Missile Defense Policy

Team Star Wars didn't come to study space policy. They came to solve a capability gap—when U.S. forces can't fully utilize space assets in Long-Range Kill Chains, adversaries gain operational advantage.

What's At Stake

The Joint Warfighting Concept hinges on dispersed forces linked through space-enabled networks. But policy constraints limit how the U.S. Space Force can integrate with conventional Long-Range Kill Chain operations. Without clear authorities and streamlined coordination mechanisms, space capabilities remain underutilized in multi-domain operations against near-peer threats.

From Symposium to Command Centers

Led by Greyson Fisher, Team Star Wars leveraged the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium as an entry point to deeper engagement with U.S. Space Force and Space Command leadership in Colorado Springs. The symposium highlighted emerging technologies—from Anduril's low-cost cruise missiles to Northrop Grumman's long-range penetrating strike capabilities—all dependent on space-based enablers.

Their 30 interviews spanned industry leaders including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Sierra Nevada Corporation, alongside operational leaders from Space Operations Command, USSPACECOM J-codes, and the Space Development Agency. These conversations revealed the tension between rapid technological advancement and existing policy frameworks.

Refined Problem Framing

Through their field research, Team Star Wars developed two critical hypotheses for testing: whether increased public awareness of Space Force capabilities could drive resource allocation, and how USSF can better integrate with conventional Air Force Long-Range Kill Chain processes. Their approach evolved from studying policy gaps to identifying specific integration barriers that limit operational effectiveness.

The team connected with Space ISAC and SDA TAP representatives who provided insights into current coordination challenges and potential solutions for streamlined space-to-surface integration.

Operators of Another Kind

Greyson Fisher, leading the effort from William & Mary, brought policy analysis expertise to operational capability challenges. Working alongside teammates Whipple Gernandizo, Summer King, and Maura Newman, the team combined academic rigor with direct stakeholder engagement across defense organizations.

What Comes Next

Team Star Wars continues their research with visits to Langley and Air Combat Command to examine Long-Range Kill Chain operations from the conventional perspective. Their sponsor at U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command awaits policy recommendations that could unlock space capabilities for multi-domain operations.

They didn't just analyze space policy. They mapped the barriers preventing its operational integration.