The Department of Defense established on Thursday the office of the assistant secretary of defense for space policy in accordance with the fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act.
Justin Johnson, who was named acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for space policy in late August, will perform the duties of ASD for space policy until a permanent assistant secretary is nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, DoD said Friday.
The assistant secretary of defense for space policy will be under the purview of the DoD undersecretary for policy and will oversee the department’s policy for space warfighting, interagency coordination and international relations on space strategy and policy.
The creation of the new position “is a change of the civilian oversight of the space enterprise that aligns with the establishment of the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command,” said David Norquist, deputy defense secretary and a 2020 Wash100 Award winner.
Gregory Pejic, a special assistant to Norquist, will carry out the duties of the principal deputy ASD for space policy until an individual is named permanently to the post.
