What Happened
Nominees For Key Space Posts Emphasize Commercial Technology And Faster Acquisition
The Trump administration’s nominees for two key space posts, Erich Hernandez-Baquero and Roger Mason, appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee, endorsing closer coordination between the Space Force and intelligence agencies. They emphasized the need for wider use of commercial technology and faster action on acquisition programs. Hernandez-Baquero, nominated to become the Air Force’s top civilian space acquisition official, would oversee the Department of the Air Force’s space acquisition enterprise if confirmed. Mason, the president’s choice to lead the National Reconnaissance Office, highlighted the importance of combining proliferated constellations of smaller satellites, large specialized spacecraft, and commercial capabilities. The nominations were reported by SpaceNews.