In this episode, we take listeners beyond the atmosphere to explore NATO’s newest operational domain — space. Joining him is U.S. Colonel Jonathan L. Whitaker, Chief of Staff at NATO’s Combined Forces Space Component Command and Director of the NATO Space Operations Center at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. With more than two decades of experience in U.S. and Allied space operations, Colonel Whitaker offers a rare inside look at how the Alliance is adapting to an era where the orbital environment is no longer benign but increasingly contested, congested, and critical to deterrence and defense.

The conversation traces the origins of NATO’s Space Center, established in 2020, and how it now functions as the hub for Allied space activity — tracking satellites, monitoring space weather and GPS integrity, safeguarding secure communications for NATO aircraft, and coordinating multinational intelligence from orbit. Colonel Whitaker describes how nations with different capabilities contribute to a shared mission, blending military and commercial technologies to keep space secure and accessible.

Through real-world examples he illustrates how space-based intelligence and situational awareness enable commanders on the ground, at sea, and in the air to act decisively. He also discusses the growing partnership between NATO and industry, the integration of commercial space assets, and the coming expansion of the NATO Space Operations Center into a 24-hour global watch.

At its heart, this episode shows how space has become the connective tissue of modern warfare and peacekeeping alike.

Recorded Wednesday, 10 September 2025.

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