Derek Tournear, a senior Space Force procurement official, will resume his role as director of the Space Development Agency (SDA) on April 17. This follows a three-month administrative leave stemming from an investigation into alleged procedural irregularities concerning two prototype agreements totaling approximately $424 million for Tranche 2 Transport Layer – Gamma variant satellites. The probe was triggered by a bid protest from Viasat, raising concerns about contract award fairness.
The Air Force hasn't detailed reasons for Tournear's reinstatement, but sources suggest strong support from Capitol Hill, especially from Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND). “Tournear’s return comes at a critical time for the agency, which faces significant challenges in its satellite development programs,” noted an anonymous industry source.
The SDA's responsibilities include the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), a network of low Earth orbit satellites supporting military operations. This includes missile-tracking satellites, integral to the Trump administration's Golden Dome missile defense initiative. Challenges include satellite production delays due to supply chain issues, particularly with optical terminals for laser links. A Baird Defense & Government research note highlighted these, indicating potential PWSA schedule delays.
Further challenges involve potential budget constraints and a possible shift in procurement strategy. Senator Cramer indicated the Air Force is considering replacing planned satellite purchases with SpaceX’s Starshield satellites. This could impact the SDA's Transport Layer Tranche 2 and Tranche 3 programs as the Pentagon reviews its FY2026 budget. The SDA’s Transport Layer is crucial for providing a resilient military communications network.