S.1438 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002: Space Activities

Subtitle B–Space Activities

SEC. 911. JOINT MANAGEMENT OF SPACE PROGRAMS.

(a) IN GENERAL- Part IV of subtitle A of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 134 the following new chapter:

`CHAPTER 135–SPACE PROGRAMS

`Sec.

`2271. Management of space programs: joint program offices and officer management programs.

`Sec. 2271. Management of space programs: joint program offices and officer management programs

`(a) JOINT PROGRAM OFFICES- The Secretary of Defense shall take appropriate actions to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that space development and acquisition programs of the Department of Defense are carried out through joint program offices.

`(b) OFFICER MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS- (1) The Secretary of Defense shall take appropriate actions to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that–

`(A) Army, Navy, and Marine Corps officers, as well as Air Force officers, are assigned to the space development and acquisition programs of the Department of Defense; and

`(B) Army, Navy, and Marine Corps officers, as well as Air Force officers, are eligible, on the basis of qualification, to hold leadership positions within the joint program offices referred to in subsection (a).

`(2) The Secretary of Defense shall designate those positions in the Office of the National Security Space Architect of the Department of Defense (or any successor office) that qualify as joint duty assignment positions for purposes of chapter 38 of this title.’.

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The tables of chapters at the beginning of such subtitle and the beginning of part IV of such subtitle are amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 134 the following new item:

2271′.

SEC. 912. REQUIREMENT TO ESTABLISH IN THE AIR FORCE AN OFFICER CAREER FIELD FOR SPACE.

(a) IN GENERAL- Chapter 807 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

`Sec. 8084. Officer career field for space

`The Secretary of the Air Force shall establish and implement policies and procedures to develop a career field for officers in the Air Force with technical competence in space-related matters to have the capabilty to–

`(1) develop space doctrine and concepts of space operations;

`(2) develop space systems; and

`(3) operate space systems.’.

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

`8084. Officer career field for space.’.

SEC. 913. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE REPORT ON SPACE ACTIVITIES.

(a) REPORT- (1) Not later than March 15, 2002, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report on problems in the management and organization of the Department of Defense for space activities that were identified in the report of the Space Commission, including a description of the actions taken by the Secretary to address those problems.

(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term `report of the Space Commission’ means the report of the Commission To Assess United States National Security Space Management and Organization, dated January 11, 2001, and submitted to Congress under section 1623 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (Public Law 106-65; 113 Stat. 815).

(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED- The report of the Secretary of Defense under subsection (a) shall include a description of, and rationale for, each of the following:

(1) Actions taken by the Secretary of Defense to realign management authorities and responsibilities for space programs of the Department of Defense.

(2) Steps taken to–

(A) establish a career field for officers in the Air Force with technical competence in space-related matters, in accordance with section 8084 of title 10, United States Code, as added by section 912;

(B) ensure that officers in that career field are treated fairly and objectively within the overall Air Force officer personnel system; and

(C) ensure that the primary responsibility for management of that career field is assigned appropriately.

(3) Other steps taken within the Air Force to ensure proper priority for development of space systems.

(4) Steps taken to ensure that the interests of the Army, the Navy, and the Marine Corps in development and acquisition of space systems, and in the operations of space systems, are protected.

(5) Steps taken by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the military departments to ensure that the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps continue to develop military and civilian personnel with the required expertise in space system development, acquisition, management, and operation.

(6) Steps taken to ensure adequate oversight by the Office of the Secretary of Defense of the actions of the Under Secretary of the Air Force as the acquisition executive for Department of Defense space programs.

(7) Steps taken to improve oversight of the level of funding provided for space programs and the level of personnel resources provided for space programs.

SEC. 914. COMPTROLLER GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF SPACE COMMISSION.

(a) ASSESSMENT- (1) The Comptroller General shall carry out an assessment through February 15, 2003, of the actions taken by the Secretary of Defense in implementing the recommendations in the report of the Space Commission that are applicable to the Department of Defense.

(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term `report of the Space Commission’ means the report of the Commission To Assess United States National Security Space Management and Organization, dated January 11, 2001, and submitted to Congress under section 1623 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (Public Law 106-65; 113 Stat. 815).

(b) REPORTS- Not later than February 15 of each of 2002 and 2003, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report on the assessment carried out under subsection (a). Each report shall set forth the results of the assessment as of the date of such report.

SEC. 915. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING OFFICERS RECOMMENDED TO BE APPOINTED TO SERVE AS COMMANDER OF UNITED STATES SPACE COMMAND.

It is the sense of Congress that the position of commander of the United States Space Command, a position of importance and responsibility designated by the President under section 601 of title 10, United States Code, to carry the grade of general or admiral and covered by section 604 of that title, relating to recommendations by the Secretary of Defense for appointment of officers to certain four-star joint officer positions, should be filled by the best qualified officer of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps, rather than by officers from the same armed force that has traditionally provided officers for that position.