Over the past 15 years, gamma-ray observations have become a cornerstone of the rapidly expanding field of multi-messenger astronomy. Gamma-ray astronomy has helped revolutionize our view of the non-thermal universe and galvanized our search for the powerful natural particle accelerators found throughout the cosmos. These advances have relied on the capabilities of both the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (sensitive to energies between 30 MeV and 1 TeV) and the ground-based very high energy (VHE; E>85 GeV) gamma-ray observatories VERITAS, H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and HAWC.
Our progress has left us with as many new questions as we have answers. In the long term, these fresh questions may be addressed by next-generation observatories using new technology. However, much can be done now by expanding the capabilities of existing instruments and by more effectively combining data from the different observatories. I will outline a promising new approach that extends the reach of the gamma-ray observatory VERITAS while providing a natural context for combining data from multiple instruments. I will also consider the application of this approach to several of the field's outstanding questions and goals.
