REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- One of the Army's leaders is helping defend the high ground at the Army's highest command.
Lt. Col. Edward G. Anderson, HQDA DCS G-3/5/7 Department of the Army Military Operations-SSS, Space Branch chief, whose office is located in Crystal City, Va., not far from the Pentagon interacts with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command on a daily basis to ensure the command and the Army are working together to defend the nation.
"As members of the Army staff, we are in a position to influence senior leaders on space-related issues," Anderson said. "When space-related issues come to the Army staff, chief of staff of the Army, or secretary of the Army for decisions, we are usually involved in the preparation of these senior leaders."
Anderson was commissioned as a field artilleryman in 1994. His first space operations assignment was in 2001 with the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center as a Missile Warning Center deputy crew commander and later as a Missile Defense Integration staff officer and missile defense officer. He was assigned to the 1st Space Brigade as a space control planner in 2005, and in 2007, he took over as the Functional Area-40 assignment officer. He began his current assignment as Space Branch chief in 2011 and expects to stay in this position till summer 2014.
Anderson discussed what the DAMO-SSS is and how he is involved.
"DAMO-SSS is the Space Division in HQDA G-3/5 Strategy, Plans and Policy directorate," Anderson said. "Our mission in DAMO-SSS is to develop, articulate and advance strategic plans, concepts and policy to ensure that Army forces have assured access to resilient and relevant space-enabled capabilities. We support the deputy chief of staff G-3/5/7 in his roles as: the principal military advisor to the chief of staff of the Army for space related policy, plans and strategies; and as the Army staff focal point for space.
"As the focal point, we serve as the executive secretariat for the Army Space Council and ARSTAFF lead for coordination with the Defense Space Council," he added. "We also represent Army space equities in DoD, joint staff and service forums."
Anderson explained what the Army Space Work Group is and how he is involved. He said the ASWG is the action officer level of the Army Space Council.
He said that as the Space Branch chief, he serves as the chairman for the ASWG. The ASWG is responsible for identifying, recommending, preparing, coordinating and presenting issues for the ASC. The ASWG meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month. Principal membership includes: assistant secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology) (ASA(ALT)); chief information officer (CIO/G-6); deputy chiefs of staff G-1; DCS G-2; DCS G-3/5/7; DCS G-4; DCS G-8; U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Army Capabilities Integration Center; SMDC; Army engineers; Army Reserve; and Army National Guard. The Space Council of Colonels and one- and two-star ASC meet three to four times a year and the Senior Army Space council meets twice a year.
He also explained what the Defense Space Council does for the Army and how it affects SMDC.
"The Defense Space Council serves as the principal advisory forum to inform, coordinate, and resolve all DoD space issues," Anderson said. "As Department of Defense's largest user of space capabilities, it is important for the Army to remain actively involved in DoD space issues. The DSC gives the Army a venue to influence decisions that will impact the Army.
"The majority of our time is spent working space-related issues for the Army staff," he added. "We represent the Army in the (office of the secretary of defense), joint staff, and other forums. We are also coordinating the implementation of the 2011 Army Space Strategy. This strategy envisions assured access to resilient and relevant space-enabled capabilities to ensure Army operational and generating forces can conduct a variety of operations around the world. We also represent the Army in a variety of DoD space-related work groups and studies."
Anderson talked about the space mission and what the Army is doing on behalf of space issues.
"There is a small cadre of Army space professionals strategically positioned on the Army staff and in the Pentagon," Anderson said. "We have the ability to influence space issues, but we're only as good as the information we have available. I would encourage anyone working a space issue headed for the Army staff or Pentagon to start a dialog with us as early as possible. We can advise on coordination and begin shaping the issue for senior leaders.
"Additionally, understand that the building moves at its own pace," he added. "This is especially true on the Army staff since Army space is managed in an enterprise construct with many space stakeholders."
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