Trump launches `Space Force' policy

President Donald Trump has asked Congress to create the Space Force, a sixth branch of the military that would operate semi-independently within the U.S. Air Force.

In a policy directive signed Tuesday, the president outlined milestones and goals for the new domain, including the creation of a budget and integration with other military branches inside the Department of Defense.

If his plan succeeds, Oklahoma's aerospace industry could feel the effects of a new, mobilizing force aimed at the sky. Vince Howie, who over sees aerospace and defense business development for the Oklahoma Commerce Department, noted that Oklahoma's existing infrastructure could help the Pentagon reach its goals.

“The manufacturing of the hardware for the Space Force — components of that could be in the state because we have so much aerospace manufacturing that goes on here,” Howie said.

Oklahoma also is home to the U.S. Air Force's maintenance, repair and overhaul operation at Tinker Air Force Base and has the only certified spaceport in the country where flight paths wouldn't cross restricted airspace. A member of the state board that oversees the spaceport in Burns Flat, Don Wetekam, acknowledged the role Oklahoma could play but said there are still a lot of unknowns.

For Wetekam, who also is a director at the state Department of Commerce, it' s too early to know how closely the different military command groups will work with each other and whether the Space Force would use the Air Force's infrastructure.

“It's certainly not a negative, and it could be a positive,” he said.

Before anything else, however, the plan must make it through a Congress that includes the Democratic-led

House of Representatives.

Oklahoma Congresswoman Kendra Horn said Wednesday that space is becoming increasingly contested, with allies and adversaries making considerable investments.

“With this increased activity, there is a real need for re alignment in our national security space assets,” said Horn,

“In my role as vice chair of the House Armed Services' Strategic Forces subcommittee and chairwoman of the subcommittee on space and aeronautics, I am in a unique position in Congress to address this important issue. I look forward to learning more about the details of the proposal and shaping our nation's national security space infrastructure.”

Oklahoma Congresswoman Kendra Horn

D-Oklahoma City. “The impact of these changes on Oklahoma remains to be seen. But the aerospace industry is a critical component of our workforce and economy.

“In my role as vice chair of the House Armed Services' Strategic Forces subcommittee

and chairwoman of the subcommittee on space and aeronautics, I am in a unique position in Congress to address this important issue. I look forward to learning more about the details of the proposal and shaping our nation's national security space infrastructure.”

Before serving in Congress, Horn managed government affairs and communications for t he Space Foundation, a nonprofit organization, in the mid- and late 2000s.