What Happened
Pentagon Prepares for Surge in Space Spending Amid Acquisition Overhaul
President Donald Trump has nominated Erich Hernandez-Baquero, a Raytheon executive and retired U.S. Air Force colonel, to serve as assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration. The role, created to centralize oversight of military space procurement, carries responsibility for acquisition strategy, budgeting, and program execution across a portfolio that includes satellites, ground systems, and data networks. Hernandez-Baquero’s nomination comes as the Pentagon prepares for a surge in space spending, with a focus on translating funding into operational capability. This development was first reported by SpaceNews.