JFQ: President Barack Obama and other officials have called for an increased focus on your command’s area of responsibility [AOR] in recent years. Can you describe what you have called a “rebalance” of security strategy and policy in terms of how this change in strategic focus will affect U.S. Pacific Command [USPACOM]?

Space enabled communications systems are the most ubiquitous communications infrastructure our deployed forces rely on, and these in turn rely mainly on commercial satellite systems with the military often leasing capacity from the same operators commercial organizations use; yet only 1 percent of defense communications is protected against even simple jamming, which is probably the cheapest and most common way to compromise information flow. Reducing dependency on these communications systems would reduce operational effectiveness and require a larger force structure. A more rational approach is to enact means to protect the communications infrastructure from the jamming attacks this article describes to ensure that our communications are resilient and our forces are not quickly taken out of the battle

The Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE) has earned a reputation as the center of excellence in joint military communications through such involvements as assisting in recovery efforts after the 2010 catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, among other things establishing communications links between Haitian and U.S. officials regarding where relief efforts were most needed. Its advanced communication and equipment packages along with its demonstrated reliability and skilled members give it a nearly flawless record. JCSE’s communication technology and service is or will have impact on every Servicemember as well as many who are stricken with misfortune elsewhere