Global Change is a key issue for our times. 100 years ago the planet had a population of around 2B people and a pace of life where we didn't have to anticipate much beyond a few months into the future. Now, as we move towards a future with more than 9B people and a view to an increasingly complex and dynamic Earth, the more important it is to anticipate changes that are coming. That requires current and accurate information that is collected globally, focused regionally, and useful locally. With their unique vantage point in space, Earth observation satellites contribute significantly to monitoring and understanding these changes to our planet, and beyond that, enhancing our ability to forecast significant global change events.

The future of our business - the weather and climate enterprise - with the sectors that rely upon our outputs, is critically dependent on a robust and healthy process that efficiently transition research Earth observation systems to next generation operational systems.

This keynote will address the core capacity targets, challenges, and opportunities on hand for us to collectively advance our national and international capabilities to meet the needs of the 21st Century. That includes recognizing the value and capacity for:

* Operational Earth observation systems over decades

* Prototype research Earth observation systems enabling next

generation operational systems

* Efficiently transitioning research capabilities to operational

capabilities

* Interoperable data access

* EO system data assimilated into weather, climate and hazard

models

* Governments efficiently commissioning Earth observation systems

* Industry and the private sector innovating new technologies and

solutions

* Professional organizations coordinating and communicating

advancements in science and technology

* Systematically increasing capabilities while minimizing costs

Our community is called to work on those things that are vital, compelling, and urgent. "Bridging between Research and Operations" is of priority importance to optimize our Earth observation system objectives. The accomplishments of space systems in understanding global change rely upon the foundation of research successes that become used in the operational realm of day-to-day advanced technology and applications. Now, and into the future, this is an area of urgency to assure the citizenry has the information it needs.