The Florence McKenzie Building embodies the emphasis on advanced technical training in space and cyber operations, reflecting Australia’s commitment to skilled space personnel.

Training for space specialists will occur at the Defence Space and Cyber School located within the Florence McKenzie Building at HMAS Harman in Canberra.

Space Command was launched in 2022 as part of Defence space strategy to enable operational capabilities and maintain information advantage in space-related warfare.

The initiative aims to build Australia’s sovereign space workforce, with future expansion to roles such as satellite operations, space domain awareness, environmental monitoring, and PNT.

Defence Minister Matt Keogh described space operations as a critical frontier and a significant leap in capability for the ADF amid today’s challenging strategic environment.

Space is framed as Defence’s new frontier where geopolitical tensions elevate the importance of space for warfighting and information advantage.

The development sits within a broader national space achievement context, highlighted by astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg being named Australian of the Year for 2026, underscoring milestones in Australia’s space program and national pride.

Space Command is formalized as a core defence domain alongside air, land, sea, and cyber operations, signaling a strategic emphasis on space capabilities.

Successful applicants will undergo specialist training at the Defence Space and Cyber School in the Florence McKenzie Building at HMAS Harman in Canberra, a facility named to honour Australia’s first female electrical engineer and a pioneer in modern signalling.

The Australian Defence Force will launch direct-entry recruitment for two new space-focused roles: Space Operations Officer to plan and support missions, and a Space Operations Specialist with equipment expertise.

These positions expand the ADF’s space command, with direct applications invited for an operations officer and an operations specialist to strengthen mission execution.

A historical note places the move in international context, comparing the US Space Command’s 1985 origin to the later establishment of the US Space Force in 2019.