Defense

Space Force launches ‘first-of-its-kind’ acquisition training course

"Our military and civilian acquisition professionals are the center of gravity for delivering combat space capability,” Gen. Chance Saltzman said.

Anastasia Obis

September 23, 2025 6:29 pm

3 min read

In an effort to strengthen its acquisition workforce, the Space Force has rolled out a “first-of-its-kind” 10-week, in-residence course tailored for space acquisition.

Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman said the program immerses new acquisition officers into the complexities of contracting, space system testing and program management. The course also gives officers a chance to learn directly from senior Space Force leaders and industry experts.

“For the first time ever, we’re providing 100% of our officers with initial training in space operations, cyber operations, intelligence, and acquisition fundamentals before their first assignment. Then, those who move into acquisition roles will attend a ‘first-of-its-kind’ acquisition initial qualification training,” Saltzman said during his keynote at AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference on Tuesday.

“Earlier this month, the first cohort of students began learning about program management, engineering, contracting, and testing of space systems. I’m sure we’ll see these Guardians creating tremendous benefits across the force very soon,” he added.

This new training is part of the service’s broader effort to overhaul how it trains and develops its personnel. Earlier this month, the service graduated more than 80 Guardians from its first yearlong Officer Training Course, designed to equip newly commissioned officers with fundamental skills in areas that are at the core of the service’s operations — intelligence, space and cyber — to ensure that all new officers “learn to be a Guardian first and specialist second.”

“Officers are the Space Force’s commanders, leaders, planners, and strategists. I need you to be the big-picture, multi-disciplinary thinkers,” Saltzman said during the graduation ceremony in August. “OTC has given you a broad foundation across all the Space Force’s operational disciplines. This is a brand-new approach for us, and it is an important pivot from the old days.”

Saltzman’s announcement of the acquisition initial qualification training course is also part of a larger push to strengthen the service’s acquisition workforce.

“The Space Force, by percentage, has by far the largest acquisitions workforce of any service. Uniformed Guardians in acquisitions roles make up over 49% of our officer corps. At nearly 4,000 strong, our military and civilian acquisition professionals are the center of gravity for delivering combat space capability,” Saltzman said.

“Space acquisitions is one of the most intricate professions on — or off — the planet, and it can take years to master. At the pace the Joint Force is demanding our capabilities, we will need an expert workforce to deliver. So, it’s imperative that we invest in developing our workforce so that all Guardians can effectively play their role in system delivery,” he added.

The announcement also comes after Saltzman told Senate lawmakers earlier this year that the Trump administration’s workforce reduction measures, including the firing of probationary employees and voluntary resignations through the deferred resignation program, were having an “outsized impact” on the Space Force’s civilian workforce.

“I’m worried about replacing that level of expertise in the near term as we try to resolve it and make sure we have a good workforce doing that acquisition,” Saltzman told lawmakers in May.

When asked about the acquisition workforce during a meeting with reporters, Saltzman said voluntary resignation programs and workforce reduction efforts have taken civilian experts “out of play,” leaving gaps in the institutional knowledge and technical skills.

He said the service now has some hiring authorities to fill essential acquisition and contracting roles.

“We went back to [the office of the secretary of defense] and said, ‘We need some waivers here. We need some hiring authorities.’ And for the most part, we got those. Now we’re going back and saying, ‘Now, let’s use this as an opportunity.’ How do we use the hiring authority to put people where we need them?” Saltzman told reporters.