Outer space

Rogers planning “major reform” for national security space 

The head of a key U.S. House oversight committee said he is planning a “major reform” of national security space as part of next year’s defense authorization bill.

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), the chairman of the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee, said in a Sept. 23 press release that next week’s hearing ““National Security Space: 21st Century Challenges, 20th Century Organization,” is the first step in that effort.

“Modern warfare is moving to new heights and it is all-too-clear that our military is not organized and prepared to fight and win a war in space,” he said. “This hearing is the first step in what I anticipate will be a major reform effort leading to the FY18 National Defense Authorization Act.”

The Sept. 30 hearing is expected to include testimony from John Hamre, a former deputy secretary of defense, Jim Ellis, a retired Navy admiral who led U.S. Strategic Command, and Martin Faga, a former director of the National Reconnaissance Office, which builds and operates the country’s spy satellites.