Guest: Bob Lancaster. Topics: Suggestions on space policy leadership and space advocacy leadership. You are invited to comment, ask questions, and discuss the Space Show program/guest(s) on the Space Show blog, http://thespaceshow.wordpress.com. Comments, questions, and any discussion must be relevant and applicable to Space Show programming. Transcripts of Space Show programs are not permitted without prior written consent from The Space Show (even if for personal use) & are a violation of the Space Show copyright. The Space Show/OGLF is now engaged in its annual fundraising drive. Please see & act upon our appeal at http://thespaceshow.wordpress.com/2011/11/21/space-show-2011-fundraisin…. We welcomed Bob Lancaster to the program to discuss space advocacy and policy leadership ideas. Mr. Lancaster started our discussion with an explanation and short backgrounder of his interest in space and its connection to his profession in military police and security work. Based on his interests and background, along with the leadership and management training he has had in the Air Force, Mr. Lancaster sees ways that such leadership and management training could benefit the space cause and especially the advocacy community. Bob then talked about the need for strategic planning and excellent communications. With regard to communications, he made a point about making sure people outside the "choir" were being reached and included in the discussion. The tendency within the space community with our blogs, conferences, etc. is to talk too much to each other and not enough with the people outside our community. Preaching to the choir is not helpful. Bob said that understanding the need to communicate outside our group is fundamental to exercising better leadership and management within the space advocacy community. As the first segment ended, Bob said there were three main reasons for human spaceflight and exploration: 1) To become a multi-planet species were anything to happen to the home planet; 2) Our space efforts enhance our communities here; 3) Planetary protection/self-protection regarding NEOs. As we started our second segment, we followed up on Bob's earlier suggestion of using a consulting or outside strategic planning group to assist in the leadership changes being talked about. He said it was important for this planning company to be independent of the space community. Don't miss his discussion on this important point. Another listener asked about the need for charismatic leadership and Bob said being able to communicate and move the population was important. Others asked him about the Space Guard idea and he said that at some point something like the Coast Guard in space would be needed. Another listener asked about our differences over issues such as SLS. Bob talked about finding common ground to speak with a more united voice to the public. In our final segment, John asked Bob what he thought the ideal space policy might be given the country being bankrupt or at least on the verge of it. Bob's reply was very good as he talked about making the case for growing the economy through space rather than fighting over how to divide up a shrinking pie or tax more to fund different parts of the stagnant pie. Listen to what he said and tell us on the blog what you think. We then talked about space being the leader or one of the few leaders in the country/economy that can take us into a growth future. At the end of the program, we explored Bob's thoughts regarding forming a separate military service out of Space Command which is currently part of the Air Force. We also talked about national security space and Bob suggested that our civil space program was very much a part of our national security. At the end, we talked about space as a priority within the budget given areas likely to be cut in pending budget cuts. Please post your comments/questions on The Space Show blog URL above.
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