncan, Commander Cyber Command, who leads Defence’s newest command.
"Space and cyber are ‘always on’ and inextricably linked. Grouping these Commands together, under Joint Capabilities Group, better prepares the domains to support an integrated, focused force, and demonstrates the synergies that space and cyber have.”
The keynote address, delivered by Chief of Space Operations for the United States Space Force, General B. Chance Saltzman, explored the ‘deterrence down under’ and the strong interests that Australia and the US shared in maintaining freedom and peace in the Pacific and around the globe.
For Major General Novak, one of the key takeaways was how General Saltzman spoke to the challenges the US Space Force faced with its workforce. It operates as a relatively small component of the US military from a personnel and budget perspective, but has expectations as high as the space domain itself.
“The parallels with the journey we are on with Space Command – being two and a half years young – was certainly not lost on me,” Major General Novak said.
“For me, workforce and our people is at the forefront of everything we do. Events such as this show our investment in growing people’s capabilities, and showcases the exciting opportunities that working in the space domain, through Space Command, can offer."
