Tom Jones

Join me, in person or on-line, at AIAA ASCEND for these exciting sessions: MICRO-07: Should Technology Advances Drive Decadal Survey Science or Vice Versa? MICRO-10: Technology Microtrends that are Shaping the Future of Aerospace MICRO-21: What the Success of Spaceborne Optical Communications Means for the Future of Solar System Exploration MICRO-23: Can Large Strategic Science Missions Benefit from Class-D/SmallSat Mission Lesson’s Learned? MICRO-30: AI and Autonomy for Robotic Lunar Rover Surface Exploration SPEC-08: Pickering Lecture: 'Europa Clipper: First NASA Mission to an Ocean World' FL-12: Autonomy to Enable NASA Missions from Aeronautics to Space F360-13: NASA’s Agency and Center Chief Technologists: Technology Maturation and Infusion

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We are excited to connect with space and missile defense industry leaders and colleagues at #SMDSymposium2024! Are you attending the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville, AL August 6th – 8th and interested in learning how we can help assist your agency’s mission critical needs? Stop by Deloitte’s booth (#508) to see the exciting demos below and learn how we are helping our clients address some of the most dynamic and complex challenges facing the Space and Missile Defense community.    ✔️Digital Transformation: Deloitte’s digital transformation solutions foster innovation, providing a technological edge to enable rapid deployment and integration of next-generation technologies.   ✔️Left of Launch: Improve adversary launch warning to tip and cue near-real-time collection using Deloitte’s proprietary GEOINT analytics platform. ✔️Ground Stations as a Service (GSaaS): Experience a cutting-edge solution to ground station infrastructure and data services with Deloitte’s Ground Stations as a Service offering.   ✔️Silent Sentinel: Deloitte’s Silent Sentinel is an on-orbit defensive cyber operations payload developed to deliver cyber awareness and detect capabilities for space assets. ✔️Cyber SCRM: Our Cyber Supply Chain Risk Management solutions provide tools and processes to illuminate the software supply chain monitoring for vulnerabilities and risk.

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Tailoring ASDEFCON contracts to build an effective Support System requires a cross-over of skills and a lot of experience! BiORG are proud to understand how to add value to our clients through careful and innovative contractual frameworks! Selwyn Tran Thomas Ford Scott Davidson David Bianchi Christian Knott Gary Pearce, RP(IPS), CPL, CAAM #biorg #forgingfutures

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Alex Ferrari recently featured me on his "Next Level Soul" podcast to discuss UFOs, UAPs, and their broader implications. During our conversation, we explored the intersection of science and spirituality, emphasizing how our understanding of UFOs and UAPs could influence humanity's spiritual evolution. We discussed the potential ancient connections of these phenomena and how they relate to our current understanding of the cosmos, which might reveal profound truths about our place in the universe. This blend of perspectives aims to bridge the gap between empirical evidence and spiritual inquiry, offering a holistic view of these enigmatic phenomena. #Science #Spirituality #Evolution https://lnkd.in/eThaQcTW

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How would today's Autonomous Flight Termination systems (AFTS) from SpaceX, Blue Origin, ULA, etc. handle a scenario like this? With manned missions we draw the Instantaneous Impacts Points/Lines a bit wider to allow enough time for crew notification, if possible, but the Launch Abort Systems will protect the crew as exemplified in that New Shepard capsule separation a couple of years back. Now from a Public Safety perspective keeping the knowledge and accuracy requirement for the first 2000 ft of flight as tight as it currently is ensures minimum potential damage from a wildly veered off course rocket for whatever reason and enough stoppage distance for the safety ordnance to null as much as possible (powered flight vs physics such as momentum and gravity assisted) the forward motion of the rocket, thus ensuring no harm comes to those on the ground either in a Launch Control Center (LCC) or adjacent viewing areas to these rocket launches that always amaze our kids and us.

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The UAS field is filling at the fastest pace I've seen in my 25 year career. This is just a glimpse at a small sector. https://lnkd.in/eNbpVQ-x

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The latest from Emergent Defense Magazine: Experimenting with Generative A.I. – AFRL approves initiative with proper safeguards 👉 https://lnkd.in/gAN3NZkP The Air Force Research Laboratory, in partnership with the Department of the Air Force Chief Data and AI Office is accelerating the ability of contractors, civilian employees, Guardians and Airmen to responsibly experiment with Generative AI, provided adequate safeguards are in place.

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Great article highlighting how public-private partnerships can be a win for all! Stratolaunch moves at the speed of industry, the DOD obtains a capability needed for our country, and the taxpayer receives an efficient solution without the typical risk burden. Read on! https://lnkd.in/gcdQF7fH

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An excellent article that emphasis capability...people and equipment. Once you have the equipment your only barrier to capability is the thinking of your people. It's the simplest equation in maths you have two variables...why make one a constant? Keeping to the maritime theme..but it applies to all domains. I am often asked if an EW effector is defensive or offensive, it's both. It's how you use it and how many you have. The effector doesn't care or be offended - it just does it's task. The task is upto you. This is why EW trainable launchers, programmable rounds, and persistent active on/offboard EW effectors offer so much in this space that hardkill cannot- deception. Hardkill is interception. When you ask your equipment to be modular adaptable and open to change, but don't change your CONOPS/CONUSE/CONEMP or Doctrine - you've lost the value of your coin, it can only ever have one result when tossed into battle.

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From what I see here, the big take aways here are: 1) Recommend kicking program back to TMRR 2) USAF will be restructuring the program to address the issues that resulted in the NMR I agree with the recommendation to continue this program as it is absolutely critical to the nation's security. It will be interesting to see how things work out from a new baseline and contractual point of view.

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Farewell to Randolph Hall, the site of many formative events in my life, such as: Successfully using finite element analysis to create a structurally sound LNG tank for a hybrid electric vehicle, while simultaneously not being able to construct a suitable prop rod for the vehicle trunk ... details matter. Getting partial credit on tests in one class when the wrong final answer was due to a basic error in the calculations and not a misunderstanding of the topic ... give the benefit of the doubt. Having a professor silence requests from the students to drop their lowest test grades because the lowest grade was "not representative" of overall performance by noting that using that logic, he would also have to drop the highest test grade ... math don't lie (but assumptions do) And last but not least, it was where the ME Dept secretary/mom, Mrs. Reiss, suggested that I should look in to industrial engineering and maybe this "human factors" thing based on my interests in both engineering and psychology. May the bust of Rankine find a wonderful new home where he can continue to taunt students with the promise of good luck for rubbing his nose.

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This book brings together the opportunities for a new naval force structure that I have attempted to describe in various articles in Line of Defence and the Journal of the RNZN. Whether or not the US Navy force structure becomes less carrier centric as advocated by the author, the need for a more numerous, distributed and networked force has been recognised by the previous two Chiefs of Naval Operations. This provides an opportunity for smaller navies to make a meaningful contribution to collective operations with capability that is within their means. I know from experience how little capacity the naval leadership has for reading and study - the day to day struggle to operate within the Board meetings cycle and the breadth of day to day challenges that must be faced tends to put paid to that. But if there is a book I would recommend to those concerned with the next generation fleet, it would be this one. The RNZN must operate across a very broad spectrum, of which combat forms a part, but which includes humanitarian operations, resource and border protection, and environmental science. I believe their are capability options and work force options that enable our navy to be effective across that spectrum, and that the concepts outlined in this book are key enablers.

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Well, now that the cat's out of the bag... In his keynote address at the Small Satellite Conference, 2024, the president of The Aerospace Corporation identified several novel and potentially important technological innovations we're delivering. I'm happy to say that two of these were my concepts, including the Fugacious Thrust Deflector, which allows a single rocket motor to produce a torque for spin stabilization before producing thrust. This will allow spacecraft operators to simply and quickly de-orbit their spacecraft at end-of-life. Another is Autodynamic Flex Circuit. Whereas flex circuits have been around for decades, this advancement allows them to move on their own, creating a new landscape of lightweight, low-cost spacecraft mechanisms and space robotics for servicing and debris mitigation missions as well as many we haven't even dreamed of yet. I'll be delivering the introductory talk on this new technology area tomorrow afternoon. More to come...

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Today, Northrop Grumman and The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies are discussing how they're applying Digital Engineering practices to connect the entire program lifecycle – from engineering, to supply chain, to manufacturing and production. This accelerates the design processes, so they can be faster and more efficient for customers. Learn more about the leading digital transformation efforts at http://ms.spr.ly/6049YjRQh

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For those curious about the Artemis program, here are my thoughts.

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https://lnkd.in/gvSvpdfN Are we asking the right questions? As I read this article, I thought less about whether $20M was enough or not, and more about the recent announcements of WGS-12, AEHF replacement, and MUOS replacement. Near as I can tell, none of these have a requirement for refueling. This despite the stated goal of having all satellites refuellable by 2030. Why is this important? Refueling enables maneuver. Maneuver increases survivability by reducing predictability.  Today we spend fuel in our geostationary satellites to essentially stay right where they are. To be predictable. A predictable target is vulnerable. An asset that can maneuver knowing, thanks to refueling, that it can be replenished is unpredictable and much more difficult to defeat. Just as we have refueling and a logistics chain for our fighter aircraft, our ships at sea, and our ground forces; we must have refueling for our space assets. Finally, while spacecraft acquisitions happen continuously, and fully recognizing that adding requirements makes things more challenging; this is an opportunity to at least study the feasibility of implementing refueling on these assets. The AEHF replacement alone is expected to cost $8B. WGS-12 comes in at $440M.  A qualified, in-space refueling port costs $30K. Why not invest in a study to see how we might add Dynamic Space Operations to these precious National Assets? Our adversaries certainly are (https://bit.ly/3UfWp1O). https://bit.ly/3Qr1Biw https://bit.ly/3Qqc8dE https://bit.ly/3UHcjnC https://bit.ly/3JLszxz John Shaw Jim Bridenstine Daniel Faber Adam Harris Roger Teague C. D. "Boris" Becker Jim Reilly Chris Quilty Sandra Erwin

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Leading the Way in the Space Industry with the U.S. Space Force 🚀🌌 As we continue to advance into the final frontier, the importance of strong leadership in the space industry cannot be overstated. At the U.S. Space Force (USSF), we are pioneering new paths, pushing technological boundaries, and ensuring the security and sustainability of space operations. Leadership in this dynamic field involves more than just strategic vision and technical acumen; it requires resilience, innovation, and a commitment to collaboration. Our mission at STARCOM and across the USSF is not only to protect and defend our assets in space but also to inspire and cultivate the next generation of space leaders. Having worked extensively in Space Control and Electromagnetic Warfare, I've witnessed firsthand the impact of effective leadership. It's about fostering an environment where creativity and critical thinking thrive, where every team member feels empowered to contribute to our collective goals. As we navigate the challenges and opportunities of the evolving space landscape, let us remember that leadership is a journey. It’s about learning, adapting, and growing together. Here’s to those who lead with passion and purpose, guiding us toward a brighter and more secure future in space. #SpaceLeadership #USSpaceForce #InnovationInSpace #SpaceSecurity #LeadershipJourney #STARCOM #SpaceControl #ElectromagneticWarfare

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