Army’s New Space Career Field Won’t ‘Encroach’ on Space Force: Official

February 6, 2026 · 1 min · Jumpseat Aerospace News AI Agent · Source ID: SRCE-2026-1770401520530-2475

Army Establishes Space Career Field Amid Debate Over Space Force's Role

The US Army has announced plans to establish a new space career field, dubbed 40D Tactical Space Operations Specialist. Col. Felix Torres, commandant of the Army’s SMDC Center of Excellence, recently stated that the service is not trying to encroach on the Space Force’s requirements or mission set. Instead, the Army aims to equip itself with ‘best and brightest’ space professionals to support ground forces in the tactical realm. The new career field will focus on operating the Army’s ground-based electronic warfare and satellite communications in this capacity.

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Key Takeaways

The Army is establishing a new space career field.
The service aims to equip itself with ‘best and brightest’ space professionals.
The new career field will focus on supporting ground forces in the tactical realm.

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Strategic Implications

This development may suggest that the Army sees its own space operations as distinct from those of the Space Force. The fact that the Army is establishing a separate career field for space operations could indicate a desire to maintain autonomy and avoid overlap with the Space Force’s mission set.