List of United States Space Force four-star generals

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four-star general

The rank of general (or full general, or four-star general), ranks above lieutenant general (three-star general) and is the highest rank achievable in the United States Space Force.

Contents

There have been five four-star generals in the history of the U.S. Space Force. All achieved that rank while on active duty. Generals entered the Space Force via several paths: Two were commissioned via the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) and three were commissioned via the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC).

List of generals

The following lists of four-star generals are sortable by last name, date of rank. The date listed is that of the officer's first promotion to general, and may differ from the officer's entry in the U.S. Space Force register. The year commissioned is taken to be the year the officer was commissioned which may precede the officer's actual date of commission by up to two years. Each entry lists the general's name, date of rank, active-duty position held while serving at four-star rank, number of years of active-duty service at four-star rank (Yrs), year commissioned and source of commission, number of years in commission when promoted to four-star rank (YC), and other biographical notes.

No.NamePhotoDate of rankPosition(s)Yrs.CommissionYC.Notes
1 John W. Raymond Gen John W. Raymond (5).jpg 25 Oct 2016  61984 (AFROTC)32(born 1962) [2]
2 David D. Thompson Gen David D. Thompson (3).jpg 1 Oct 2020 [3] 31985 (USAFA)35(born 1963) [2]
3 B. Chance Saltzman Gen B. Chance Saltzman.jpg 2 Nov 2022  31991 (AFROTC)31(born 1969) [4]
4 Michael A. Guetlein Gen Michael A. Guetlein.jpg 21 Dec 2023  21991 (AFROTC)31(born 1967) [5]
5 Stephen N. Whiting Gen Stephen N. Whiting.jpg 10 Jan 2024  11989 (USAFA)35(born 1967) [6]

History

Four-star positions

Structure of the United States Space ForceUnified combatant commandList of United States Space Force four-star generals

2019–present

The modern rank of general was established by the Officer Personnel Act of 1947, which authorized the President to designate certain positions of importance to carry that rank. Officers appointed to such positions bear temporary four-star rank while so serving, and are allowed to retire at that rank if their performance is judged satisfactory. [7] The total number of active-duty four-star generals in the Space Force is limited to a fixed percentage of the number of Space Force general officers serving at all ranks. [8]

Within the Space Force, the chief of space operations (CSO) is a four-star general by statute. Other four-star generals can occupy positions of designated importance; including the vice chief of space operations (VCSO) and the commander of the United States Space Command (USSPACECOM).

The Space Force also competes with the other services for a number of joint four-star positions, such as the chairman (CJCS) and vice chairman (VJCS) of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Other joint four-star positions have included unified combatant commanders, sub-unified combatant commands, and certain NATO staff positions.

Stephen WhitingMichael GuetleinB. Chance SaltzmanDavid D. ThompsonJohn W. RaymondWar in Afghanistan (2001–2021)List of United States Space Force four-star generals

Legislation

The following list of Congressional legislation includes major acts of Congress pertaining to appointments to the grade of general in the United States Space Force.

LegislationCitationSummary
Act of December 20, 2019

[United States Space Force Act]

 133  Stat.   1561
 133  Stat.   1563
  • Redesignated Air Force Space Command as U.S. Space Force.
  • Established chief of space operations with grade of general, who could serve concurrently as commander of U.S. Space Command for one year following the enactment of this Act, without further appointment (John W. Raymond).
Act of December 23, 2022 136  Stat.   2557
  • Capped Space Force officers in the grade of general at 2, exempting generals assigned to joint duty.

See also

Related Research Articles

United States military seniority is the method by which the United States Armed Forces determines precedence among commissioned officers, in particular those who hold the same rank. Seniority is used to determine assignments, tactical commands, promotions and general courtesy. To a lesser extent, historical seniority is used to recognize status of honor given to early United States military leaders such as inaugural holders of certain ranks or those officers who served as leadership during major wars and armed conflicts.

Admiral is a four-star commissioned officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps with the pay grade of O-10. Admiral ranks above vice admiral and below fleet admiral in the Navy; the Coast Guard and the Public Health Service do not have an established grade above admiral. Admiral is equivalent to the rank of general in the other uniformed services. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps has never had an officer hold the grade of admiral. However, 37 U.S.C. § 201 of the U.S. Code established the grade for the NOAA Corps, in case a position is created that merits the four-star grade.

In the United States military, a general is the most senior general-grade officer; it is the highest achievable commissioned officer rank that may be attained in the United States Armed Forces, with exception of the Navy and Coast Guard, which have the equivalent rank of admiral instead. The official and formal insignia of "general" is defined by its four stars.

In the United States Armed Forces, a lieutenant general is a three-star general officer in the United States Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.

In the United States Armed Forces, a brigadier general is a one-star general officer in the United States Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rear admiral (United States)</span> Flag officer rank of the USN, USCG, USPHS, and NOAA Corps

A rear admiral in four of the uniformed services of the United States is one of two distinct ranks of commissioned officers; "rear admiral (lower half)," a one-star flag officer, and "rear admiral" (sometimes referred to as "rear admiral (upper half)"), a two-star flag officer. The two ranks are only utilized by the United States Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps. In contrast, in most other nations' rank-bearing services, the term "rear admiral" refers exclusively to two-star flag officer rank.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Held this four-star position(s) while serving in the U.S. Air Force.
  2. 1 2 Served 35 years in the U.S. Air Force before being unilaterally transferred to the Space Force.
  3. ↑ Thompson's effective date-of-rank is October 1, 2020, which is one day before he assumed the office of vice chief of space operations.
  4. ↑ Served 29 years in the U.S. Air Force before being unilaterally transferred to the Space Force.
  5. ↑ Served 30 years in the U.S. Air Force before being unilaterally transferred to the Space Force.
  6. ↑ Served 31 years in the U.S. Air Force before being unilaterally transferred to the Space Force.
  7. ↑ 10 USC 601, Positions of importance and responsibility: generals and lieutenant generals; admirals and vice admirals {{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ 10 USC 525, Distribution of commissioned officers on active duty in general officer and flag officer grades {{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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