With so much of the U.S. economy relying on satellites, "It's not a matter of if this will happen but when," said Gen. Lance Lord, commander of Air Force Space Command, recently.

"We don't want to be caught with no options," Lord said. The military must be ready to protect the nation's satellites, including going to war if necessary, he said.

Lord took over Air Force Space Command on April 20, becoming the first four-star general solely in charge of Air Force Space Command. Previously, the general in charge of Air Force Space Command also headed the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Space Command.

The Space Commission, which studied military space programs for Congress and concluded the nation was vulnerable to a "space Pearl Harbor," suggested a single general take over the Colorado Springs-based Air Force Space Command to give it more focus.

The command, with an $8 billion annual budget, is responsible for developing, buying and flying the military's satellites. They provide navigation, communication, surveillance, weather and missile warning to troops in the field.

The commission also recommended putting all Air Force space programs under the command, improving space training for officers and stopping the practice of putting only Air Force pilots in charge of the command. Lord, who spent his 34-year Air Force career in nuclear missile and space operations, is the first non-pilot to fill the job.

Lord said he appreciates not having to split his time three ways. That will help ensure the command is tailoring satellite technology so it works for the units fighting wars.

"We need to understand space creates advantages (for the United States) and we need to be careful to protect our assets," he said.

The most likely attack on U.S. satellites, especially the Global Positioning System, would be attempts to jam the signal from the ground, Lord said. To combat that, the command plans to strengthen the GPS signal, he said.

The command also is studying how to defend U.S. satellites from attack in space.

Air Force Space Command turns 20 next month, and Lord said there are no plans for it to move out of Colorado Springs. U.S. Space Command, which sets space policy and has a $600 million budget, is leaving the Springs Oct. 1 and will merge with U.S. Strategic Command in Nebraska.

"The center of gravity for space isn't moving anywhere," Lord said.