Air Force, Space Force leaders discuss modernizing acquisition and training at I/ITSEC 2025

By Cassidy Mills, Staff Writer

 

December 10, 2025

 

U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force leaders explored the future of acquisition transformation, training modernization and operational readiness at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), Dec. 2.

 

I/ITSEC is the world’s largest modeling, simulation and training (MS&T) event, held annually during the week immediately after Thanksgiving at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. The conference brings together the global MS&T community for a full week of demonstrations, discussions and collaboration.

 

Each year, the event draws thousands of MS&T professionals, including senior civilian and military leaders, C-suite industry executives and distinguished academic researchers from leading institutions.

 

Moderated by retired Navy Vice Adm. Sean Buck, president of the National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA), the fireside chat featured William D. Bailey, SES, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, and Maj. Gen. James E. Smith, commander of the Space Training and Readiness Command.

 

The session focused on the critical intersection of acquisition, training and operational readiness and the ways both services are leveraging MS&T capabilities to maintain a strategic advantage.

 

Bailey opened the discussion by stressing that acquisition is fundamentally a warfighting function, not a purely administrative task, emphasizing that every decision made in the acquisition process has a direct impact on operational effectiveness and the success of warfighters in the field.

 

“We are moving from a strict cost-schedule-performance mindset to one that prioritizes operational outcomes,” Bailey said. “This shift empowers our teams to make decisions that directly enhance warfighter effectiveness and mission success, even if it means adjusting traditional processes along the way.”

 

He explained that traditional metrics often overlooked real-world consequences, where decisions about cost or schedule could directly impact readiness and the ability of warfighters to carry out their missions successfully.

 

By empowering program managers and other acquisition personnel to make judgment-based decisions, Bailey said the Air Force aims to better align resources with warfighter needs and achieve superior operational results.

 

A key focus of the chat was the evolving role of training and simulation in preparing operators and maintainers to employ increasingly complex systems. Bailey said modern training environments must be highly realistic, flexible and integrated across platforms, services and operational domains.

 

“We need systems that allow warfighters to train together, develop new tactics and practice integrated operations without being limited by individual system availability,” Bailey said. “These immersive solutions ensure personnel are ready to respond effectively to rapidly changing mission requirements.”

 

Both leaders highlighted the importance of innovation and industry collaboration. Bailey described the U.S. innovation ecosystem as a center of ingenuity extending far beyond the Pentagon, including small companies, nontraditional vendors and international partners.

 

He discussed how modular software, open architectures and flexible contracting approaches enable faster integration of new capabilities, creating opportunities for a broader range of innovators to contribute to national defense.

 

“If our adversaries have better access to innovation than we do, that is unacceptable,” Bailey said. “We must actively engage with industry, academia and international partners to ensure the best ideas and technologies are rapidly integrated into our forces.”

 

Smith framed the Space Force’s priorities through the recently released Space Force Vector, which emphasizes “competitive endurance” as the core principle for space operations.

 

This approach focuses on three critical areas: avoiding operational surprise, denying adversaries first-mover advantages and mitigating threats to joint force capabilities in the space domain.

 

“Our mission is not to own space, but to safeguard our nation’s interests and ensure the joint force can operate effectively,” Smith said. “By developing resilient, adaptable forces, we provide space capabilities that enhance operational dominance across all domains.”

 

Smith stressed that achieving space superiority is not about controlling the domain outright, but ensuring resilient systems, well-trained personnel and effective partnerships enable the joint force to operate decisively.

 

“We focus on building forces and capabilities that can respond dynamically to emerging threats,” Smith added. “True success in space is measured by our ability to enable the joint force and protect critical national interests, not by holding territory.”

 

The discussion also addressed the importance of culture change across both acquisition and operational communities. Bailey called for personnel at all levels to take responsibility for achieving superior operational outcomes and to use their authority proactively to make necessary adjustments.

 

Bailey shared examples of successful program-level interventions that improved readiness and training outcomes, demonstrating how empowered decision-making can accelerate capability delivery.

 

Smith echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that collaboration between the Air Force, Space Force, industry and allied partners is essential for operational success. He highlighted that no single service or organization can achieve dominance alone.

 

“Partnerships — whether with the Air Force, industry, or allied nations — are the backbone of our readiness,” Smith said. “They allow us to integrate new technologies quickly, adapt to emerging threats and ensure our forces are prepared to operate effectively in any scenario.”

 

Concluding the session, both leaders issued a call to action to the MS&T community. The fireside chat reinforced the message that operational outcomes, innovation and readiness are inseparable priorities for the Air Force and Space Force.

 

Through strategic acquisition, modernized training environments and close collaboration with the broader defense industrial base, U.S. forces aim to remain agile, capable and prepared to prevail in an increasingly complex security environment.