ms. betty sapp, director of the national reconnaissance office. just as in land, air, cyber space, the department of defense must be prepared to address any and all threats to our national security. space systems provide our joint force an unmatched ability to project power globally, respond to crises rapidly, strike swiftly and precisely, and command forces in multiple theaters of operations simultaneously. our national security strategy and the national defense strategy prominently recognize the criticality of space acknowledge the potential for conflict to extend into space. new national defense strategy charts the course for how dod will contribute to each of the national security strategies for national interests. under the new nds, long-term strategic competition with china and russia are the priorities for the department. addressing the challenges posed to our preeminence in space power is fundamental to that effort. today's potential adversaries and competitors have studied how the u.s. joint force operates and they are rapidly developing