Q&A: General C. Robert "Bob" Kehler

SPACE FORCE LEADER:
Organizing, Training and Equipping U.S. Space Professionals


Interview with
General C. Robert "Bob" Kehler
Commander, Air Force Space Command

General C. Robert “Bob” Kehler is commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. He is responsible for the development, acquisition and operation of the Air Force’s space and missile systems. The general oversees a global network of satellite command and control, communications, missile warning and launch facilities, and ensures the combat readiness of America’s intercontinental ballistic missile force. He leads more than 39,700 space professionals who provide combat forces and capabilities to North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Strategic Command.

Kehler entered the Air Force in 1975 as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program. He has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels, and has a broad range of operational and command tours in ICBM operations, space launch, space operations, missile warning and space control. He commanded a Minuteman ICBM operations group at Whiteman AFB, Mo., and the Air Force’s largest ICBM operations group at Malmstrom AFB, Mont. He served as deputy director of operations, Air Force Space Command; and commanded both the 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., and the 21st Space Wing, Peterson AFB, Colo. Most recently, as deputy commander, U.S. Strategic Command, he helped provide the President and Secretary of Defense with a broad range of strategic capabilities and options for the joint warfighter through several diverse mission areas, including space operations, integrated missile defense, computer network operations and global strike.

The general’s staff assignments include wing-level planning and tours with the Air Staff, Strategic Air Command headquarters and Air Force Space Command. He was also assigned to the Secretary of the Air Force’s Office of Legislative Liaison, where he was the point man on Capitol Hill for matters regarding the President’s ICBM modernization program. During an assignment to the Joint Staff, he helped formulate revolutionary changes to nuclear war plan structure and targeting. As director, National Security Space Office, he integrated the activities of a number of space organizations on behalf of the Under Secretary of the Air Force and Director, National Reconnaissance Office.

Q: Let’s start off with an overview of the Air Force Space Command and its major elements.

A: The mission of Air Force Space Command is to deliver space and missile capabilities to America and its warfighting commands. We accomplish this by recognizing the air, space and cyberspace domains are increasingly interdependent and that in future conflicts, the loss of any one of these domains could result in the loss of control of all of them. We serve the joint force, we provide nuclear forces that underwrite the nation’s security, and we operate in the increasingly contested space domain.

As a major command commander, my primary job is to organize, train and equip our space professionals for success in their assigned duties and responsibilities. These duties include a wide range of activities.

AFSPC has two numbered air forces and two centers. The 14th Air Force is located at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and is the organization responsible for a wide array of space activities on nearly every continent. These stewards of space and their focused leader, Lieutenant General William Shelton, control all Air Force space assets. These assets provide communications, position navigation and timing [PNT], weather forecasting, missile warning, space surveillance, spacelift and space control.

The 20th Air Force is located at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. The men and women of 20th Air Force, under the expert leadership of Major General Roger Burg, provide strategic deterrence via our nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile force. Beginning with the Cuban Missile Crisis and continuing today, the Minuteman missile and those who operate, maintain and secure it serve as this nation’s last line of defense.

In addition to operating Air Force space and missile systems, we also develop the next generation of systems through the Space and Missile System Center [SMC), currently under the command of Lieutenant General Tom Sheridan at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. This is a unique responsibility and one of the ways we are different from Air Mobility Command or Air Combat Command. SMC is joint warfighter-focused, responsible for acquiring, developing and maintaining a full range of systems and technical expertise including ICBMs, satellites, payloads, launch vehicles, missiles, ground control systems, user equipment, and ground sensors. These systems provide capabilities such as communications, PNT, spacelift, space situational awareness, missile warning, missile defense, weather monitoring, satellite command and control, and land-based nuclear deterrence.

Finally, the professionals at the Space Innovation and Development Center, at Shriever Air Force Base, led by Colonel Robert Wright, are our innovators. Day-to-day, they advance full-spectrum warfare through rapid innovation, integration, training, testing and experimentation.

Air Force Space Command’s footprint of bases, stations and units covers 16 states and five countries, along with deployed airmen stationed around the globe.

Q: You have stated your command’s mission is to deliver space and missile capabilities to America and its warfighting commands. How are you accomplishing this mission?

A: Recently, I visited a number of commanders and units in the United States Central Command area of responsibility. At one stop I received a briefing from a B-1B Lancer bomber pilot. He reflected that while preparing for the briefing, he came to realize that space capabilities were embedded throughout the planning, execution and debriefing phases of the mission. His bomber crew planned their mission using intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, terrain mapping and weather data from space systems; the aircraft carried Global Positioning System [GPS]-enabled Joint Direct Attack Munitions; when they were flying, real-time updates from a variety of space-based and other sources flowed to them over satellite communications data links; the tanker and bomber crews coordinated air refueling operations using GPS, and space capabilities supported the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for battle damage assessment as well as the operations assessment. The pilot also knew that, should his aircraft go down in hostile territory, a combination of space and terrestrial would be used to coordinate and execute a rescue operation.

In effect, space assets would take the search out of search and rescue. In the AOR, I saw first-hand how space plays a critical role in virtually every mission and every operation. Every commander I visited confirmed this assessment.

Some of this may sound repetitive, but it is important to understand that many of our efforts intertwine and create synergy. The command acquires, operates and supports the Global Positioning System, Defense Satellite Communications Systems [DSCS] Phase III, Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, Defense Support Program and the Space-Based Infrared System Program.

AFSPC currently operates the Delta II, Delta IV and Atlas V launch vehicles. The Atlas V and Delta IV launch vehicles comprise the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program, which is the future of assured access to space. AFSPC’s launch operations include the Eastern and Western ranges and range support for all launches, including the space shuttle on the Eastern Range. We maintain and operate a worldwide network of satellite tracking stations, called the Air Force Satellite Control Network, to provide communications links to satellites.

Ground-based radars used primarily for ballistic missile warning include the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System, PAVE Phased Array Warning System and Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack radars. The Maui Optical Tracking Identification Facility, Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System, Passive Space Surveillance System, phased-array and mechanical radars provide primary space surveillance coverage. New transformational space programs are continuously being researched and developed to enable AFSPC to stay on the leading-edge of technology.

Q: Describe several successes in supporting the joint warfighter on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. Which unmet joint warfighting challenges must be addressed?

A: Our challenge is to keep the promise to our joint team mates, to our deployed airmen and their families. While we have a number of successes, space is a contested environment and we know there is a growing need for our services, including better protecting our on-orbit systems to assure uninterrupted access and increasing communications bandwidth.

To meet those challenges, our GPS system is being upgraded because we feel that space is a contested environment and we need to add capabilities to ensure the GPS signal will reach those we support with it. All users will receive improved accuracy integrity and assured availability. GPS IIIA satellites will provide increased anti-jam power to the earth coverage M-Code [military only] signal. GPS IIIB satellites will enable a cross-linked command and control architecture, allowing GPS III satellites to be updated from a single ground station instead of waiting for each satellite to orbit in view of a ground antenna. GPS IIIC satellites will also deliver greater M-code power for increased resistance to hostile jamming via a high-powered spot beam. All of these enhancements contribute to improved accuracy, integrity and assured availability for both civil and military users worldwide. In addition, the Wideband Global SATCOM, provides flexible, high-capacity communications for our nation’s warfighters with a quantum leap in communications bandwidth to infrastructure users and our joint team. Tactical forces will rely on WGS to provide high-capacity connectivity into the terrestrial portion of the Defense Information Systems Network. The first satellite launched this year provides more bandwidth than the entire DSCS constellation.

Q: How has the command responded to other nations’ antisatellite tests, efforts to jam GPS and other emerging threats in the space domain?

A: In light of what we saw from the Chinese, although their ASAT action was not a surprise to us, what it did was validate our concern that space is a contested domain and in a future conflict, without question, it will remain a contested domain. We are working hard to ensure that our space assets are protected now and during any future conflict.

We are focused on keeping GPS as the global PNT gold standard for both military and civilian applications, and keeping it free of charge to civil users. GPS is one of our greatest success stories. Not just for Air Force Space Command, but for the Air Force and the Nation as well. And GPS, as a system of systems, is going to continue to grow. You see it being used everywhere. Farmers in the grain belt, bankers, cities and towns, fishermen and campers, scientists and the military, an incredible number of people around the globe are utilizing and depending daily upon our GPS system.

Every year we have made the GPS signal better, every year the accuracy of the system has improved. And that is what is going to continue to happen. We are not only going to continue the accuracy but we will continue to support the system and we are going to add in future capabilities, making the system even more robust in the contested environment of space.

A lot of thought is going into providing signals to our global user population with the eventual addition of three more civil signals to the current single signal on L1. We are designing satellites to be more robust; to protect and increase survivability and maintain continuity of service. Additionally, between the International Telecommunications Union and the State Department, we are working with our great team, through political channels, to negotiate international agreements that would promote peaceful sharing of space. One of these efforts includes putting a common civil signal set on systems like Galileo. By including all potential users worldwide on the constellation, and keeping it free to those users, we believe one side effect will be to reduce the threat to our GPS System.

We are designing GPS satellites with more power, a spectrally separate code for military only use, and a spot beam capability. Spot beam means focused increased power in a local area, to burn through jamming attempts. This should ease the mind of GPS users, military and civilian, by the fact that we are working to provide civilian redundancy and capability and increase military capability separate from each other but implemented in the same GPS we’ve all come to rely upon.

As to emerging threats to any of our space systems, I can only re-iterate that we look at space as a contested domain and we are working hard at securing all portions of all our systems from attack.

Q: How will GPS help the warfighter without busting the budget or loading up the program with exotic, high-risk technologies?

A: Our plan is to utilize the low risk, high confidence acquisition strategy for incremental capability delivery. It greatly reduces risk of cost over-runs and requirements creep. By deferring technology with higher risk until GPS IIIB and IIIC are ready for them, we ensure the delivery of GPS IIIA will be on time and on cost. All GPS IIIA technology is at an appropriate technology readiness level for the current phase of the program. While GPS IIIA is under development a rigorous capability insertion program will be under way to mature technology and adequately mitigate the risks associated with technology required for GPS models IIIB and IIIC.

Q: What are the command’s top three programs in terms of dollar value and the benefits they will bring to the nation and the warfighter?

A: There are three key programs at Air Force Space Command that are in line with your question. The first is missile warning, the second is PNT, and the third is MILSATCOM.

A primary mission of Air Force Space Command is to provide early warning of ballistic missile attacks on the U.S., its deployed forces and our allies. This includes warning of incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles as well as theater missile warning for shorter range ballistic missiles. Strategic warning is accomplished by early detection of the launch of long range missiles.

We detect these missiles using space-based sensors that detect infrared signatures and ground-based phased array radars that detect incoming missiles.

Theater missile warning provides deployed forces the maximum opportunity to defend themselves against attacks and take necessary precautions in response to missile threats. In the future, enhanced satellite capabilities and upgraded groundbased early warning radars will deliver a missile defense capability that will enable military commanders to intercept ballistic missiles threatening the U.S. and its allies.

We refer to GPS as the latest or newest global utility. GPS brings both civilian and military users PNT data, enabling an ease of local and global travel and timing accuracy unheard of just ten years ago. The United States Air Force, through Air Force Space Command spends over $70 million per year to keep the GPS running on a day to day basis. Public law and national policy directs this effort and focuses us to keep improving GPS for the benefit of both civil and military applications. To make these improvements supporting not just civilians but also protecting our military’s use of GPS, we will spend between $1 billion and $2 billion per year to make these modernizations. As I said earlier, we are adding new civil signals to increase signal availability, accuracy and integrity of the GPS and we are adding military capabilities through a military–only code [M-Code], flexible power applications and various new types of encryption. All of these additions work together to make the GPS signals more secure, more accurate and more reliable for all users.

Accurate timing enables power grid electricity transfers, ATM functionality and cellular communications. Accuracy benefits everyone; from first responders getting to the scene by the fastest route; farmers rotating their crops; to oil companies marking new locations that promise future energy for our nation. Remember the miners trapped a few years ago? GPS enabled the search and rescue teams to determine a best guess location of the trapped miners, ultimately resulting in a successful rescue operation. GPS provides our troops their accurate location and aids in the extremely accurate delivery of smaller munitions, thereby removing threats with less collateral damage to non-combatants nearby or historical artifacts. GPS is truly an amazing part of today’s technical capabilities and culture.

The Wideband Global SATCOM [WGS] system adds two-way Ka-band capabilities for tactical warfighters and provides worldwide coverage and accesses for increasing airborne intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance [AISR] missions. WGS provides an important starting point to supply these capabilities; however, Transformational Satellite Communications [TSAT], in particular, will provide dedicated access for AISR on an unprecedented level.

Finally, fielding satellite communications systems to our warfighters remains one of our biggest programs here at Air Force Space Command. Collectively these systems provide the men and women deployed overseas and at home assured communications to guarantee they can successfully execute their respective missions. Today’s MILSTAR System, along with the future systems of Advanced Extremely High Frequency [AEHF] and the TSAT System provide tremendous capabilities delivering protected, persistent communications supporting tactical and strategic missions even when being intentionally jammed by adversaries and/or in severe environmental conditions.

TSAT in particular will deliver new, transformational capabilities to the warfighter supplying networked, protected communications- on-the-move to soldiers and marines on the ground, giving them the ability to execute their missions more quickly as they take advantage of real-time intelligence. TSAT also supplies an optical super highway in space delivering vast amounts of collected intelligence data to CONUS and theater consumers to meet their intelligence timelines. These systems greatly increase our troops’ combat effectiveness for all services.

We also acquire and field wideband systems including the currently employed systems of DSCS and Global Broadcast System. We have started to field the highly capable ground systems.

Q: Over the years, including next fiscal year, how do you characterize the command’s funding?

A: While AFSPC funding has been sufficient to carry out our missions, areas experiencing increased risk include sustainment of our ICBM and space systems, along with recapitalization of our facilities infrastructure. Due to the 24/7 nature of our operations, combined with the space AOR, segregation of global war on terror specific funding requirements continues to be a challenge.

Our funding requirements continue to grow as our equipment and infrastructure ages. Our airmen do an outstanding job in the operations and maintenance efforts throughout the command. When speaking of the nuclear enterprise, however, it is extremely important to understand that only the fullest and most robust efforts to safeguard this national treasure can and should be contemplated. This is a costly effort and it requires adequate funding. Systems like the GPS which affect so many people around the globe also need to be kept funded at appropriate levels. And finally, development of new space systems to support ongoing combat operations requires sufficient fiscal support to accomplish the mission in support of our fellow warfighters.

Q: Briefly describe the command’s plan to modernize the ICBM force.

A: The nation’s current ICBM force consists of 450 Minuteman III missiles located at three bases throughout Air Force Space Command. Minuteman III is a follow on system of Minuteman I and II weapon systems and was installed from 1971 through 1975 with a design life goal of 10 years.

Throughout its history, various modification and sustainment programs have been initiated to extend the initial 10 year design life goal of the Minuteman III weapon system out through the year 2020 with subsequent congressionally-directed 2030 target dates. These programs consist of a robust aging surveillance, analysis and test program to determine weapons system reliability, and a sustainment program to replace aging and less than reliable sub subsystems as needed.

There are several recently completed and presently ongoing sustainment programs underway to ensure weapon system reliability. The weapons system operator consoles received upgraded equipment and software during the Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting Service Live Extension Program. In addition to console upgrades the aging communication systems were upgraded through the Minuteman Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network Program.

The launch facilities are also undergoing upgrades to their environmental control systems and security features though the Environmental Control System and ICBM Security Modernization programs. Lastly, the missiles themselves are undergoing replacement of guidance and propulsion systems through the Guidance Replacement Program, the Propulsion Replacement Program, and the Propulsion System Rocket Engine Extension Program. These programs upgrade aging guidance electronic components, swap out aging solid rocket fuel and refurbish existing components. In addition to guidance and propulsion systems, the reentry systems have been modified to increase safety through the Safety Enhanced Reentry Vehicle Program.

Q: What areas of research and development can industry and academia focus on that will enable your command to complete its mission?

A: Air Force Space Command is always looking for the best way to support other warfighting forces. I can’t predict who will come up with the next GPS or the next sensor suite that will revolutionize the way we fight in this modern age. What I can say for certain is that we are here, we are willing to look and listen and evaluate any items or technologies that will enable us to support our warfighting team better, smarter, faster, easier and cheaper.

Q: What future challenges will Air Force Space Command face?

A: The very nature of warfare is changing at an amazing rate. Adversaries no longer mass forces and move troops and supplies in tight formations. The enemy of today is increasingly elusive, fleeting and widely dispersed. Individuals and non-state actors are gaining access to increasing amounts of power through the proliferation of technology and information. Our challenge is to maintain a continuing advantage during these times of great change, to meet this adversary head on, anticipating their next move and fielding capabilities that will provide combatant commanders with an asymmetric advantage.

Our toughest task is developing next generation systems that meet the combatant commander’s requirements, on time and on budget. We are simultaneously modernizing every major system in our inventory—from satellite constellations, to missile warning and to our nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile force. Fielding these types of capabilities while simultaneously prosecuting a global war is a daunting job. However, we fully realize failure is not an option. ♦

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