Evaluating future military space technologies

In a major Air Force study of future space systems, SPACE-CAST 2020, study teams produced a set of system concepts for 21st century military space operations. Our goal was to assess the potential operational utility of these systems in an objective, traceable, and robust manner, so that we could compare the systems and identify the most important. An additional goal was to determine the technologies whose advancement will do the most to make the high-priority systems a reality. To do this, we developed a hierarchical value model based on Department of Defense policy documents and the operational judgments of Air University faculty and students (senior and mid-level managers who will be future Air Force leaders). We completed the study within an extremely tight deadline, and it was widely accepted within the Air Force.