I disagree I think the Air Force can handle the job better. Navy to me is more of sea based service..
A mailing list which I'm on has discussed this.
The consensus was that which branch should handle it will depend on typical mission length. The navy has experience at handling multi week/multi month missions. On the other hand the air force is most skilled at multi-hour missions. Will the typical military space mission be a long time is space or a launch/couple of orbits/land operation?
Here's the thinking: Air Force operates short missions. Navy goes to sea in ships for extended periods. Probably the Army will reabsorb the Air Force eventually or the Navy will take over Air Force functions. This will occur especially as human pilots are taken out of service in favor of robot control. A true Space Force would involve ships. Ships means Navy.
I'm for the Navy w/ Marine Corp on this one. Seems like the Airforce is more of a desk based service.... :)