{"id":23615,"date":"2018-08-07T20:34:51","date_gmt":"2018-08-07T20:34:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/08\/07\/pentagon-setting-up-new-combatant-command-for-space-operations-mattis-confirms\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:00:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:00:09","slug":"pentagon-setting-up-new-combatant-command-for-space-operations-mattis-confirms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/space\/2018\/08\/07\/pentagon-setting-up-new-combatant-command-for-space-operations-mattis-confirms\/","title":{"rendered":"Mattis supportive of new combatant command for space operations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Defense Secretary Jim Mattis seems to have reversed course on his previous stance against a Space Force<\/a>, telling reporters on Tuesday that the Defense Department is supportive of establishing a new combatant command for space<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need to address space as a developing war fighting domain and a combatant command is certainly one thing that we can we can establish. This is a process we\u2019re in,\u201d Mattis said on the steps of the Pentagon before an honor cordon to welcome the U.K. Secretary of State for Defence Gavin Williamson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are in complete alignment with the president\u2019s concern about protecting our assets in space to contribute to our security to our economy and we\u2019re going to have to address it as other countries show a capability to attack those assets,” he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mattis\u2019 comments appear to align with a recent Defense One report<\/a> stating that the Defense Department intends to stand up U.S. Space Command as the eleventh unified combatant command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defense One, which saw a draft of the Pentagon\u2019s report on how best to restructure its space infrastructure, also reported that the department plans to set up a new joint agency for space procurement and a \u201cSpace Operations Force\u201d that would bring together expertise from all four services and the contractor community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The public roll-out of the report, originally planned for last Wednesday, is expected as early as this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The actions proposed by the Pentagon are seen as the first steps toward developing a brand-new, space-centric service, as President Donald Trump has directed<\/a>. However, only Congress can approve the creation of a new branch of the armed forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\t