By Sean Payne, SatNews Events
ORLANDO, Fla. — Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink announced a structural overhaul of the service’s acquisition authorities on Dec. 11, revealing a transition from the traditional Program Executive Officer (PEO) model to “Portfolio Acquisition Executives” (PAEs) designed to decentralize decision-making.
Speaking at the Space Force Association’s Spacepower Conference, Meink outlined the reform as a critical step to align procurement speeds with the operational tempo of the U.S. Space Force. Under the new framework, PAEs will hold broader authority over mission-specific portfolios, granting them direct control over resources and talent management that previously required higher-level adjudication.
From Programs to Portfolios The shift addresses a long-standing bottleneck in defense procurement where program managers often held accountability for delivery without the requisite power to reallocate funds or personnel. The PAE model intends to close this gap by ensuring leaders remain in their roles longer, fostering continuity in complex technical programs.
“We’re moving from the old program executive officer model to portfolio acquisition executives, and the whole focus is making sure our people are empowered to do their jobs,” Meink said. “For too long, we’ve had responsibility without the authority to match. We’re fixing that by streamlining oversight and giving PAEs the ability to make decisions quickly.”
Operational Context and Automation The acquisition reform coincides with the Space Force’s broader pivot toward a warfighting posture, highlighted by the recent establishment of Combat Forces Command. Meink emphasized that administrative speed must be matched by technical efficiency, particularly in satellite operations.
He noted that the service is moving away from labor-intensive ground architectures. “We used to have more people operating satellites than we had satellites,” Meink told the audience. “That’s changing. Automation has to be part of everything we do.”
Timeline for Implementation The Secretary framed the next three to four years as a defining period for the service’s long-term trajectory. The reform aims to shorten fielding timelines for critical architectures, such as missile warning and communications networks, by reducing the requirements burden that often slows development.
“It’s not just about moving fast,” Meink concluded. “It’s about delivering something that works and solves real problems.”