This paid piece is sponsored by Dakota State University.

When Gabe Lamb started his Air Force journey in 2017, he never intended to be selected for the United States Space Force, or USSF.

That changed when he learned that applications for the USSF cyber warfare operations division were being accepted from members of the Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or ROTC.

It was then he knew just how significant this opportunity was.

“I’m extremely fortunate to be part of the newest branch of the armed forces. I’m excited to be involved in the development of this branch,” he said.

Established in late 2019, the Space Force strives to train and equip space forces to protect the United States and other related interests in space, as well as provide capabilities to the joint force.

Lamb, who is a cyber operations major at Dakota State University, has always been interested in space exploration and keeps up with all the news pertaining to NASA and SpaceX missions.

“By becoming a guardian in the USSF, I get to fulfill my dreams of serving my country, traveling the world and being a part of the building blocks to developing a new branch of the military,” he said.

Now, he gets to help the USSF achieve its goal, which is to deter conflict going into space – as it is congested, contested and competitive. He also added that there are multiple satellites and space “junk” orbiting Earth, a number that will continually increase over time.

Like the USSF, other major military powers also conduct tests for their own space technology in attempts to have those resources available to space-related entities.

“With adversaries already testing antisatellite capabilities, any attack on our satellites would result in serious damages to our society,” he said.

Homage to DSU

Lamb, who is also part of the South Dakota State University Air Force ROTC, hopes to use his cyber skills he learned from Dakota State toward defensive measures of satellites in addition to carrying out joint missions with NASA and SpaceX, both of whom have contracts with the USSF.

Austin Slaughter, veteran affairs coordinator at DSU and a member of the South Dakota Army National Guard, has worked with Lamb throughout his time at DSU. He praises Lamb for his hard work and dedication.

“Gabe has put in a lot or hard work and dedication to his studies as well as the Air Force ROTC program. It is obvious that all his hard work is starting to pay off. Gabe is also setting an example and standard for all future DSU ROTC students,” Slaughter said.

Lamb will graduate in May, be commissioned as a second lieutenant and complete training this summer before officially starting with the USSF.

For information on military programs at DSU, visit dsu.edu.