U.S. Air Force Space Weather O2R Priorities (Invited Presentation)

The U.S. Air Force is responsible for ensuring the timely provision of operational space weather observations, analyses, forecasts, and warnings to support the missions of the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, and Coalition Partners. Space weather capabilities required to support the future needs of the joint warfighting community are based on demand signals from the formal acquisition and science and technology (S&T) processes, operator inputs, national policy and strategy, and adversary capability development. Providing relevant mission-tailored products for DOD operations requires not only improving space weather models, but also modernizing observing systems, developing user-specific impact tools and decision aids, and improving alignment and integration of space weather experts within the operational community. This presentation will provide an overview of Air Force space weather priorities for O2R transition based on national policy guidance and end-user requirements for future missions and operations.