Welcome to mtf.tv's DECISION MAKER BRIEFS... your future-proof memo to orient toward infinity (and beyond) with the futurists on the frontlines of building tomorrow... today.
DECISION MAKER BRIEF: GUARDIANS OF THE FUTURE – THE SPACE FORCE AT SIX YEARS OLD. The United States Space Force — America’s newest military service — is quietly securing the domain that underpins modern life: outer space. From GPS timing that powers banking and ride-sharing apps to satellite communications enabling global connectivity, the Guardians protect the invisible infrastructure that runs the world more than two dozen times per day for the average American.
FUTURIST: Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Damon Feltman, CEO, Space Force Association. Retired U.S. Air Force general officer and seasoned space professional with over 30 years of experience in space operations, strategy, and leadership. Previously served as Mobilization Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Space Operations and in key roles overseeing Space Force strategy, $30B budgets, and advanced space programs. Featured on iHeart Media's HELLO FUTURE with host Kevin Cirilli, founder of MTF.tv.
INFLECTION POINT: Just six years after its creation in 2019, the Space Force is emerging as a distinct service with its own unique Guardian culture — one focused not on traditional human-to-human conflict, but on securing the domain of space and delivering critical capabilities to the joint force and the nation.
The Guardians operate military satellites, provide GPS, global communications, missile warning, and other essential services that have become foundational to both military operations and everyday civilian life. A small team of operators — average age just 26 — runs the entire U.S. GPS constellation from a single room in Colorado Springs, delivering the precise positioning and timing signals that underpin banking, navigation, communications, and countless modern conveniences.
WHY YOU CARE: Space is no longer just “up there.” It is the invisible backbone of liberal democracies and the global economy. The modern world is tightly interwoven with space-based technologies. Without secure access to space, everything from your smartphone scooter app to national defense systems slows or stops. As strategic competitors like China and Russia seek to deny or supplant U.S. advantages in space, the Space Force and its Guardians are on the frontlines of ensuring America maintains leadership in this critical domain. For decision makers, this means understanding the growing importance of space in national security, economic competitiveness, and technological progress — and the binary choice of governance models that will shape humanity’s future in orbit.
The Space Force Association exists to champion a strong Space Force, uplift Guardians, and unite public and private sectors in support of U.S. space power.
NEAR-TERM CATALYSTS (0–36 MONTHS)
- Next 3–12 months: Continued growth of the young Space Force as it builds its distinct culture and operational identity separate from its Air Force roots. Space Force Association under new leadership focuses on educating the public, supporting Guardians’ personal and professional development, and strengthening ties between military, industry, and academia.
- Next 6–18 months: Advancements in training tools like virtual reality for satellite operations, alongside rapid evolution of space technologies including edge computing, space-based solar power experiments, and in-space manufacturing. Heightened focus on recruiting and retaining technically skilled Guardians for complex, remote orbital missions.
- 2026–2028: Increased public awareness efforts about the Space Force’s role in protecting both military capabilities and civilian infrastructure. Bipartisan national security space priorities remain a rare area of cooperation in Washington. Early signals on how the service scales to meet growing demands from AI, quantum technologies, and commercial space expansion.
HORIZON SCAN (3–10+ YEARS) By 2030–2035 and beyond, space will be even more deeply integrated into daily life and global power dynamics. Expect continued leaps in space-based cloud and edge computing, solar power transmission, advanced pharmaceuticals and materials manufactured in microgravity, and agriculture optimized through space data. The Space Force’s mission to secure the domain will determine whether the model extended into space reflects Western liberal democratic principles — open norms, responsible behavior, and shared prosperity — or authoritarian alternatives. Success depends on sustaining technological edge, fostering innovation, and building a resilient Guardian culture capable of operating systems that are often invisible yet essential. As one expert frames it, we may already be in the Fifth Industrial Revolution, driven by space-enabled interconnectivity.
MARKET SIGNALS
- Space is the new high ground: The domain is contested. Adversaries are developing capabilities to deny access, making domain security a core national priority.
- Guardian culture advantage: Highly selective recruiting and technical training create a force comfortable with complex, remote problem-solving — a model that may influence future military and commercial space workforces.
- Technology acceleration: Virtual reality, AI-enabled operations, and in-space capabilities are dramatically improving how Guardians train and operate. Commercial synergies in manufacturing, energy, and computing will drive dual-use innovation.
- Public understanding gap: Most Americans underestimate how often they rely on space. Bridging that awareness gap is a near-term priority for the Space Force Association to sustain support and talent pipelines.
- Bipartisan foundation: The Space Force was created with strong cross-party backing — a model for enduring national security space policy amid rapid technological change.
-- Kevin Cirilli, founder, meet the future (mtf.tv)
