The recent episode of the Spacepower Podcast offers a compelling look inside Space Systems Command (SSC) through an engaging conversation between host Bill “Hippie” Woolf and Col. Andrew S. Menschner, Deputy Commander of SSC.

In this candid discussion recorded on March 5, 2026, Col. Menschner shared his journey from a childhood shaped by Air Force bases to a career deeply rooted in space systems. After commissioning in 2001, he progressed through roles in nuclear detonation detection, GPS program leadership, and commanding Mission Delta 31 before naturally transitioning to the U.S. Space Force. Now, as deputy commander, he oversees a massive organization of over 15,000 personnel and a $15.6 billion budget responsible for acquiring, launching, and sustaining the space capabilities that power joint military operations worldwide.

SSC essentially builds what the “good guys” rely on to shoot, move, and communicate in contested domains, from GPS and missile warning to SATCOM and ISR. Col. Menschner highlights the command’s relentless pace: in 2025 alone, SSC and partners executed over 175 launches, including rapid-fire sequences that have become almost routine.

A major theme is acquisition reform: prioritizing speed and relevance over perfection. “A 60-80% solution today is often better than a 100% solution years from now,” he explained, reflecting SSC’s push toward agile models, tighter operator-acquirer integration via system deltas, and shrinking the “valley of death” between development and fielding. Innovations like dramatically reduced GPS launch timelines and accelerated OPIR milestones demonstrate real progress.

Looking ahead, Col. Menschner envisions transformative shifts: incoming Guardians with operational experience, revolutionary advances in navigation warfare (NAVWAR) to counter adversary threats to PNT, deeper commercial and allied partnerships, and space’s growing role in shaping every phase of the battlefield.

He also shared leadership insights, embracing the Pygmalion Principle, setting high expectations because he believes in his team’s potential. He offered direct advice to young professionals: if you want to tackle the world’s most complex engineering challenges and deliver mission-critical capabilities, SSC is where it happens.

This episode is packed with personal stories, operational urgency, and forward-thinking vision on the future of spacepower.

Listen now on:

• YouTube: https://youtu.be/KJvlhtGUKfk
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4EHbjY42EdGTqB1EC2hAmO?si=2c3b01cb50904969
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spacepower/id1500399200

For more on SSC and career opportunities, visit ssc.spaceforce.mil or spaceforce.mil.