The Space Force faces growing pains. Here’s how the next chief can help.

On July 16, Lt. Gen. Doug Schiess will appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee for a hearing as part of his path towards being the third Chief of Space Operations. 

If confirmed, he will move into a position that is on solid ground thanks to the leadership of his predecessors. But that does not mean there will not be challenges waiting, including a major one that will have to be addressed quickly: the charge to double the service’s size during his tenure. 

While this is a windfall for the Space Force, there are significant challenges with growing a service as rapidly as what the Space Force must now do. Doubling the service from roughly 10,000 to 20,000 military members by 2030 is not a trivial matter. Gen. Schiess and the Space Force must ensure it has the right people, with the right ranks, doing the right functions, and in the right locations — all while preserving the high standards of qualification that make Guardians unique, and in a way that will create a sustainable force structure.

While new accessions are a major part of necessary growth, the service cannot simply open the recruitment spigot and count on thousands of new second lieutenants and new specialists to enter the field. The Space Force must grow across all ranks simultaneously to preserve a structured career path for its officer and enlisted members, preventing the creation of a force structure with too flat a base that will have promotion and assignment implications for decades. 

Thankfully, there are additional options that, collectively, could increase the Space Force without creating a massive influx of the most junior members. Here are a few options that Gen. Schiess should immediately consider.

Restoration of service of members separated for non-disciplinary reasons: Due to new Pentagon policies, DOGE cuts, and even a few retirements, the Space Force lost many qualified personnel across its military and civilian workforce. While the numbers of people in these categories are likely in the low hundreds for the Space Force, they could offer ready-made talent that could be easily re-integrated.

Interservice transfers: Transfers were the core tapped for the establishment of the Space Force. While there are still over 3,000 military personnel, across all ranks, in other services performing space missions, they may not be performing the right functions for the needs of the Space Force. Unless there is a re-examination of military space soldiers, sailors, and airman retained by the Army, Navy and Air Force, this will not result in a significant increase in Space Force end strength. 

However, one area where new interservice transfers might be helpful is to grow the existing apparatus responsible for new accessions — recruitment, basic training, skills training, and assignment matching. The current Space Force structure lacks the capacity to handle a rapid doubling of military personnel. Growth in these areas will be a prerequisite for any expansion, and transfers from other services might help fill the gaps.

Integration of Guard and Reserve forces: The transfer of Air Force Reserve and Guard members to the Space Force under the Personnel Management Act will also only slightly increase the size of the force. Combined numbers of Guard and Reserve to enter the Space Force appear to be around 1,000.

Direct appointments: Perhaps the most promising option is for the Space Force to direct commission or direct enlist experts from industry and other fields whose specialties the Space Force needs. This would be like the programs the other services employ for medical and legal professionals. The technical nature of many Space Force functions could be ideal for such an approach. By bringing them in at higher ranks than a traditional new member, the Space Force can create a more uniform growth path for itself. This approach also bolsters the Space Force initiative to have tighter relations with the industrial base and allow Guardians to flow back and forth between military service and working with industry. 

Obviously, there are challenges with this approach that must be overcome, not the least of which is transitioning perspectives from those of the corporate worlds to instill them with the Guardian spirit, warfighting ethos and space-minded mentality of the Space Force. But this could create a small, experienced cadre of more senior officers and enlisted in a few short years, as opposed to the long career building required if relying wholly on new recruits. 

Other areas of growth

Beyond sources of new personnel, the Space Force must also ensure to grow the right functions, whether within existing roles or new ones.

To be intentionally small and focused, the initial policy of the Space Force was to only bring in military personnel performing operations, intelligence, cyber, or the acquisitions roles of program management and engineering. The doubling of the Space Force creates an opportunity to re-examine this policy. The Space Force should consider expanding to include space specialists in career fields such as lawyers, public affairs, contracting, finance, and additional acquisition personnel particularly scientists.

As the Space Force looks to grow, it must also grow outside of its existing footprint. Currently, the Space Force is predominantly located in only a few states such as Colorado, Florida, California, New Mexico, Ohio and around the National Capital Region in Virginia and Maryland. The Space Force should now look to expand its footprint into other states. 

This will serve multiple objectives. First, it will broaden the base of understanding and awareness about the Space Force to further inspire future recruits. Additionally, it will also increase Congressional support and advocacy for the Space Force. The more members of Congress that have a direct and vested interest in the Space Force and the well-being of its Guardians, the more likely the Space Force will continue to garner the support necessary for its sustained growth. The service has already announced plans to add new operations centers in New Mexico, Alabama, North Dokata and Colorado. Carrying this further into other states may have compounding benefits.

The Space Force is about to embark on its next chapter, under the new leadership of General Schiess. He will undoubtedly make countless consequential decisions during his time as the third Chief of Space Operations. The mix of options and timing of initiatives he chooses to double the service will likely be one of his most significant, impacting the force today and for generations to come.

Charles Galbreath, a Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies at the Mitchell Institute, is a retired United States Space Force Colonel, a Command Space Operator with expertise in Missile Warning, Space Control, Space Launch, and ICBM operations, and a Senior Materiel Leader with experience developing advanced technology demonstration and prototype systems.