Mission Operations & Logistics

Centralized systems offer speed and convenience, but during a conflict, they’re a target; decentralizing logistics can blunt adversaries while providing advantage for the U.S.

Rows of vehicles and crates stretch as far as the eye can see—every Humvee, spare part, and weapons case a building block in the Army’s ability to fight. It looks like a warehouse, but it’s more than that; it’s the backbone of combat readiness. Each item represents time, money, and mission-critical capability—but only if the Army knows exactly where it is, its condition, and who is accountable for it.

In today’s competitive defense environment, supply chain performance is as decisive as firepower. Resilient, adaptive supply chains deny adversaries leverage by ensuring the continuous ability to generate and sustain combat power. Every weapon system—aircraft, ground vehicles, and naval platforms alike—relies on a robust industrial base that spans manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and repair nodes to maintain the steady flow of parts, materials, and logistics.

Government agencies such as NASA and the U.S. Space Force pursue bold scientific and defense missions in orbit. At the same time, commercial ventures like SpaceX and Blue Origin demonstrate that space is no longer the sole domain of government—it is rapidly becoming a viable arena for commerce. To unlock the full promise of this new space economy, we must recognize that logistics is the foundation—and that sustainable progress depends on innovative partnerships between the public and private sectors.

Space is central to the Golden Dome strategy, but the fight does not begin or end in orbit. The battlefield stretches across land, sea, air, and cyberspace, where U.S. systems are contested daily by adversaries who innovate quickly, exploit vulnerabilities, and adapt faster than legacy defenses can respond.To stay ahead, Golden Dome must also take root on the ground. Securing the terrestrial domain must be a mission requirement. Protecting the homeland, defending U.S. forces, and deterring tomorrow’s threats demands a multi-domain shield that is resilient, adaptive, and free from the limits of yesterday’s systems.