Image: Marc Berkowitz at Senate confirmation hearing (screenshot)
What’s new: The Hon. Mark J. Berkowitz is the new Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy.
Why it’s important:
- Mr. Berkowitz is well versed on GPS vulnerability and other PNT issues. In 2024 he authored an excellent paper “America’s Asymmetric Vulnerability to Navigation Warfare: Leadership and Strategic Direction Needed to Mitigate Significant Threats.”
- The paper included the need to establish one or more complementary and backup systems for the U.S.
- It also discussed that China and Russia have terrestrial backups for satnav and the huge strategic advantages it gives them over the U.S.
What else to know:
- He is not a newcomer to navigating the complexities of the Pentagon. He has served in or worked with the department for years, dating back to the Clinton administration when he was Assistant Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Space Policy.
- Prior to assuming his current duties Marc was a member of the board of advisors for RNTF member organization National Security Space Association (NSSA), and a researcher/author at their Moorman Center.
- When asked about his priorities at his confirmation hearing, Berkowitz said “The first is addressing the national security policy issues required to enable us to deal effectively and urgently with the pace, scope, and complexity of space and missile threats.”
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy
The ASD for Space Policy (SP) will be the senior official responsible for the overall supervision of DoD policy for space warfighting. The ASD(SP) will be under the authority, direction, and control of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USD(P)). In addition, ASD(SP) is responsible for interagency coordination and international engagement on space policy and strategy.
(DoD site still being updated to reflect Berkowitz’s appointment)
