BOSTON


— The U.S. Navy’s decision last year to fold its primary space operations and requirements organization into a larger command is helping to create synergy that benefits a variety of the service’s missions, according to a Navy space officer.

Bringing space operations into Naval Network Warfare Command (Netwarcom)




has been particularly helpful to




information operations since




space is a critical enabler in




that mission area, according to Capt. Kevin Johnson, chief of space operations and warfighter integration at the Norfolk, Va.-based command.

Navy space




operations were handled by Naval Space Command in Dahlgren,




Va., until 2002, when that organization was merged with Naval Network Operations Command to create Naval Network and Space Operations Command. That organization was




absorbed by Netwarcom




in September 2006, Johnson said.

Netwarcom
provides space-related capabilities to




Navy




forces engaged in operations throughout




the world through the space cell in its Maritime Operations Center, which operates around the clock, Johnson said.

Space is a relatively small part of Netwarcom’s mission. According to a Netwarcom fact sheet,




the command anticipates a 2008 budget of $760 million, with $500 million going to network-related tasks, $122 million for intelligence, $57 million for information operations




and $45 million for




drug
interdiction




. Space




is slated to receive just $35 million.

Netwarcom
is responsible for educating naval forces on the use of space capabilities through exercises and other training sessions. The command co-sponsors exercises including Trident Warrior, which annually examines technology that can be rapidly adopted to improve the decision-making of Navy forces.