Charles Lyons-Burt
The Commercial Space Office, or COMSO, is a function of Space Systems Command that immerses itself in the private sector to accelerate adoption of new technologies. COMSO is known as the direct link between the commercial space sector and the U.S. Space Force and is led by Col. Richard Kniseley, senior material leader and a two-decade Air Force service member.
“As we have been integrating commercial capabilities in our space enterprise and operations, it has increased the dialogue and coordination between Title 10 and Title 50,” Col. Kniseley told ExecutiveBiz in an exclusive comment.
Col. Kniseley is set to participate in a panel at the Potomac Officers Club’s Space Summit in less than a week — if you haven’t yet, register now to attend and hear his great insights, alongside leaders from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office.
Indeed, Col. Kniseley said what he’s most looking forward to about the panel is a discussion of “the partnership with NGA and NRO.”
“I’m sure we will discuss surveillance, reconnaissance and tracking, which are all commercial capabilities getting after combatant command requests and problems,” Kniseley continued.
Kniseley’s team is bicoastally based, with offices in both Chantilly, Virginia and Los Angeles. The 90 officials that comprise COMSO rigorously evaluate, test and integrate commercial space capabilities. At the program’s helm, Kniseley directs an annual budget of over $1 billion, so while a relatively small group, its resources are significant.
“The products are produced in a tactical timeline and because it is commercial, the products are releasable to allies and other partners,” he said.
Come ask Col. Kniseley questions about how he’s spending his budget this year and where your company can fit into Space Systems Command’s mission at the 2024 Space Summit on March 5. In addition to keynote speakers from across the DOD (Missile Defense Agency, the Defense Innovation Unit) and NASA, every notable GovCon company will be in attendance. Register here today before it’s too late!
