Schriever Wargame 2010 - Air Force Space Command

unintended consequences, it is critical to have considerable depth
and analysis to this planning. The planning function needs to be
resourced and undertaken, and then rules of engagement aligned
with these plans.
A related and similarly daunting challenge is that of attribution
of interference or attacks on our space, and for that matter cyber,
systems. Suffice to say that this challenge is understood and there
is much to be done technologically and in planning in this area.
In terms of achieving a vision of allied space assets, there is
more work to be done on developing concepts for the prioritization
of scarce assets in a contingency. Additionally, we need to
consider how we might best fund joint space assets, as well as to
maintain/replace such capabilities on an operationally responsive
basis. The burden sharing of such costs and the programming of
future commitments are fundamental considerations for a future
alliance arrangement.
Finally, there would be mutual advantage if we collaborate
more not only on the use of our space assets, but also on our contingency
arrangements in situations in which these assets are degraded
or unavailable. As with all good planning, our partnership
arrangements should cover the breadth of possibilities, so that we
don’t simply fall into a state of disentanglement.
Schriever
Rather than Australia participating as a standalone team, the
overall structure of the wargame allowed allied team members to
integrate with the cells that suited their specialization. Not only
did this reinforce the future vision of allied partnerships in space,
it was also highly rewarding as a training opportunity by allowing
specialists to interact with others in their respective areas of
expertise.
The structure of the wargame was well developed, as it presented
a good balance between broader considerations and the
need to focus on space issues. The opportunities to highlight
policy issues, and to start dealing with the ‘so what’ matters concurrent
with the wargame, was a key advantage.
A notable part of SW 10 was the experience, insights, and
skills of the members of the executive cell and the various people
who acted as mentors and advisors to the wargame. The Australian
participants found interaction with these leaders and other
SW 10 participants to be immensely rewarding.
SW 10 facilitated interactions between the allies on various issues
that helped the Australian participants consider real world issues.
While there will continue to be national perspectives, there
was common ground and the commonwealth nations operated
well as a team.
The wargame seemed to gravitate, to some extent, around the
activities of the executive cell. Possibly this was in some part due
to the wealth of experience and seniority present in that cell or the
need for national strategic guidance in the scenarios. This left the
role of the Space Council somewhat uncertain and underutilized
at times, and there may be value for future wargames in considering
the respective roles and membership of the executive cell and
Space Council.
In the absence of mature partnership arrangements for allied
space and the underlying planning needed to support those arrangements,
the national strategic level was pivotal and there was
an assumption that allied policies would be resolved at this level.
As mentioned previously, in order to keep up with the high tempo,
we may need better clarity of policies and plans at the operational
level, and focus more of the decision-making at that level.
The only suggestion for improvement of an already well organized
wargame therefore is to consider shifting the focus more
onto the Joint Space Operations Center and CSpOC activities. To
do so may require a substantial effort by all involved to develop
the CSpOC framework between now and the next wargame, however
such preparation would be rewarded.
Conclusion
The members of the Australian Defence Force and the broader
Australian Defence Organisation appreciate the strength of our
relationship with our allies. We also recognize the value of space
capabilities to our mutual security and are beginning to understand
that we cannot take them for granted.
The experiences of the Schriever Wargame are very important
as we continue to develop these capabilities. We look forward to
the next wargame, while continuing the good liaison and evolution
of our partnership.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank General C. Robert
Kehler and his team for making the allies so welcome, and for the
efforts that go into the preparation of the wargame, which reflect
the high level of professionalism that we consistently see from the
US services and especially from Air Force Space Command.
Air Cdre Andrew Dowse (BS,
Electronic Engineering; Graduate
Diploma, Legal Studies; MS; and
PhD) joined the Royal Australian
Air Force as an engineer cadet in
1981 and graduated as an electronics
officer, working in areas of air
defence and communications. In
1989 he was posted to Tinker AFB,
Oklahoma on exchange with the
US Air Force in the development
of command and control systems.
Subsequently he had postings as the
Air Force Headquarters staff officer
for communications systems and the senior engineer at 114 Mobile
Control and Reporting Unit.
Following completion of Command and Staff Course, Dowse
served as the deputy director for information operations at Strategic
Command Division before a posting in 1999 to the Australian
Defence Staff Washington to liaise on aircraft systems, command,
control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance,
and reconnaissance and information operations matters. In 2002
he was promoted to group captain and posted to be the director
of information operations and electronic warfare in Defence Headquarters,
followed by director of information technology services
in the Defence Chief Information Officer Group. He was Air Force
director of enabling capability from 2006 to 2008.
Air Commodore Dowse was promoted and posted to his current
role as director general integrated capability development in November
2008. He will take on the role of director general capability
and plans from November 2010.
Air Commodore Dowse is a graduate of the Australian Institute
of Company Directors.
21 High Frontier