Pentagon establishes new space policy office

The Pentagon today announced it has created a new assistant defense secretary for space policy position, a role that Congress required the Defense Department to create in the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act.

Justin Johnson, who has been serving as acting deputy assistant defense secretary for space policy, will perform the duties of assistant defense secretary for space policy until a nominee is confirmed. Gregory Pejic will act as Johnson's deputy until someone is appointed to the position.

"The establishment of the assistant secretary of defense for space policy is a change of the civilian oversight of the space enterprise that aligns with the establishment of the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command," Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist said in a press release.