A deputy chief of space operations is a senior leadership position in the United States Space Force. There are four deputy chiefs of space operations in the Space Force, staffed either by a lieutenant general or a senior executive service personnel. They are the service's equivalent to the Army's and Air Force's deputy chiefs of staff, the Marine Corps' deputy commandants, and the Navy's deputy chiefs of naval operations. They are part of the Office of the Chief of Space Operations and hold office at the Pentagon.
The proposed organizational structure of the Space Force's headquarters was first revealed in a February 2020 congressional report, with directors instead of deputy chiefs of space operations. Intending to be "lean and agile", the service consolidated the normal nine functional areas into three directorates. [1] In a June 2020 draft proposal, the position was renamed deputy chiefs of staff. [2] On July 29, 2020, the first two deputy chiefs of operations were nominated. [3] The Space Force adopted C-suite titles in designing their senior leadership positions. [4]
The deputy chief of space operations for human capital [a] (S1 or SF/CHCO) [5] is the chief human capital officer of the Space Force. [6] The CHCO directs the Space Force's personnel management, which encompasses force structure analysis, personnel programs, civilian personnel, readiness, senior officer matters, quality force issues, equal opportunity, and family support. [7]
No. | Deputy Chief of Space Operations | Term | Ref. | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | ||
1 | Patricia Mulcahy (born c. 1958) | August 2020 | 3 June 2022 | ~1 year, 292 days | [11] | |
2 | Katharine Kelley (born c. 1977) | ~13 July 2022 | Incumbent | ~2 years, 214 days | [12] |
The deputy chief of space operations for intelligence (S2) is the senior intelligence officer of the Space Force. The S2 has intelligence policy, oversight, and guidance of Space Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. The S2 is responsible for the Space Force Intelligence Community Element to the United States Intelligence Community and is the chief of the Service Cryptologic Component with delegated authorities from the Director of the National Security Agency. [13] The position was originally the director of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance under the COO. It was moved out as a separate position on 12 April 2023. [14]
No. | Deputy Chief of Space Operations | Term | Ref. | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | ||
1 | Leah Lauderback (born 1971) | Major General~August 2020 | July 2022 | ~1 year, 334 days | [20] | |
2 | Gregory Gagnon (born 1972) | Major GeneralJuly 2022 | Incumbent | ~2 years, 212 days | [21] |
The deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber, and nuclear (S3/4/6/7/10 or SF/COO) [5] is the chief operations officer of the Space Force. [6] The COO has overall responsibility for the Space Force's operations, sustainment, cyber, and nuclear operations. [22]
No. | Deputy Chief of Space Operations | Term | Ref. | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | ||
1 | B. Chance Saltzman (born 1969) | Lieutenant General7 August 2020 | 2 November 2022 | 2 years, 87 days | [27] | |
- | Troy Endicott (born 1971) Acting | Brigadier General2 November 2022 | 1 December 2022 | 29 days | [28] | |
2 | DeAnna Burt (born 1969) | Lieutenant General1 December 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 73 days | [29] |
The deputy chief of space operations for strategy, plans, programs, requirements (S5/8 or SF/CSRO) is the chief strategy and resourcing officer of the Space Force. [6] The CSRO has overall responsibility for the Space Force's strategies, requirements, and budget. [30]
No. | Deputy Chief of Space Operations | Term | Ref. | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | ||
1 | William Liquori (born c. 1969) | Lieutenant General7 August 2020 | 1 August 2022 | 1 year, 359 days | [39] | |
2 | Philip Garrant (born c. 1969) | Lieutenant General2 August 2022 | 22 December 2023 | 1 year, 142 days | [40] | |
3 | Shawn Bratton (born 1968) | Lieutenant General22 December 2023 | Incumbent | 1 year, 52 days | [41] |
The deputy chief of space operations for cyber and data (S6) [4] [5] is the chief technology and innovation officer of the Space Force. [6] [42] Originally the deputy chief of space operations for technology and innovation, the position was redesignated as deputy chief of space operations for cyber and data on 19 November 2024. [14]
No. | Deputy Chief of Space Operations | Term | Ref. | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | ||
– | Kimberly Crider (born c. 1964) Acting | Major GeneralAugust 2020 | May 2021 | ~273 days | [47] | |
– | John M. Olson (born c. 1970) Acting | Brigadier GeneralMay 2021 | September 2021 | ~123 days | [48] | |
1 | Lisa A. Costa (born c. 1964) | September 2021 | June 2024 | ~2 years, 274 days | [49] | |
– | Nathan L. Iven (born c. 1974) Acting | ColonelJune 2024 | Incumbent | ~242 days | [50] |
No. | Assistant Chief of Space Operations | Term | Ref. | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | ||
1 | Paul Godfrey | Air Marshal17 June 2024 | Incumbent | 240 days | [51] |
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