Lt. Gen. Sam Greaves, SMC commander, speaks at the AD standup ceremony, Jan. 9. Photo: Sarah Corrice

[Via Satellite 01-27-2015] The United States Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) has activated the Advanced Systems and Development Directorate (SMC/AD), effective Jan. 9, having completed the merger of the Space Development and Test Directorate, and the Development Planning Directorate. The new combined directorate brings together Los Angeles Air Force Base’s expertise in science and technology, pre-systems acquisition, and developmental planning in California with Kirtland Air Force Base’s knowledge of advanced test, demonstration and launch capabilities in New Mexico.

Col. Troy Brashear is the new director of SMC/AD, and Col. Jeffery Stutz is deputy director. SMC/AD is tasked with charting the future for Air Force Space Command. The Air Force anticipates leveraging the Kirtland-based Space Test Program along with the Rocket System Launch Program (RSLP) to improve the validation of launch technology. Organizations such as the Department of Defense, Department of Energy and NASA will continue to have access to suborbital and Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) new-entrant launch capability. Integrated Planning Teams (IPTs) focusing on SMC’s core mission areas and capabilities will help graft cutting edge science and technology into future architectures.