Space Force names Sandhoo as head of new missile warning/tracking PAE
WASHINGTON ― The Space Force today formally announced the appointment of Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo as head of its new Missile Warning and Tracking Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) office, as previously first reported by Breaking Defense
Sandhoo will stay on in his role leading the Space Development Agency, but will be elevated from his current position as acting director to permanent director, the agency said in a press release today. According to the release, Sandhoo took on the dual-hated roles May 11.
“GP brings a wealth of experience to this position and is already jumping into his new program acquisition executive responsibilities,” Thomas Ainsworth, who is performing the duties of Air Force assistant secretary for space acquisition and integration, said in the release. “This effort reflects a renewed focus on aligning authorities with accountability, and a strategic commitment to accomplish the global missile warning and tracking mission.”
In addition, Michael Eppolito, the SDA’s current acting deputy director and chief program officer, will become the SDA deputy director.
The Space Force announced the creation of the Missile Warning and Tracking PAE office on March 17. It will encompass SDA’s Tracking Layer of satellites in low Earth orbit, and the two flagship efforts by Space Systems Command:
- The Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) constellation, which will be comprised of two satellites in geosynchronous Earth orbit and two in polar orbit. Next-Gen OPIR is being developed to replace the six operational Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) satellites; and
- The Resilient Missile Warning and Tracking (MWT) Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) program, that will be optimized for tracking hypersonic missiles.
Gurpartap Sandhoo was appointed as the head of the Missile Warning and Tracking Portfolio Acquisition Executive office by the Space Force on May 11. He will also continue in his role as the permanent director of the Space Development Agency. This new office aims to enhance missile tracking capabilities, overseeing the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared constellation and the Resilient Missile Warning and Tracking program.
- Gurpartap Sandhoo appointed as head of Missile Warning and Tracking PAE office.
- Sandhoo will continue leading the Space Development Agency as permanent director.
- The Missile Warning and Tracking PAE office was created to enhance missile tracking capabilities.
- The office will oversee the Next-Gen OPIR constellation and MWT Medium Earth Orbit program.
- The announcement reflects a strategic commitment to global missile warning and tracking.