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Setting Military Requirements for Golden Dome

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Setting Military Requirements for Golden Dome
A streak of light trails off into the night sky as the U.S. military test fires an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, some 130 miles (209 kms) northwest of Los Angeles, California early on May 3, 2017. Ringo Chiu/AFP via Getty Images
Chris Williams
Peppi DeBiaso
Updated:
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Commentary

President Donald Trump’s Jan. 27, 2025, executive order (EO) directing the development and fielding of a “Golden Dome” air and missile defense system for the United States provides opportunities and challenges for the Department of Defense (DOD). Senior leaders must alter the way that the department generates and validates requirements for an integrated air and missile defense system-of-systems in order to meet the bold objectives of the EO.

Chris Williams served as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Professional Staff Member of the House Armed Services Committee, and chair of the Defense Policy Board. He currently serves as chair of the Moorman Center for Space Studies.