CMSgt Simmons talks space at the Baltic Defense College

Chief Master Sgt. Jacob Simmons, Senior Enlisted Leader, Space Operations Command, stands with the Baltic Defense College Command Senior Enlisted Leader Course Class of 2022 in Tartu, Estonia on Nov. 4, 2022. While there, Simmons presented a lecture emphasizing space as an element in multidimensional warfare. This course is preparing 24 SELs from 17 NATO nations to elevate their ability and credibility to lead alongside allied forces more effectively through all phases of operations. (Courtesy photo)

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CMSgt Simmons talks space at the Baltic Defense College

Published Nov. 8, 2022
By SpOC Public Affairs
Space Operations Command

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Chief Master Sgt. Jacob Simmons, Senior Enlisted Leader, Space Operations Command, presented a lecture emphasizing space as an element in multidimensional warfare at the Baltic Defence College’s Command Senior Enlisted Leader Course in Tartu, Estonia on Nov. 4, 2022.

The Baltic Defence College, is at the forefront of professional military education, ensuring graduates are well prepared to meet challenges presented in today’s dynamic environment. Command Senior Enlisted Course participants have attained the highest enlisted military rank in their nation’s armed forces and have positions supporting and advising their nation’s highest ranking general officers.

“The aim of the Command Senior Enlisted Leader’s Course is to prepare command Senior Enlisted Leaders to effectively advise, support and enhance strategic level leadership’s decision making,” said
Sgt. Maj. Peeter Einbaum, CSELC Director. “This specific course is posturing 24 senior global warfighters from 17 NATO nations to elevate their ability and credibility to lead beyond their formations and alongside allied forces more effectively through all phases of operations, and from regional, national, geopolitical, technological, and environmental angles of influence.”

Simmons relayed how space underpins the modern way of life, how it’s now a fundamental element of multidimensional warfare, and described capabilities the Space Force presents to USSPACECOM and other combatant commands.

“As great power competition extends up to space and out through cyberspace, great power understanding and great power relationships at the edge of execution will be foundational to preserving our modern way of life, and if necessary, projecting a modern way of warfare to defend it,” said Simmons. “This will take the ‘whole of world’ effort that this peer experience is shaping.”

Simmons stated that shared dependencies on freedom of access to space and in space are now being challenged by multiple threats, and in response requires globally unified partnerships to shape acceptable norms of the future in space.

“The great power competitive edge is sharpened by the Baltic nations’ efforts to build and field highly-skilled, well-informed Senior Noncommissioned Officers,” said Simmons. “Their discussion-based development series is the exact type of quantum advancement now necessary to lead through great power competition in Space, and the investment they are making in enlisted professional military education is an exemplar which will undoubtedly elevate the sustainability, safety, stability and security of all domains.”

The opportunities for Command Senior Enlisted Leaders, from across the NATO alliance and partner nations, to experience high-level strategic briefings and share experiences, broaden their collective depth of understanding and interoperability.

“This experience has been vital in expanding the CSEL’s perspective beyond their country’s education models and better prepares us to advise our respective commanders moving forward,” said U.S. Navy Command Master Chief Ben Hodges, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Staff Command Master Chief and sole student participant from the United States. “As CSELs, having a comprehensive understanding of the alliance, the strategic opportunities and challenges of each nation, is invaluable.”