8866 - Space Operations Officer

Summary

Space Operations Officers are tasked with representing the Marine Corps interest in national security space matters, to include participating in the development of space plans, policy, doctrine, and requirements.

Space Operations Officers will be expected to make recommendations to decision makers regarding the employment of space systems in support of operational plans, the acquisition of space systems, and the development of space architectures to support Marine Corps needs.

Prerequisites

Security requirement: SCI security clearance eligibility.

Must have a current T5 investigation and adjudicated for SCI eligibility.

Requirements

Complete the Space Systems Operations curriculum number 366 (Space Systems Operations) or curriculum number 591 (Space Systems Engineering) at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California.

Additional, approved sources of education include curriculums GSS (Graduate Space Systems) and GA (Graduate Astronautical Engineering) from the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Completed a thesis on a topic relating to space operations.

Earned a masters degree in Space Systems Operations, Astronautical Engineering, or a related field.

Space operations officers must have a comprehensive practical and theoretical knowledge of space policy and doctrine, the space environment, and space relevant technologies.

Further, they must have specific detailed knowledge of: Orbital mechanics.

Simulation and modeling.

Acquisition management.

Joint doctrine for space operations.

The Joint operational planning process.

National reconnaissance office (NRO) overhead systems.

Mission requirements that drive spacecraft design requirements.

Plans, concepts, strategies, and tactics for employment of space systems.

Great power competition in space, approaches to space security, and the major space treaties and policy debates to include the impact of the commercial and civil sectors on space security.

Organization and responsibilities of national security space to include the department of defense and the intelligence community.

Military space operations and associated capabilities to include space situational awareness; space control; position, navigation, and timing; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; satellite communications; environmental monitoring; missile warning; nuclear detonation detection; space lift and launch; and satellite operations.

POI CID

None

Duties

Supervise or support other space operations Marines.

Maintain understanding of all MOS 1786 requirements; assist with tasks as required.

Atmospheric and Space Scientists 19-2021.

Maritime Space Officer, 1706.

Basic Information Planner, 1781.

Space Operations Staff Officer, 1786.

Special Technical Operations Officer, 8016.

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