The “stars aligned” for a space-intelligence analyst after a US course led her to a posting at Defence Space Command.
Corporal Allison Gray completed an entry-level program at the US-National Security Space Institute.
The seven-week online package covered concepts and principles of space operations and gave her the chance to mingle with US-Space Force personnel.
It sparked interest in the newly formed Defence Space Command when it was time to nominate for her next posting.
The promise of getting in on the ground floor of a burgeoning sector was too good for Corporal Gray to pass up.
“It’s not very often that you get to help stand up a capability,” Corporal Gray said.
“We’re in a building phase but I learned recently exercising with the US on Talisman Sabre that we’re not as far behind as I first thought.”
“I really enjoy the work and love space so I’m interested in seeing where I can take my career.”
Defence Space Command will spend the next years establishing career streams for officers and enlisted personnel to build and sustain a workforce.
Corporal Gray, and others like her, will be the backbone of the Defence’s new workforce of space professionals.
The necessity to scale up the workforce was outlined in the Defence Strategic Review.
Other documents, such as Defence Space Strategy, point to 2040 as when Defence can provide a “mature” workforce capable of meeting operational requirements, however, this may no longer be viable.
The contested and congested nature of the domain means that an uplift in the space workforce is required now.
This workforce growth is Defence Space Command’s top priority.
Currently, fewer than 200 personnel are in the predominantly Air Force-staffed, triservice command.
Corporal Gray said there was plenty of interest and it will not limit the expansion of the workforce.
“Every course I go on, people want to know about space and what Space Command is doing,” Corporal Gray said.
“It’s such an unknown, it’s really cool talking to people about it.”
Defence Space Command is expected to create new employment categories to attract more personnel by 2025.
