Kickstarted by DIU in 2021, the HSA program is developing a space-based architecture that can rapidly deliver critical warfighting data by combining commercial-built technologies with military and civilian space assets. Companies contracted under the program will spend the next year prototyping their capabilities at multiple operational demonstrations to lay the foundation for an operational pilot architecture to be ready by 2026, according to DIU.

While HSA is being led by DIU, the Pentagon’s tech innovation arm is working closely with the Space Force, the Air Force Research Lab, combatant commands and other military organizations on the effort.

“Together with DIU we’re accelerating the integration of commercial capabilities through HSA demonstrations and pilot efforts to scale quickly into a resilient, multi-orbit architecture supporting the DoD’s vision for seamless, uninterrupted global communications. These efforts exemplify the power of whole-of-government and industry collaboration in delivering real-world capability at speed,” Lt. Col. Tim Trimailo, director of Space Systems Command’s Commercial Space Office (COMSO), said in a statement. Trimailo recently took the helm at COMSO following the departure of Col. Richard Kniseley in April.

The 12 new firms added to HSA include Capella Space, EdgeCortix, Eutelsat America Corp./OneWeb Technologies, Fairwinds Technologies/AST Space Mobile, Illumina Computing Group, Lockheed Martin, MapLarge, SES Government Solutions, Skycorp, SkyFi, Ursa Space Systems and Viasat.

DIU already had 12 companies working on the project after handing out initial contracts in 2022: Aalyria Technologies, Amazon Web Services, Amazon Kuiper, Anduril, Astranis Space, ATLAS Space Operations, Enveil, Google, Palantir, Planet Labs Federal, Microsoft and SpiderOak.

The upcoming prototype demonstrations will occur across U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. European Command, U.S. Central Command and U.S. Southern Command, DIU said in a news release. Specifically, the vendors will develop and demonstrate different technologies that enable space-based data collection, transport, processing and dissemination to various military units.

“The HSA network has the potential to increase network resilience by employing multi-path routing of communications to optimize data transport and mitigate adverse effects caused by weather or other obstructions,” the DIU release stated. “HSA seeks to integrate commercial persistent sensing, data fusion, high-performance edge compute and resilient data transport capabilities to significantly enhance real-time access to information.”

The HSA team is also preparing to activate a “live hybrid network for demonstrations, exercise support, and further integration of tactics and warfighting capabilities,” per the release.

Over the last few years, the Space Force has sought to take advantage of the rapidly growing commercial space industry as a way to incorporate the latest technologies and capabilities into its systems. The service’s 2024 Commercial Space Strategy calls for commercial solutions to be integrated into a “hybrid space architecture,” while also identifying seven mission areas where commercial capabilities are most beneficial.

“DIU’s ability to rapidly integrate and deliver a hybrid space network architecture is testament to its process of allowing commercial innovators to solve complex problems at speed and scale by applying their solutions to DOD’s problems,” Steve Butow, director of DIU’s space portfolio, said in a statement.

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Air Force Maj. Gen. Steven “Bucky” Butow has been appointed military deputy for DIU, effective June 1, the organization announced Monday.

The unit, which is headquartered in Silicon Valley and has outposts in other major tech hubs around the United States, aims to connect the Pentagon with non-traditional vendors and accelerate the department’s adoption of commercial technologies with military applications. Its major focus areas include AI, autonomy, cyber and telecom, emerging tech, energy, human systems and space. It’s also supporting the department’s Replicator initiative.

In his new role, Butow “will lead more than 75 Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen and Guardians representing active and reserve components of the U.S. armed forces. Collectively, these service members, along with their civilian counterparts, execute DIU’s strategic vision as a national mission force for innovation supporting the combatant commands, the joint force, allies and global partners,” according to a release.

Butow is only the second general officer or flag officer to hold this position. Rear Adm. Daniel “Brian” Hendrickson, now retired, had the job during DIU’s early years. After Hendrickson’s departure, the unit had the authorization but no funded billet for the military deputy role. Now it does, according to officials.

Butow isn’t a newcomer to DIU. He first joined the organization in 2015, the year it was established by then-Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. He served as the unit’s West Coast military lead and also helped set up the organization’s operating locations in Mountain View, California, Boston and Austin, Texas. Additionally, he served as the inaugural space portfolio director, according to the announcement.

While serving in his new role as military deputy, Butow will retain his position as commander of the California Air National Guard.

His appointment is the latest in a series of recent changes to DIU leadership.

About a year ago, Doug Beck was sworn in as the unit’s new director. Last fall, the organization announced that Aditi Kuma would serve as the new deputy director for strategy, policy and national security partnerships, and Kirstin Riesbeck as the new deputy director for people, finance and management. In April, it announced that Liz Young McNally had been tapped to serve as the new deputy director for commercial operations.

The unit has been adding personnel as part of Beck’s strategic vision dubbed “DIU 3.0,” which is focused on better scaling the adoption of commercial tech across the military. Beck reports directly to the secretary of defense.

“As a member of the reserve component, Major General Bucky Butow possesses the dual fluency as both an experienced military leader and technologist with significant experience working with the commercial technology sector,” Beck said in a statement. “Bucky’s experience helping lead the Department’s leveraging of commercial space technology and experience in integrating and fielding new and emergent commercial technology will help to create asymmetric advantage for the joint force and allied warfighters.”

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