CSO Notice to Guardians: Lines of Effort for the Force

In my first public speech as CSO, I made it clear that Guardians must always be prepared to fight and win our nation’s wars by achieving and maintaining space superiority - and I outlined the three Lines of Effort (LOEs) that will define our priorities during my time as CSO: Forging the Guardian Ethos, Arming and Growing the Guardian Force, and Integrating Guardian Power at Scale.

Forging the Guardian Ethos is our first and most foundational priority because ethos underpins how we act, how we fight, and the character of our service. It is the reason why Character is the first of our Guardian core values. You are a Guardian first, a member of our nation’s military uniquely and specifically trained, educated, and equipped to deliver unparalleled warfighting advantage in, from, and to the space domain. Every Guardian - regardless of specialty or position - has a vital role in our achieving success. This Guardian mindset not only grounds us in how we bring our unique space-centric methods of warfare but also informs our approach to force design, development, generation, and employment. As General Washington reminds us, “If we desire to secure peace… it must be known, that we are at all times ready for war.”

Second, to meet future challenges, we will continue Arming and Growing the Guardian Force. As members of our nation’s Armed Forces, we must continue to arm and grow our service to defend the Joint Force from space-enabled attack while simultaneously providing space capabilities to enable Joint Force combat power. We must do our part to make the Joint Force lethal, while defending our domain, which includes operating on-orbit weapons. This means we acquire and deliver the right technology while ensuring we Guardians train the way we will fight, all to guarantee we deliver mission success for our Nation. Guardians must make decisions at all levels, using Mission Command to communicate with transparency and clarity. This is our no-fail mission and we will get it done.

Third, we must deliver capability and capacity to combatant commands by Integrating Guardian Power at Scale. We have proven that spacepower produces battlefield success. This means providing effective and well-equipped space forces, in the right quantities, to combatant commands on the front lines, staying ahead of threats through rapid acquisitions, and bringing space expertise directly to the fight no matter where it is. The Space Force needs to continue refining how we generate, embed, and sustain combat-effective Guardians and capabilities across the Joint Force. Likewise, the Joint Force must have enough Guardians in key positions to achieve space superiority and drive combat success.

Looking ahead, we must build a sustained pipeline of Guardian talent, tailored with the appropriate training, and equipped with the most advanced capabilities, to ensure the Joint Force is fully powered by space expertise. Working together, as Guardians, we must Build the Force our Nation Needs today, tomorrow, and every time our nation calls.