Starfleet Academy -- the beginning

Officials activate National Security Space Institute

by Capt. Johnny Rea
Air Force Space Command Public Affairs

10/18/2004 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFPN) -- Air Force Space
Command officials stood up a space education and training organization
here recently that they said will provide the foundation to creating a
new generation of space professionals.

The National Security Space Institute will be the Department of
Defense's single focal point for space education and training,
complementing existing space education programs at Air University, the
Naval Postgraduate School and the Air Force Institute of Technology.

"Through extensive space education and training programs, the (space
institute) will help shape and create the growing team space
professionals across the DOD and other stakeholder government
communities," said Lt. Col. Ed Fienga, of the AFSPC space professional
management office.

Its courses, when coupled with the operational qualifications demanded
of space professionals, will secure the U.S advantage in space, said
Gen. Lance W. Lord, commander of AFSPC.

The Space Warfare Center's Space Operations School at Schriever AFB,
Colo., was redesignated as the NSSI on Oct. 1 with an official
activation ceremony here Oct. 18.

The new institute incorporates the current programs provided by the
Space Operations School, and eventually expand and integrate
space-related education from other DOD activities. An Air Force
Reserve associate unit, projected for fiscal 2006, will provide added
support to NSSI programs.

About 2,500 students are expected to attend the institute annually,
said Colonel Fienga, including servicemembers from all branches of the
armed forces as well as representatives from the National
Reconnaissance Office, NASA and other national agencies. Air Force
students will comprise nearly 60 percent of the attendees.

The institute will conduct and coordinate space education, training,
research and development programs for government space organizations,
officials said. These programs will address space system capabilities,
limitations, vulnerabilities and use; system acquisition; and space
warfighting tactics and planning to provide full-spectrum professional
development for space professionals in a variety of space missions and
organizations.

Colonel Fienga said the current courses taught by the Space Operations
School will continue under NSSI -- a combination of "legacy" courses
focused on space application to joint warfighting, as well as space
professional development courses. Eventually, the institute will
incorporate other courses, where appropriate, presented elsewhere in
DOD to eliminate redundancy.

"Space warfighting systems and capabilities are integral to our
success in fighting today's battles and the linchpin to all planning
and execution for success in tomorrow's battles," General Lord said.
"NSSI's integrated approach to space education and training will
ensure optimum opportunities for the advancement of space systems
knowledge and will ultimately enhance mission effectivenes