JB Jacklyn Buhrmann On The Space Policy Show

“Can two supply chains scale at the same time if they rely on some of the same upstream suppliers? You might look at the supply chain for one kind of satellite and conclude it can scale, then look at another and conclude that too. But the same small supplier might enter both. That is so hard to know from the data that we have. Frankly, it's probably unknowable from the data that we have.”

The Space Policy Show · Policy · November 2026

Context

Asked what decision-makers should watch for, Jacklyn Buhrmann describes a hidden risk: analysing supply chains one product at a time can miss a small supplier that several programmes share. She says the available economic data cannot show it.

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Transcript

The Space Policy Show Around 43:17 into the episode

Andrew Berglund

…that sort of really critical work forward that's spread all over the country, right? Like, these are state-level programs and national-level programs can both be really directed here in an important way to make sure that there is nearby capacity and capability to sustain the space industrial base.

Colleen Stover

…up new workforce, but at the state level to take over these mom and pop garage garage places and keep the supply chain resilient. Yeah, Jackie, what do you think about what is something that you think decision makers need to be kind of looking out for? How can we better inform the future for them?

Jacklyn Buhrmann

So, I think one thing that comes to mind for me when we're thinking about policy tools is using the policies that you already have access to carefully. There are things like the DPAS, the defense priorities and allocation system, is that right? Where suppliers can get ratings through DPAS to get preferential access to raw materials and to other inputs that they need. And so, I think one of the things that can be done is really carefully using that tool that's in place to make sure that the priorities that are set there reflect the more holistic priorities that we have. Because that's one tool that we have to ensure that the things that really matter to the government actually get that prioritization and get access to. The materials and the inputs that they need. But you asked what the thing is to look out for. I think for me, I'm with Andrew on look at those mom and pop machine shops and other sort of small but important parts of the supply chain. I think the biggest unknown here is maybe where there are small suppliers that enter into upstream in different kinds of supply chains, right? So you might have a look at the supply chain for one kind of satellite or one kind…

Colleen Stover

Andrew, any last words? We're almost at time here, so I wanted to offer you something.

Andrew Berglund

Yeah, I guess I would just say I think the industry needs consistency. And I think, again, kind of going back to some of the acquisition transformation work, we're in a period where I think there's more bipartisan consensus that stronger interventions are needed. And we just need to see that work…

Colleen Stover

Love it. That's great. Well, thank you both very much for joining today. This was kind of a primer, really, like looking across that whole kind of space economy. What is it? What is it not? Where are the vulnerabilities? And I really appreciate you guys being here.

Speaker names come from our own diarization. The position is estimated from where the line sits in the episode.

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