Space Systems Command Adds Hiring Amid Workforce Cuts
Los Angeles-based defense contractors should monitor the command's goal of hiring 100 people per month to offset a 14 percent drawdown.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Military Jobs
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Space Systems Command has achieved a performance grade of delivering with minimal areas of improvement, even as it navigates a 14 percent reduction in its total workforce. The command is now actively recruiting to offset losses caused by a recent retirement drawdown program.
Why it matters
The command's internal stability depends on balancing a lean workforce with mission requirements, forcing a shift toward aggressive campus-based hiring to recover from the loss of 1,200 total positions.
The 14 percent total workforce reduction included 600 civilian retirements, 450 acquisition roles, and 150 base support positions. While current performance is rated as delivering with minimal areas of improvement, the command aims to onboard 100 new individuals per month.
The players
Space Systems Command
A field command responsible for developing, acquiring, and fielding space capabilities for the U.S. military.
Lt. Gen. Garrant
A military leader who announced the 2026 performance assessment results for Space Systems Command.
The details
The workforce contraction stems from a drawdown program implemented over the past year. To address these gaps, command leaders are currently visiting colleges and universities to build a talent pipeline. New operating locations have also been established in Texas and the Washington, D.C. region to support ongoing acquisition and base operations.
Timeline
2024: SSC assessment graded as delivering with moderate to significant areas of improvement.
2025: SSC assessment graded as delivering with minimal to moderate areas of improvement.
2026: SSC assessment graded as delivering with minimal areas of improvement.
October 21, 2026: Lt. Gen. Garrant announced the assessment results.
Market Landscape
The 2026 assessment marks a documented improvement over the benchmarks established in the 2024 SSC performance assessment. This trajectory reflects the command's effort to stabilize operations following its recent workforce contraction.
Local contractors and service providers should note the shift in human capital, particularly the focus on acquisition roles and new regional offices. Monitoring the command's monthly hiring pace provides a signal for future capacity in the local aerospace and defense ecosystem.
The takeaway
The command’s shift to a 100-person monthly onboarding cycle highlights an urgent need for technical talent in the defense acquisition space. Operators should monitor these recruitment visits at regional universities as a primary indicator of where the command is prioritizing growth.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Military Jobs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by AFCEA International.
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