U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific News

US Space Forces Indo-Pacific commander highlights development in space operations within AOR

  • Published
  • By Capt. Keith Peden
  • US Space Forces Indo-Pacific
ORLANDO, Fla. --  

Brig. Gen. Anthony Mastalir, commander, U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific, participated in the Space Force Association’s annual Spacepower Conference in Orlando, Fl, Dec. 10-12.

The Spacepower Conference provides a discussion forum for spacepower innovations, upcoming missions, and rising challenges within the space sector to ensure a safer and more secure domain.

During the three-day event, Mastalir, along with other senior leaders of the U.S. Space Force's service components, provided updates on progress and challenges highlighting recent significant space advancements within their areas of responsibility. 

Mastalir provided an overview of the mission of U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific, emphasizing the importance of securing national interests in space and supporting U.S. Indo-Pacific Command's priorities. He highlighted the complexity of the mission within the Pacific, the key role of alliances and partnerships, and the focus on training exercises. As well, the activation of dedicated Space Force components in Korea and, most recently, in Japan also highlighted deliberate efforts to provide tailored space capabilities integrated into those respective countries.

“Over the last week we stood up U.S. Space Forces - Japan, which was hugely successful and something we've been working on since the day we activated,” said Mastalir. “Having a U.S. Space Force service component there is an absolutely positive impact in terms of driving toward interoperability.”

In addition to integrating with allies, over the past two years the Indo-Pacific space component has conducted nearly 10,000 hours of mission analysis to understand how to best organize and employ space forces in support of the joint force. This culminated in a robust programming plan that is now informing the other service components in the combatant command.

“Going first in Indo-Pacific Command was significant, not just because of the message it sent throughout the Indo-Pacific, but it was on us to really build the baseline for what a service component should look like," Mastalir said. “We're sharing that information with the other components as they continue their processes and we continue to provide integrated space operations to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.”