- Acting Air Force Assistant Secretary for Space Acquisition and Integration Thomas Ainsworth issued a memo that finalizes the Space Force’s nine mission-focused PAEs
- Of the nine PAE positions, only four are filled by permanent appointees
- Ainsworth will deliver a keynote, while PAEs Sandhoo and Frazier will join panel discussions at the 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 30
The U.S. Space Force has formally established nine mission-focused portfolio acquisition executives, or PAEs, as part of a major service reorganization to accelerate the development, procurement, fielding and integration of advanced space capabilities, SpaceNews reported Thursday.
A June 22 memorandum signed by Tom Ainsworth, performing the duties of the assistant secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, finalized the nine PAEs and identified the executives who will have broad authorities over their assigned mission areas.
“PAEs are empowered to pursue their assigned missions, build their organization and drive accountability for results with the requisite authorities to capitalize on innovative technology and deliver capabilities,” Ainsworth stated in the memo.
Ainsworth will deliver a keynote at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 30. At the event, the acquisition leader is expected to discuss the Space Force’s transition to the PAE structure and how the reorganization will revolutionize the way it procures commercial technologies. Sign up today to gain insights from Ainsworth and engage with other Air Force and Space Force leaders.
What Are the New Space Force PAEs?
- Space Access, led by Col. Eric Zarybinsky, will oversee civil, commercial and national security launch activities and range sustainment and on-orbit services delivery.
- Space-Based Sensing and Targeting, led by Col. Ryan Frazier, will provide battlespace awareness to terrestrial, maritime and air domains.
- Missile Warning and Tracking, led by Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo, will handle the service’s missile warning, tracking and defense architectures supporting all-domain operations.
- Infrastructure, led by Col. Corey Klopstein, will be in charge of data management, personnel management, and test and training.
- Battle Management, Command, Control, Communication and Space Intelligence, led by Shannon Pallone, will deliver space C2, data, networks, intelligence and space domain awareness.
- Satellite Communications and Positioning, Navigation and Timing, led by Erin Carper, will manage commercial and military satcom and integrated PNT capabilities for joint all-domain operations.
- Advanced Capabilities, led by Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, will be in charge of the development and fielding of advanced capabilities for joint all-domain warfighting operations.
- Electromagnetic Warfare and Cyber, led by William Blauser, will operate systems in the electromagnetic spectrum and cyber domains.
- Space Combat Power, led by Col. Bryon McClain, will advance space warfighting capabilities.
Right now, only four PAE mission areas have permanent leadership. Sandhoo, who also serves as director of the Space Development Agency, was appointed PAE MWT in May. Klopstein, Pallone and Purdy also hold permanent positions. The rest serve as acting PAEs.
All PAEs will report to Troy Meink, secretary of the Air Force and winner of the 2026 Wash100 Award.
Sandhoo and Frazier will join panels on rapidly advancing military technologies and service efforts to build data-centric architectures to secure a decision advantage at the 2026 Air and Space Summit. Limited tickets are available here!
Why Did the Space Force Switch to the PAE Structure?
The reorganization marks the Space Force’s largest overhaul of its acquisition structure since the service was formally created by Congress in 2019. The move aligns with a broader effort by the Department of the Air Force and the Department of War to modernize defense acquisition.
“We’ve delegated probably 90 to 92 percent of contracting authorities down into what we call these portfolio acquisition executives, so that they can make the decisions there, not only for contracting decisions, but also hiring decisions,” Meink shared about DAF’s restructuring in an interview with Air and Space Forces Magazine in June.
“Even though this acquisition transformation and this focus has only been a year or so in, we’re already seeing the benefits and we’re seeing really good performance across the board,” he added.
The establishment of the new PAEs is expected to bring sweeping changes within the Space Force. The House’s fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act includes language that would transfer the authorities of SDA and the Space Rapid Capabilities Office to the new PAEs.
