Delta 7, 9 teams participate in USSPACECOM competition

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Kristen Shimkus
  • Peterson-Schriever Garrison Public Affairs

Members from Space Delta’s 7 and 9 participated in the inaugural Develop Innovate Visualize and Execute competition, a U.S. Space Command innovation initiative, which concluded Dec. 18.

The D.I.V.E competition began Nov. 10 and was a five-week event among service members from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, U.S. Army and allied nations. USSPACECOM challenged teams to create an innovative concept to explore the question, “How do we develop space warfighting leaders?”

“Here at the United States Space Command our goal is to become the leader for warfighting innovation,” said Lt. Col. James Peterson, Director, Strategic Initiatives Group, USSPACECOM. “We wanted to create an environment where people can unleash their creativity.”

One team representing Delta 7 and one team representing Delta 9 competed against four other teams for a chance to win $10,000 towards prototyping their concept for real-world implementation.

The Delta 7 team’s innovative concept was “Starfleet Academy,” a virtual schoolhouse. Part of their design process was to partner with professional culture catalysts to initiate working groups and then to generate a Space Force Warrior’s Code book and beta classes to be used at the Academy.

“This is just the beginning,” said Capt. Andrew Marin, the Delta 7 team leader. “Our big idea can only happen if we invest the time now to build a culture that fits the warfighter’s code.”

The Delta 9 team’s innovative concept was “Project Bifrost,” a new formal development path for all leaders. The point of their development plan was to give diversity of experience more value as a Space Force member (enlisted or officer) progresses throughout their career. The team called for expanding opportunities for non-space operators to hold command within the space force and drastically expanding career broadening and exchange opportunities available to space operators.

“Leadership development takes years, even decades,” said Capt. Chris Fabian, a member of the Delta 9 team. “Communicating a blueprint early on is important, but long-term commitment to the model is what success relies on.”

Brig. Gen. Brook Leonard, Chief of Staff, USSPACECOM, announced the U.S. Army Satellite Operations Brigade as the winner of the challenge and the $10,000 prize.

During the evaluation announcement, Leonard encouraged all participants to continue their work and to stay in touch.

“We must keep working together and making revolutionary leaps in capability to stay ahead of our adversaries and make sure we continue to protect the American way of life,” Leonard said.