September 8, 2026
The Space Force is expanding its use of commercial space data, but John Ludwigsen, Director of Contracting and National Security Acquisitions at the Government Accountability Office, says some of the biggest obstacles may come down to awareness.
During an interview on Fed Gov Today, Ludwigsen explains that the Joint Commercial Operations Cell, or JCO, provides a mechanism for the Space Force and other organizations to acquire commercial data. It also works to create an ecosystem of vendors capable of supplying that information.
The commercial space data industry continues to grow, giving the Space Force access to an increasingly capable set of commercial assets. Those capabilities can include terrestrial systems looking into space as well as space-based assets observing Earth or other objects in space.
Ludwigsen says the Pentagon is increasingly recognizing the value commercial capabilities can provide alongside government-owned systems.
He points to an ethos across the department of buying what it can, using what it has and building what it must. Government-built “exquisite” systems are expensive and relatively limited in number, while commercial providers can give the department additional ways to understand what is happening in space.
Commercial data can also make information easier to share.
Ludwigsen says information collected by government systems may be classified, making it more difficult to provide to international partners or domestic law enforcement organizations. Commercial data can offer another pathway for sharing information with those partners.
But getting more organizations to take advantage of those capabilities remains a challenge.
Ludwigsen says some potential users believe purchasing commercial data through the government will take too long because of the traditionally lengthy acquisition process. JCO has worked to accelerate that process, but he says those efforts are not widely understood.
Users also raise questions about whether they will have consistent, long-term access to commercial data. That can become particularly important when organizations want to conduct pattern-of-life analysis and need access to information over an extended period.
GAO finds that an existing working group could help address many of those concerns.
The challenge is that stakeholders across the department do not necessarily know the group exists, understand the issues it addresses or know what commercial data is available through JCO.
Ludwigsen says broader awareness could help organizations make better-informed decisions about whether and how to use commercial data. Moving appropriate workloads to commercial systems could also reduce demand on government-owned systems and allow those capabilities to focus on missions where they are needed most.
GAO recommends that the Secretary of the Air Force improve awareness and engagement around commercial space data and services.
For Ludwigsen, that becomes increasingly important as commercial capabilities expand. Some organizations relying on government systems may not realize that portions of their work could move to commercial alternatives. Others may not currently depend on commercial space data at all but could use it to improve how they perform their missions.
The opportunity already exists. The next step is making sure potential users across the department know how to take advantage of it.