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Maj. Gen. Purdy highlights Space Force’s acquisition transformation successes
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AFNS) -- During the Space Foundation’s 41st Space Symposium, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition Maj. Gen. Stephen G. Purdy, Jr., highlighted recent wins from acquisition transformation in his keynote, April 15.
Speaking to Guardians and industry leaders, Purdy emphasized the importance of accelerating acquisition models, noting that space acquisition processes have pivoted from planning to doing and are keenly focused on delivering integrated, resilient warfighting capabilities with deliberate speed and unwavering accountability.
“It’s not enough as acquirers or industry to deliver a satellite, a software piece — you have to deliver the integrated warfighting capability,” Purdy said.
He then highlighted a variety of recent capabilities that underwent operational acceptance, the formal acquisition transition of a defense capability to operational use.
First, was the Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System, which is modernizing how the Space Force tracks, analyzes and protects space operations.
Since ATLAS was operationally accepted in September 2025, it has enabled the Space Force to process more than 170 launches, 763 decays, two fragmentations, catalog more than 2,800 objects, process at least 474 re-entries and generate more than 22.4 million orbital element sets.
“[ATLAS] was a critical function for the recent Artemis launch, protecting our astronauts, as they were doing a lunar flyby,” Purdy stressed.
Purdy then noted how acquisition transformation has also had a big impact on how the service schedules operations. The Advanced Scheduling Tool, which was operationally accepted in November 2025 after 33 years, replaced a legacy paper-based system that then freed up talent to focus on other priority programs.
Other recently accepted programs mentioned included the Enhanced Polar System, the Rocket Systems Launch Program, Federal Augmentation Services, the Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution, the Remote Modular Terminal and more.
However, the acquisition transformation hasn’t only increased delivered capabilities, it’s also helped the department adjust programs to have “a speed mindset.”
As an example of the new speed mindset, Purdy shared the success of the Space Warfighting Operational Readiness Domain.
When a unit in the department was tasked with developing SWORD to help digitize the range, they overhauled their plan in two months, got new contracts in place, and only three months later, partnered with industry to get a highly classified system in play and operational.
Another success was the Ground Based Radar Digitization, which went from creation to approval in less than six months by embracing the acquisition transformation.
The Space-Based Interceptor and the National Security Space Launch were also applauded for embracing speed.
He concluded by reminding listeners that this wasn’t a whole-encompassing list of the acquisition wins, just a short “rapid fire” of what was achieved recently.
“We know space acquisition is important,” Purdy said. “We are supporting major military operations that require us to deliver with speed and discipline because lives depend on it.”