Acquisition: How Congress Can Support the Space Force

This blog post for Elara Nova: The Space Consultancy discusses how an alignment of legislative policy and funding from Congress can strategically support the Space Force acquisition process. Two recent demonstrations support the benefits of this alignment: the “Victus Nox” Tactically Responsive Space mission and the Tranche 0 launches of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.

The subject matter expert providing perspective on this piece is:

  • Sarah Mineiro, former staff lead for the Strategic Forces Subcommittee for the House Armed Service Committee (HASC)

The full article can be found by clicking the link below.

Transforming National Security Space Acquisition Starts with Congress

Closing the Lithium Loop in Nevada

This morning I was featured as a guest of KNPR Nevada Public Radio’s “State of Nevada” program to discuss the emerging lithium industry in the state. As home to the only lithium deposits in the United States, Nevada already serves as a starting point for the lithium industry with mining operations to extract the mineral in the state. Nevada also has an end-user market for the lithium being extracted with respect to the growing electric vehicle market.

However, it’s the “missing middle” of critical mineral processing, refining, and battery recycling that can close the “lithium loop” and secure a fully domestic supply chain for lithium in the United States.

Joining me as guests during the roundtable discussion were:

  • Caleb Cage, Executive Director of the Nevada Battery Coalition
  • Mason Voehl, Executive Director of The Amargosa Conservancy

You can listen to the program here.

Vanadium and Grid-Scale Storage

In this audio de-brief for the Sierra Nevada Ally, the nature of vanadium and it’s role as a critical mineral is explored. Vanadium has been of strategic importance in industrial and aerospace industries.

Now, the Gibellini Vanadium Project, a proposed mine overseen by Nevada Vanadium, may be coming online as soon as 2024 and would be the first domestic mine in the United States that will primarily extract vanadium. This development comes at a time when a new market is emerging for vanadium: long-duration, grid-scale storage.

For this story, I interviewed the following subject matter experts:

  • Ron Espell, president of Nevada Vanadium
  • Terry Perlis, director of U.S. Vanadium

Listen in using the Spotify link below or by searching for the “Sierra Nevada Ally” wherever you get your podcasts!

Vanadium as a Critical Mineral Catalyst

This written piece for the Sierra Nevada Ally explores the nature of vanadium and why it’s listed as a critical mineral by the United States Geological Survey. Known for its capacity to strengthen steel with minimal amounts, vanadium has played a historically important role for industrial and aerospace applications.

Now, a new vanadium mine in Eureka County, Nevada, has received approval from the Bureau of Land Management. The Gibellini Vanadium Project, overseen by Nevada Vanadium, may be coming online at a time when a new market is emerging for vanadium: long-duration, grid-scale storage.

For this story, I interviewed the following subject matter experts:

  • Ron Espell, president of Nevada Vanadium
  • Terry Perlis, director of U.S. Vanadium

The full story can be found by clicking the link below.

Vanadium: A Critical Mineral Catalyst for Grid-Scale Storage

Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve Development

In this latest written piece for Elara Nova: The Space Consultancy, I analyzed the emerging Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve (CASR) program for the United States Space Force. With the intention of bridging the gap between military requirements and commercial capability, CASR is designed to enable the Space Force to use space-based commercial assets in the event of a national security emergency.

As a subject matter expert for this piece, I interviewed:

  • Major General Roger Teague (Ret.) former Director of Space Programs for the United States Air Force, former vice president of Space Intelligence and Missile Defense at the Boeing Company, former chief executive officer of the PredaSAR Corporation, and founding partner of Elara Nova.

The full written story can be found by clicking the link below!

The Space Force CASR Framework: Bridging Military Requirements and Commercial Capability

Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture

In this Insight piece with Elara Nova: The Space Consultancy, founding partner Mike Dickey describes the progression of the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. This thought leadership article describes the traditional approach to the missile warning mission for the Pentagon and how that has evolved to the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture being put in place today.

In addition to in-depth research, I spoke with Elara Nova’s subject matter expert in this topic:

  • Mike Dickey, founding partner at Elara Nova and former Chief Architect of the US Space Force

The full story can be found by clicking the link below!

Revolutionizing Missile Warning: The Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture

Transportation Electrification in the Intermountain West

In this story written for the Sierra Nevada Ally, I explored the electrification of the transportation sector in Nevada and the Intermountain West region. This story was prompted by the release of the Transportation Electrification Scorecard by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

To frame this story, I analyzed Nevada’s ranking in the scorecard and the influences factoring into its ranking. This included understanding various programs, such as Greenlink Nevada and the REV West Plan, which have been implemented by the state and its regional partners.

As the subject matter experts featured in this story, I interviewed:

The full story as published can be viewed by clicking the link below!

Electrifying the Transportation Sector in the Intermountain West

AI in Space

The space warfighting domain is particularly relevant for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. In this thought leadership piece written for Elara Nova: The Space Consultancy, I discover the broad use-case applications for AI in the space-based mission.

In this report, I interview the following subject matter expert:

  • Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Kim Crider, USSF’s first Chief Technology Innovation Officer

The full written report can be read by clicking the link below!

The AI Advantage for National Security Space

Rural Nevada and Renewable Energy

In the following report for the Sierra Nevada Ally and it’s partner station KNVC 95.1 in Carson City, NV, I explore the complex but intricate relationship between renewable energy development and rural communities in the state of Nevada.

As subject matter experts on this topic, I interviewed the following individuals:

  • Kevin Emmerich, co-founder of Basin and Range Watch
  • Laura Cunningham, California Director of Western Watersheds Project and co-founder of Basin and Range Watch
  • Lucas Ingvoldstad, State Director of Nevada for USDA Rural Development

The full audio story can be found wherever you get your podcasts or by clicking the on the Spotify link below!