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List of active duty United States Space Force general officers

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Lt Gen Saltzman being presented with the very first three-star flag in the U.S. Space Force during his promotion, 14 August 2020.

This is a list of active duty United States Space Force general officers. There are 28 active duty general officers in the U.S. Space Force: three generals, five lieutenant generals, 10 major generals, and 10 brigadier generals. Among the 28, 20 of them serve in positions in the Space Force, while eight serve in joint positions. All of them transferred from the United States Air Force. Space Force general officers, like in other U.S. armed services, are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate.

List of generals

[edit]
U.S. Space Force general flag
No. Portrait Name Date of rank Current position Ref
1
B. Chance Saltzman
B. Chance Saltzman
B. Chance Saltzman 2 November 2022 Chief of Space Operations [1]
2
Michael A. Guetlein
Michael A. Guetlein
Michael Guetlein 21 December 2023 Vice Chief of Space Operations [2]
3
Stephen N. Whiting
Stephen N. Whiting
Stephen Whiting 10 January 2024 Commander, United States Space Command [3]

List of lieutenant generals

[edit]
U.S. Space Force lieutenant general flag
No. Portrait Name Date of rank Current position Ref
1
Philip A. Garrant
Philip A. Garrant
Philip Garrant 2 August 2022 Commander, Space Systems Command [4]
2
DeAnna M. Burt
DeAnna M. Burt
DeAnna Burt 1 December 2022 Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear [5]
3
Douglas A. Schiess
Douglas A. Schiess
Douglas Schiess 6 December 2023 Commander, United States Space Forces – Space and
Combined Joint Space Force Component Commander, United States Space Command
[6]
4
Shawn N. Bratton
Shawn N. Bratton
Shawn Bratton 22 December 2023 Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Strategy, Plans, Programs, and Requirements [7]
5
David N. Miller Jr.
David N. Miller Jr.
David N. Miller 9 January 2024 Commander, Space Operations Command [8]

List of major generals

[edit]
U.S. Space Force major general flag
No. Portrait Name Date of rank Current position Ref
1
Christopher S. Povak
Christopher S. Povak
Christopher Povak 29 September 2022 Deputy Director, National Reconnaissance Office and
Commander, Space Force Element to the National Reconnaissance Office
[9]
2
Steven P. Whitney
Steven P. Whitney
Steven P. Whitney 29 September 2022 Director of Staff [10]
3
Gregory J. Gagnon
Gregory J. Gagnon
Gregory Gagnon 29 September 2022 Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence [11]
4
Stephen G. Purdy Jr.
Stephen G. Purdy Jr.
Stephen G. Purdy 1 December 2022 Military Deputy, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration [12]
5
D. Jason Cothern
D. Jason Cothern
D. Jason Cothern 6 December 2023 Program Executive for Ground-Based Weapon Systems, Missile Defense Agency [13]
6
Troy L. Endicott
Troy L. Endicott
Troy Endicott 6 December 2023 Director of Global Space Operations, United States Space Command [14]
7
Timothy A. Sejba
Timothy A. Sejba
Timothy Sejba 6 December 2023 Commander, Space Training and Readiness Command [15]
8
Dennis O. Bythewood
Dennis O. Bythewood
Dennis Bythewood 3 May 2024 Special Assistant to the Chief of Space Operations [16]
9
Devin R. Pepper
Devin R. Pepper
Devin Pepper 20 June 2024 Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Plans, and Policy, Allied Command Transformation [17]
10
James E. Smith
James E. Smith
James E. Smith 21 June 2024 Vice Director for Joint Force Development, Joint Staff [18]

List of brigadier generals

[edit]
U.S. Space Force brigadier general flag
No. Portrait Name Date of rank Current position Ref
1
Anthony J. Mastalir
Anthony J. Mastalir
Anthony Mastalir 1 October 2022 Commander, United States Space Forces – Indo-Pacific [19]
2
Brian D. Sidari
Brian D. Sidari
Brian Sidari 2 October 2022 Director, Intelligence, United States Space Command [20]
3
Jacob Middleton Jr.
Jacob Middleton Jr.
Jacob Middleton Jr. 23 December 2022 Commander, United States Space Forces – Europe and Africa [21]
4
Robert J. Hutt
Robert J. Hutt
Robert Hutt 8 July 2023 Legislative Liaison of the United States Space Force [22]
5
Kristen L. Panzenhagen
Kristen L. Panzenhagen
Kristin Panzenhagen 16 December 2023 PEO for Assured Access to Space,
Director of Launch and Range Operations, Space Systems Command,
Commander, Space Launch Delta 45, and
Director, Eastern Range
[23]
6
Matthew S. Cantore
Matthew S. Cantore
Matthew Cantore 1 February 2024 Deputy Commander, Space Training and Readiness Command [24]
7
Brian A. Denaro
Brian A. Denaro
Brian Denaro 1 February 2024 Director, Plans and Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Plans, Programs, Requirements, and Analysis [25]
8
Zachary S. Warakomski
Zachary S. Warakomski
Shay Warakomski 7 June 2024 Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear [26]
9
Chandler P. Atwood
Chandler P. Atwood
Chandler Atwood 11 June 2024 Vice Commander and Deputy Commanding General (Operations), Space Operations Command [27]
10
Robert J. Schreiner
Robert J. Schreiner
Robert Schreiner 12 June 2024 Deputy Director for Operations, Joint Staff [28]


History

[edit]

Number of general officers

[edit]
Major General Burt (left) is sworn into the Space Force, May 2021, transferring from the U.S. Air Force.

Before the establishment of the Space Force, the Space Force Planning Task Force considered two different scenarios or models for the number of general officers in the new service: the lean and demanding models. The lean Space Force model called for 41 general officers with three generals, six lieutenant generals, 12 major generals, and 20 brigadier generals. The demanding Space Force model, on the other hand, has 45 general officers with three generals, six lieutenant generals, 13 major generals, and 23 brigadier generals.[29]

By August 2020, General John W. Raymond noted that there would only be 21 general officers in the Space Force.[30] In 2022, this was codified by the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, specifying the number of statutory billets in each rank: two generals, five lieutenant generals, six major generals, and eight brigadier generals. It also required that a minimum of six Space Force general officers be assigned at joint duty assignments.[31][32]

Asked by the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services whether the 21 general officer billets in the Space Force are sufficient, Lieutenant General B. Chance Saltzman, in his written statement in 2022, responded that it is not sustainable. He believes that it is not sufficient to sustain the two four-star posts in the service and effectively represent the Space Force in the Joint Staff and the unified combatant commands.[33] He hopes to increase the number of general officers to 36: two generals, six lieutenant generals, 12 major generals, and 16 brigadier generals.[34]

Transfers from the Air Force (2020–2021)

[edit]
Brigadier General Devin R. Pepper, the first prior-enlisted and African American general officer in the Space Force, speaks during his promotion ceremony, 2021.[35]

The Space Force was established by redesignating the United States Air Force's Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) as the United States Space Force on 20 December 2019. Thus, the very first general officers in the Space Force were general officers in the Air Force's space operations and space acquisitions career fields. Immediately after the establishment of the Space Force, then-AFSPC commander, General John W. Raymond, was appointed as the first chief of space operations. He then became the first member of the new service, and hence the very first general officer in the Space Force.[36]

By July 2020, four U.S. Air Force major generals were nominated for transfer to the Space Force and promotion to lieutenant generals.[37] On 14 August 2020, then-Major General B. Chance Saltzman transferred to the Space Force and was promoted to lieutenant general, becoming the service's lieutenant general and the first general officer promoted in the new service.[38] Three days later, then-Major General Nina Armagno also transferred to the Space Force and was promoted to lieutenant general, becoming the service's first female general officer.[39]

On 1 October 2020, then-U.S. Air Force lieutenant general David D. Thompson transferred into the Space Force and was promoted to general, becoming the first to hold the office of vice chief of space operations.[40]

In April 2021, three U.S. Air Force major generals and six brigadier generals were nominated for transfer into the Space Force, all of them career space professionals working either space operations or space acquisitions.[41][42] On May 7, 2021, Major General DeAnna Burt transferred to the Space Force, becoming the first major general of the service.[43]

General Raymond (left) administers the oath of office to Brigadier General Gregory Gagnon, the first non-career space operations or space acquisitions officer general officer in the Space Force, during his first transfer ceremony, 2021.

On 19 October 2021, U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Gregory Gagnon transferred into the Space Force after volunteering. A career intelligence and cyber officer, he is the first general officer of the service who is a non-career space professional, or not coming from either space operations or space acquisitions career fields.[44]

First direct promotions and expansion (2021–present)

[edit]

The Space Force had transferred 17 general officers from the Air Force. By October 2021, after the transfers from the Air Force, the Space Force had 21 general officers: two generals, six lieutenant generals, three major generals, and 10 brigadier generals. This included the first officers promoted into general officer ranks since the creation of the service. In January 2021, four colonels were nominated for promotion to brigadier general, becoming the first Space Force general officers who were promoted directly as brigadier generals in the service.[45]

In 2022, the number of major generals in the Space Force doubled from three to seven. Five colonels were nominated for promotion to brigadier general, bringing the total number of general officers to 24.[46]

Timeline

[edit]
5
10
15
20
25
30
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024

Historical firsts

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Not transferring from the Air Force as a general officer

Sources

[edit]
  1. ^ "General B. Chance Saltzman". United States Space Force. November 2022. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "General Michael A. Guetlein". United States Space Force. January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ "General Stephen N. Whiting". United States Space Force. June 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ "Lieutenant General Philip A. Garrant". United States Space Force. August 2022. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ "Lieutenant General DeAnna M. Burt". United States Space Force. October 2023. Archived from the original on 30 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ "Lieutenant General Douglas A. Schiess". United States Space Force. December 2023. Archived from the original on 23 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. ^ "Lieutenant General Shawn N. Bratton". United States Space Force. October 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. ^ "Lieutenant General David N. Miller, Jr". United States Space Force. August 2023. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. ^ "Major General Christopher S. Povak". United States Space Force. October 2023. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  10. ^ "Major General Steven P. Whitney". United States Space Force. July 2023. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  11. ^ "Major General Gregory J. Gagnon". United States Space Force. October 2023. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  12. ^ "Major General Stephen G. Purdy, Jr". United States Space Force. October 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  13. ^ "Major General D. Jason Cothern". United States Space Force. October 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  14. ^ "Major General Troy L. Endicott". United States Space Force. October 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  15. ^ "Major General Timothy A. Sejba". United States Space Force. March 2022. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  16. ^ "Brigadier General Dennis O. Bythewood". United States Space Force. October 2023. Archived from the original on 23 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  17. ^ "Major General Devin R. Pepper". NATO ACT. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Major General James E. Smith". United States Space Force. July 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  19. ^ "Brigadier General Anthony J. Mastalir". United States Space Force. October 2023. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  20. ^ "Brigadier General Brian D. Sidari". United States Space Force. October 2022. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  21. ^ "Brigadier General Jacob Middleton, Jr". United States Space Force. October 2023. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  22. ^ "Brigadier General Robert J. Hutt". United States Space Force. October 2023. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  23. ^ "Brigadier General Kristin L. Panzenhagen". Space Launch Delta 45. June 2023. Archived from the original on 13 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  24. ^ "Brigadier General Matthew S. Cantore". United States Space Force. March 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  25. ^ "Brigadier General Brian A. Denaro". United States Space Force. June 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  26. ^ "Brigadier General Zachary S. Warakomski". United States Space Force. June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  27. ^ "Brigadier General Chandler P. Atwood". Space Operations Command. June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  28. ^ "Brigadier General Robert J. Schreiner". United States Space Force. July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  29. ^ "A Separate Space: Creating a Military Service for Space" (PDF). RAND Corporation. 2020. p. 67. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  30. ^ Maj. Gen. B. Chance Saltzman promotion. Defense Flash News. 14 August 2020. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022 – via YouTube.
  31. ^ "H.R.7776 - James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023". United States Congress. 16 May 2022. Archived from the original on 24 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  32. ^ 10 U.S.C. § 526a
  33. ^ "Senate Armed Services Committee Advance Policy Questions for Lieutenant General Bradley C. Saltzman, US Space Force, Nominee for Appointment to be Chief of Space Operations of the Space Force" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on Armed Services. 13 September 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2022. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  34. ^ Naegele, Tobias (27 November 2022). "Q&A: The New Chief of Space Operations on Empowering the Force". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  35. ^ "The deputy director of #USSPACECOM's Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate received his first star yesterday at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Brig. Gen. Devin Pepper is the first prior-enlisted and first African American general officer in the United States Space Force. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1989 and commissioned through the Officer Training School in 1996. Before coming to Peterson Space Force Base, Pepper was Buckley Space Force Base's garrison commander". Facebook. 17 August 2021.
  36. ^ Pawlyk, Oriana (14 February 2020). "US Space Force Gets 1st Senior Enlisted Adviser". Military.com. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  37. ^ Cohen, Rachel S. (29 July 2020). "Space Force Boss's Office Staffs Up". Air Force Magazine. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  38. ^ Richardson, James (14 August 2020). "U.S. Space Force promotes first general officer". United States Space Force. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  39. ^ Erwin, Sandra (17 August 2020). "Armagno becomes the U.S. Space Force's first female general officer". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  40. ^ Kirby, Lynn (4 October 2021). "First-ever Vice CSO joins U.S. Space Force". United States Space Force. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  41. ^ "PN351 — Space Force". United States Congress. 13 April 2021. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  42. ^ "PN352 — Space Force". United States Congress. 13 April 2021. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  43. ^ "CFSCC's Combined Space Operations Center hosts first International Space Day celebration". Space Operations Command (SpOC). 7 May 2021. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  44. ^ "Mollie Raymond on LinkedIn: Thank you Brig Gen Greg Gagnon for volunteering to transfer to the". www.linkedin.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  45. ^ "General Officer Announcements". United States Department of Defense. 8 January 2021. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  46. ^ "PN2050 - 5 nominees for Space Force, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". United States Congress. 29 July 2021. Archived from the original on 4 May 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2022.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.