The Department of the Air Force has appointed William Blauser as the acting director of the U.S. Space Force's Space Development Agency (SDA). Blauser, currently the deputy director of the Department of the Air Force's Rapid Capabilities Office, assumes the role following the sudden removal of former SDA Director Derek Tournear, who was placed on administrative leave for unspecified reasons related to past contracting activities.
The leadership change comes at a critical juncture for SDA, which is preparing to dramatically scale up deployment of its satellite network. The agency has already launched 27 experimental tracking and communications satellites, with dozens more planned for the coming years.
The agency's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) is a network of satellites designed to enhance military communications, missile tracking, and targeting. The PWSA represents a departure from traditional military space architecture, which typically relies on small numbers of large, expensive satellites. Instead, SDA plans to deploy hundreds of smaller, cheaper satellites in low Earth orbit, making the network more resilient to potential attacks and easier to upgrade over time.
Blauser brings decades of experience in defense and space systems, having overseen several high-profile projects, including development of the secretive B-21 stealth bomber and the X-37B military space plane. His resume also includes stints at Sierra Nevada Corporation and the National Reconnaissance Office.
Lawmakers and industry insiders have credited SDA's rapid procurement model with accelerating the U.S. military's ability to field advanced space capabilities, countering threats from China and Russia in orbit. The uncertainty surrounding Tournear's departure has sparked speculation about whether SDA's independent approach to procurement will continue under new leadership.