Congress Expresses EASE Support at Hearing

The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a hearing March 15 on the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Budget Request for National Security Space Activities. Witnesses included:

• The Honorable Erin Conaton, under secretary of the Air Force, U.S Department of Defense
• General William Shelton, commander, Air Force Space Command
• Ambassador Gregory Schulte, deputy assistant secretary of defense, Space Policy, U.S. Department of Defense
• Betty Sapp, principal deputy director, National Reconnaissance Office

[NOTE: Conaton, Shelton and Schulte are alls cheduled to speak at the upcoming 27th National Space Symposium April 11-14 in Colorado Springs, Colo.) 

Members of Congress expressed their support of the Evolutionary Acquisition for Space Efficiency (EASE), an acquisition reform initiative proposed by the Air Force in its FY 2012 budget request. However, Members said they would need more insight into the advanced appropriations authorities requested for the initiative. Conaton said that the Air Force would work with the Committee to clarify and answer questions about the initiative. Other concerns voiced by Members at the hearing included: the European Union Code of Conduct, commercial jamming of GPS receivers and increasing launch costs.

Pictured: Under Secretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton, who testified at the hearing and will speak at the upcoming 27th National Space Symposium.