Navy Space includes two groups of personnel: 1) Maritime Space Officer (MSO), and 2) Space Cadre.
Maritime Space Officers (MSOs) are the Navy’s space operations professionals, tasked with integrating joint space capabilities into maritime plans and operations. The Maritime Space Officer community resides within the larger Information Warfare community with its own distinct designator: 1870. MSO community is built through the lateral transfer process with billets ranging from O4 to O6. MSOs fill space planning and operations billets at Fleet Maritime Operations Centers (MOCs), joint commands, the intelligence community, naval warfighting development centers, the Naval War College, and staff positions to support operations.
Space Cadre is a term used to describe personnel who possess a space operations or space acquisition Additional Qualification Designator (AQD). These individuals remain within their source community and are subject to their community requirements. The space AQD signifies that they have some level of space education, training and experience integrating space capabilities. The space AQDs are:
- VS5 - VS8 (“Space Officer - Operations, Basic” through “Space Officer – Operations, Level 3”)
- VR1 - VR3 (“Space Officer – Acquisition, Level 1” through “Space Officer – Acquisition, Level 3”)
SPACE AQD-CODED BILLETS AND DETAILING
Space Operations-related Billets:
Navy has tagged 243 space operations-related billets, primarily at MOCs, afloat staffs, and joint organizations, with a space operations AQD, VS5 through VS8. This billet AQD shows the need for space-related experience for personnel filling these billets.
Space Acquisition-related Billets:
Navy has tagged 68 space acquisition-related billets, primarily at the NAVWAR Space Field Activity and PEO-C4I, with a space acquisition AQD, VR1 through VR3.
Detailing:
Orders for personnel detailed to a billet tagged with a space AQD, operations or acquisition, are routed through the space placement officer within PERS-47. The space placement officer schedules enroute space training when possible – dependent upon PCS timing, class quota availability and priority. If enroute space training does not show in your orders to a space-AQD coded billet, you may attempt to attend space training after you arrive at your new Command.
Orders to a space AQD-coded billet will contain language stating that the member must attain VS5 within 24 months of reporting to the command.
SPACE AQD APPLICATION PROCESS
Space AQDs are designated by the VS (space operations) or VR (space acquisition) prefix followed by a number. Refer to the Manual of Navy Officer Manpower and Personnel Classifications (NAVPERS 15839I) for updated Space Cadre qualifying criteria.
The following requirements must be met in order to attain the SPACE OFFICER BASIC (VS5) AQD:
1. Complete NAVEDTRA 43360-1B - Space Officer Basic PQS which includes the completion of at least one of the following education/training courses:
- NSSI - Space 200; A-531-0200
- 319 Combat Training Squadron (319 CTS) - Space Warfighter Prep Course (SWPC); A-531-1119
- Naval Space Operations Course (NSOC); A-531-0500
- Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) Space Systems Certificate (Distance Learning program)
- NSSI - Introduction to Space (online); A-531-1120
2. Possess at least 1-year of space operations experience (18 months for Navy Reservist).
3. Submit an official request to the NAVIFOR Space Advisor. Request shall contain the following:
- Request Memo
- Command Endorsement
- Training course certificate
- Space PQS completion page (p.89)
- FITREP(s) to verify space operations experience
Scan/email the documents above to the NAVIFOR Space Advisor.
Navy Space Advisor: CDR Phil Saulnier
ORGANIZATION: NAVIFOR
Email: philip.r.saulnier.mil@us.navy.mil
Subspecialty Codes for Space
Subspecialty codes (SSP) identify officers who have advanced education, functional training and/or significant experience in a particular area of expertise, such as space. They assist with officer billet assignments and reflect achievements in professional development. Active duty officers can be granted the 5500P (Space Systems Engineering) and 6206P (Space Systems Operations) SSPs for Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) Space Systems Master’s Degree programs. Descriptions of SSPs and AQDs can be found in the Manual of Navy Officer Manpower and Personnel Classifications (NAVPERS 15839I).
Graduate Education
NPS offers two in-residence degree programs directly aligned with Navy Space subspecialty codes. Curriculum 366 (Space Systems Operations) and Curriculum 591 (Space Systems Engineering) satisfy the requirements for the 6206P and 5500P subspecialty codes, respectively. The NPS space program curricula and research are managed by the NPS Space Systems Academic Group (SSAG).
NPS also offers a Space Systems Fundamentals Certificate and other distance learning courses for graduate credit.
For additional information please refer to the SSAG's website: http://nps.edu/web/ssag
Training Opportunities
1. The National Security Space Institute (NSSI) provides joint space education to Space Force, US Space Command, and other joint customers. Below are the NSSI courses in which the Navy has quotas:
- Introduction to Space – Online
- Space 100
- Space 200
- Space 300
- Space Executive Course
NSSI web page: https://nssi.spaceforce.mil/
Active Duty: Contact Mr. Ross Reeder (donald.reeder.1@us.af.mil) or CAPT Cory Brummett (cory.brummett@us.af.mil) for availability or questions.
Navy Reserve: Contact Navy Reserve Space Cadre Advisor, CDR Eric Rubenstein (eric.p.rubenstein.mil@us.navy.mil)
2. The US Space Force 319th Combat Training Squadron (319 CTS) provides the following joint space training which Navy has annual quotas:
- Space Warfighter Prep Course (SWPC)
Active Duty: Contact Mr. Ross Reeder (donald.reeder.1@us.af.mil) or CAPT Cory Brummett (719-556-3780, cory.brummett@us.af.mil) for availability or questions. Navy Reserve: Contact Navy Reserve Space Cadre Advisor, CDR Eric Rubenstein (eric.p.rubenstein.mil@us.navy.mil)
3. Naval Space Operations Course (NSOC) mobile training team
Contact Mr. John Herron for scheduling.
IMPORTANT POINTS OF CONTACT
Navy Space Advisor: LCDR Phil Saulnier
ORGANIZATION: NAVIFOR
Email: philip.r.saulnier.mil@us.navy.mil
Navy LNO to the Space Education & Training Center (SETC): CAPT Cory Brummett
ORGANIZATION: NAVIFOR-Colorado (Peterson Space Force Base)
Email: cory.brummett@us.af.mil
PERS-47 Space Placement: Ms. Trina Reynolds
ORGANIZATION: NPC / PERS-47
Email: trina.l.reynolds.civ@us.navy.mil
Reserve Space Cadre Lead: CAPT Jacob "Toss" Schmitter
ORGANIZATION: CNIFR (N9S)
Email: jacob.d.schmitter.mil@us.navy.mil
Reserve Space Cadre Advisor: CDR Eric Rubenstein
ORGANIZATION: CNIFR
Email: eric.p.rubenstein.mil@us.navy.mil
OPNAV/N2N6 Space Branch Head: CAPT Steve Sollon
ORGANIZATION: OPNAV / N2N6WS
Email: steve.j.sollon.mil@us.navy.mil
OPNAV/N2N6 Space Deputy Branch Head: Mr. Steve Sinclair
ORGANIZATION: OPNAV / N2N6WS
Email: steven.r.sinclair.civ@us.navy.mil
Commanding Officer, NAVWAR Space Field Activity (NSFA): CAPT Chris Morgan, USN
ORGANIZATION: NRO SSFA
Email: morgchri@nro.mil
Naval Post-Graduate School / Space Systems Program Officer: Mr. Steve Tackett
ORGANIZATION: NPS Space Systems Academic Group
Email: shtacket@nps.edu
MSO OCM/Detailer Contacts
MSO Officer Community Manager
BUPERS-317S
(901) 874-2846
DSN (312) 882-2846
IWC Email
MSO Detailer
PERS-471
(901) 874-4208
DSN (312) 882-4208