SMC leadership team prepares for a dynamic future Published April 1, 2016 By Andrew Miller SMC Plans and Programs LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Twenty-three principal leaders and directors from across Space and Missile Systems Center along with senior executives from The Aerospace Corporation and Mitre gathered for an off-site conference April 1 at the Fort MacArthur Community Center in San Pedro, Calif. The purpose of the off-site was to concentrate on strategic initiatives that challenge the way SMC does business. These initiatives are tailored around an examination of SMC's vision for success and to develop and work strategic initiatives into a cyclical battle rhythm for the Center to achieve those goals. "Today we take this opportunity to think beyond our current execution and focus on our future success," said Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, SMC commander and Air Force program executive officer for space. "This effort is about teaming and working together and getting out of our programmatic mindset to strategically frame how we meet the challenges of our dynamic environment." Dr. Stan Rosen, professor of acquisition management at Defense Acquisition University, facilitated the event. The agenda focused on the current SMC strategic planning framework, as outlined by Leslie Kennedy, SMC director of staff and strategic plans and programs, which examined the SMC vision. Framing the discussion was a presentation of SMC's dynamic environment, presented by Col. James Planeaux, SMC's Advanced Systems and Development Directorate, which directs an analysis-based, enterprise approach to address space in a dynamic threat and operating environment. The way ahead for SMC was a common thread throughout the day. A hot discussion topic was the idea of moving the Center away from a constrained approach and focusing on competitive opportunities. SMC leadership plans to build on the momentum of the event by holding additional strategic meetings in the future. SMC, located at the Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, Calif., is Air Force Space Command's center of excellence for acquiring and developing military space systems. Its portfolio includes the Global Positioning System, military satellite communications, defense meteorological satellites, space launch and range systems, satellite control networks, space based infrared systems and space situational awareness capabilities.