Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      AF releases results of Space Launch Process reviewPublished March 23, 2015
                    
                    By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
            **WASHINGTON (AFNS) --**The Air Force announced March 23, that the phase one results of the independent review panel tasked by Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James to review the process for certifying SpaceX as an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) provider.
“To ensure we are fully capitalizing on our joint lessons learned, I directed an independent review of our certification process,” James said. “Our goal was to assess not only our current processes but also to recommend improvements.” 
Phase one of the review was accomplished between January and March 2015 and included in-depth discussions with key personnel at the Space and Missile Systems Center and SpaceX, as well as an examination of certification documents and data.
The panel recommended ways that the Air Force’s New Entrant Certification Team could better focus the process on the new entrant's ability to deliver qualified hardware, support, and processes to meet requirements. As a result of this review, the Air Force and SpaceX will revise the June 2013 Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to immediately adopt these recommendations.
“I appreciate the hard work of the independent review panel,” stated Lt. Gen. Sam Greaves, the Space and Missile Systems Center commander. “We look forward to implementing their recommendations immediately and achieving certification as soon as possible. I continue to applaud the hard work by the combined SpaceX and government certification team.”
The Air Force and SpaceX have worked closely to identify and plan to close remaining open items. A relatively small amount of work remains, primarily focused on second stage engine and fairing qualification and contamination control. By implementing these changes to the certification process and assuming work progresses as predicted, both parties continue to remain on course to provide certification by June 2015. 
“We are in full agreement with the review team, and I thank them for their diligent and prompt review of our certification processes,” James said. “To remain the best Air Force on the planet, we are firmly committed to bold innovation, competitive space launches, and improved partnership with industry. I look forward to continuing to work with SpaceX on this final portion of our certification effort.”
According to Elon Musk, the CEO and lead designer, “SpaceX welcomes the Air Force’s decision to review and revise the process which will govern the certification of new entrants. We share the Air Force’s view that the national security of the U.S. will be strengthened by increasing competition in the EELV program.”
Retired Gen. Larry Welch, the 12th chief of staff of the Air Force and lead panelist of the independent review team, now moves on to phase two of the review. This phase focuses on a deeper review of the overarching New Entrant Certification process. This review will continue with an eye toward certifying new entrants as efficiently as possible, without sacrificing the laser focus on mission success that has led to the unprecedented record in the EELV program. Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF, CSAF, CMSAF begin Indo-Pacific trip focused on ACE
                    
                    DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fightInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil