Stephen Whiting

Last updated

Stephen Whiting
Gen Stephen N. Whiting.jpg
Official portrait, 2024
Born (1967-09-14) September 14, 1967 (age 56)
Ocean Springs, Mississippi, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Branch
Years of service1989–present
Rank General
Commands held
United States Space Command
Awards
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Alma mater
United States Air Force Academy (BS)
Signature Stephen N. Whiting svgsignature.png
Stephen Whiting's voice
Whiting testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on the state of U.S. Space Command
Recorded February 29, 2024

Stephen Newman Whiting (born September 14, 1967) is a United States Space Force general who serves as the commander of the United States Space Command. He previously served as the first commander of Space Operations Command from 2020 to 2024. [1]

Contents

Whiting entered the United States Air Force in 1989 as a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He is a space operations officer, commanding the 13th Space Warning Squadron, the 614th Air and Space Operations Center and Joint Space Operations Center, the 21st Space Wing, and the Combined Force Space Component Command and Fourteenth Air Force. He has also served staff assignments at the Air Force headquarters, United States Space Command, United States Strategic Command, the Chief of Naval Operations’ Strategic Studies Group, the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Defense, and the Air Force Space Command. Whiting transferred to the Space Force in 2020.

Whiting transferred to the Space Force in 2020 and became the first commander of Space Operations Command. In 2024, he was promoted to general and took command of the U.S. Space Command.

Early life and education

Whiting as a cadet at USAFA, 1989 Cdt Stephen N. Whiting (4).jpg
Whiting as a cadet at USAFA, 1989

Whiting was born on September 14, 1967, in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. [2] He studied at Ocean Springs High School, where he was a class officer and member of the soccer team that won four state championships. [3] [4]

In 1989, Whiting received a B.A. degree in aeronautical engineering from the United States Air Force Academy as a distinguished graduate. He then received an M.A. in administrative sciences (organizational management) in 1997 from the George Washington University. He also has M.A. degrees in military operational arts and sciences from the Air Command and Staff College and airpower strategy from the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. He has also attended the Senior Executives in National and International Security program of the Harvard Kennedy School in 2017. He has also studied in the Squadron Officer School and Joint Forces Staff College as part of his professional military education. [5]

Military career

Air Force

Whiting touring Vice President Mike Pence to the Combined Space Operations Center, July 2019. Vice President Pence visits VAFB (4).jpg
Whiting touring Vice President Mike Pence to the Combined Space Operations Center, July 2019.

Whiting was commissioned into the United States Air Force as a second lieutenant on May 31, 1989, as a distinguished graduate from the United States Air Force Academy. A year later, he finished undergraduate space training at 14th Student Squadron at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado, as the top graduate and distinguished graduate. From 1990 to 1993, he served on his first operational assignment at the 6th Space Warning Squadron at Cape Cod Air Force Station in Massachusetts as a crew commander, deputy chief of training, and chief of standardization and evaluation. [5]

As a captain, Whiting served as a radar systems officer at the 21st Operations Support Squadron in Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado from 1993 to 1994. After that, he served a year as the executive officer for the 21st Operations Group. In 1995, he was reassigned to Washington, D.C. as an Air Force intern while he studied at the George Washington University. From 1997 to 1999, he was stationed at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado as UHF Follow-On satellite satellite vehicle operator, crew commander, and operations flight commander for the 3rd Space Operations Squadron. [5]

Whiting talks to Col Grant during a tour at Schriever Air Force Base. 14th AF CC visits Schriever (1).jpg
Whiting talks to Col Grant during a tour at Schriever Air Force Base.

Whiting was promoted to major on July 1, 1999. At this time, he was working as an operations officer for the 22nd Space Operations Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base. From 2000 to 2002, he studied at the Air Command and Staff College and School of Advanced Air and Space Studies at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. After studying, he was assigned as a regional policy officer at the United States Space Command, during which time the combatant command was disestablished, thereby he continuing this role at United States Strategic Command West. After that assignment, he was selected to serve as special assistant to the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, Admiral James O. Ellis, for a year. [5]

In July 2004, Whiting took command of the 13th Space Warning Squadron at Clear Air Force Station, Alaska. He relinquished command a year later when he was selected as an Air Force fellow at the RAND Corporation. From June 2006 to June 2008, he served as commander of the 614th Air and Space Operations Center and director of the Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. After his second command tour, he was selected as a Chief of Staff U.S. Air Force Fellow assigned at the Chief of Naval Operations' Strategic Studies Group in Newport, Rhode Island. [5]

From August 2009 to June 2011, Whiting served as commander of the 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force Base. After that, he served as a military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, for whom he also served as senior military assistant. [5]

Retired Col Sutton, Col Smith, Maj Gen Whiting, and Brig Gen Burt during the Cyber Defense Correlation Cell-Space ribbon cutting ceremony in October 2019. Cyber Defense Correlation Cell for Space stands up.jpg
Retired Col Sutton, Col Smith, Maj Gen Whiting, and Brig Gen Burt during the Cyber Defense Correlation Cell-Space ribbon cutting ceremony in October 2019.

On July 8, 2013, Whiting was promoted to brigadier general and assigned as vice commander of the Air Force Warfare Center. Two years later, he was selected to lead Air Force Space Command's (AFSPC) Space Enterprise Vision Team. After that, he was assigned as director of integrated air, space, and cyberspace and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance of AFSPC. In 2017, he also served as the lead for the Joint Force Space Component Command (JFSCC) Integration Team. [5]

In December 2017, Whiting took command of the Fourteenth Air Force (14 AF) and became deputy commander of JFSCC. In August 2019, JFSCC was inactivated and the U.S. Space Command was reestablished. Consequently, the Combined Force Space Component Command (CFSCC) was stood up and he took command of the new unit. Three months later, in November 2019, he relinquished command of CFSCC and 14AF to Major General John E. Shaw and became deputy commander of AFSPC. [5]

Space Force

On December 20, 2019, the United States Space Force was established and AFSPC was temporarily designated as Headquarters, United States Space Force. Whiting thus continued to serve as deputy commander of Headquarters, United States Space Force. In August 2020, he was one of the first general officers nominated to transfer to the Space Force and promoted to general. He was also selected to serve as the first commander of Space Operations Command (SpOC). [6] On October 21, 2020, SpOC was established and Whiting became its first commander. [7]

In July 2023, Whiting was nominated for promotion to general and appointment as commander of the United States Space Command. [8] [9] He was confirmed on December 19, 2023. [10] On January 10, 2024, he took command of the United States Space Command from General James H. Dickinson. [11] In February 2024, he released his strategic vision as commander of the combatant command. [12] [13]

Personal life

Whiting is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Whiting. His father is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel. He married Tammy Lynn Preslar on June 1, 1989. [14] [15]

Awards and decorations

Whiting (right) after receiving the French Ordre national du Merite, November 2021. Lt. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting receives French National Order of Merit (4).jpg
Whiting (right) after receiving the French Ordre national du Mérite, November 2021.

Whiting is the recipient of the following awards: [5]

USAF Command Space Badge.png Command Space Operations Badge
USAF - Cyberspace Operator Wings Basic.png Basic Cyberspace Operator Badge
Office of the Secretary of Defense identification badge.svg
Office of the Secretary of Defense Badge
United States Space Command emblem 2019.svg
United States Space Command Badge
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon.svg
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Superior Service Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg
Legion of Merit with two bronze oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Meritorious Service ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Force Commendation ribbon.svg
Joint Service Commendation Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal ribbon.svg Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (USMC and USN frame).svg Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Organizational Excellence ribbon.svg
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal ribbon.svg Combat Readiness Medal
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
AF OS Short Tour Ribbon.svg Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Longevity Service Award USAF.svg
Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Training Ribbon.svg Air Force Training Ribbon
Ordre national du Merite Chevalier ribbon.svg French National Order of Merit (Knight) [16]

Dates of promotion

Whiting getting his third star prior to taking command of Space Operations Command, October 21, 2020. Lt Gen Whiting Promotion.jpg
Whiting getting his third star prior to taking command of Space Operations Command, October 21, 2020.
RankBranchDate
US Air Force O1 shoulderboard rotated.svg Second Lieutenant Air ForceMay 31, 1989
US Air Force O2 shoulderboard rotated.svg First Lieutenant May 31, 1991
US Air Force O3 shoulderboard rotated.svg Captain May 31, 1993
US Air Force O4 shoulderboard rotated.svg Major July 1, 1999
US Air Force O5 shoulderboard rotated.svg Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2002
US Air Force O6 shoulderboard rotated.svg Colonel March 1, 2006
US Air Force O7 shoulderboard rotated.svg Brigadier General July 8, 2013
US Air Force O8 shoulderboard rotated.svg Major General May 2, 2017
US Air Force O9 shoulderboard rotated.svg Lieutenant General Space ForceOctober 21, 2020
US Space-force O10 h.svg General January 10, 2024

Writings

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">614th Air Operations Center</span> Military unit

The 614th Air Operations Center was a space operations center of the United States Space Force's Space Operations Command. It served as the core of the Combined Space Operations Center, as well as serving as the Space Force's primary force provider to the CSpOC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">13th Space Warning Squadron</span> Military unit

The 13th Space Warning Squadron (13SWS) is a missile warning unit assigned to the United States Space Force and located at Clear Space Force Station 5 miles (8 km) south of Anderson, Alaska

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard E. Webber</span>

Richard E. Webber is a retired United States Air Force major general. He was the first commander of the Twenty-Fourth Air Force, which was focused on cyberspace operations. The Twenty-Fourth Air Force was located in San Antonio, Texas, and was stood up in place of the originally proposed larger Major Command organization, Air Force Cyber Command. Webber graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1975 and has worked in the space and missile career field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cary C. Chun</span> United States Air Force general

Brigadier General Cary C. Chun is a retired senior officer of the United States Air Force. He served as the Deputy Commander, Operations and Interagency Integration, Joint Functional Component Command for Space, United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), and the Director for Mission Operations, National Reconnaissance Office. In this role, he led all Department of Defense space forces aligned with USSTRATCOM and provided tailored, responsive, local and global effects in support of national, USSTRATCOM and combatant commander objectives. As Director for Mission Operations, he led operations for all NRO overhead reconnaissance systems, ground stations, operational communications, and the operations center used to conduct intelligence activities essential for the national security of the United States and its allies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John W. Raymond</span> 1st U.S. Space Force chief of space operations

John William Raymond is a retired United States Space Force general who served as the first chief of space operations from 2019 to 2022. The first guardian, he served as commander of the United States Space Command from 2019 to 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John E. Hyten</span> 11th vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (born 1959)

John Earl Hyten is a retired United States Air Force general who served as the 11th vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2019 to 2021. A career space operations and acquisitions officer, he commanded the United States Strategic Command from 2016 to 2019 and the Air Force Space Command from 2014 to 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph T. Guastella</span> United States Air Force general

Joseph Thomas Guastella Jr. is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Air Force who served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the United States Air Force. He was commissioned upon his graduation from the United States Air Force Academy in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David D. Thompson</span> 1st U.S. Space Force vice chief of space operations

David Dean Thompson is a retired United States Space Force general who served as the first vice chief of space operations from 2020 to 2023. He served as the vice commander of the Air Force Space Command from 2018 to 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space Operations Command</span> U.S. Space Force space, cyber, and intelligence field command

Space Operations Command (SpOC) is the United States Space Force's space operations, cyber operations, and intelligence field command. Headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, it consists of its mission deltas, and garrison commands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John E. Shaw</span> U.S. Space Force general

John Edwin Shaw is a retired United States Space Force lieutenant general who last served as the deputy commander of the United States Space Command from 2020 to 2023. He previously served as commander of the Combined Force Space Component Command and deputy commander of Space Operations Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brook J. Leonard</span> U.S. Air Force general

Brook Jason Leonard is a retired United States Air Force major general who last served as the deputy commander and director of operations of Combined Joint Task Force–Space Operations. He previously served as the chief of staff of the United States Space Command. A fighter pilot, he has commanded the 321st Air Expeditionary Wing, 56th Fighter Wing, and 51st Fighter Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B. Chance Saltzman</span> 2nd U.S. Space Force chief of space operations

Bradley Chance Saltzman is a United States Space Force general who is the second and current chief of space operations. He served as the deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber, and nuclear from 2020 to 2022. He is the first lieutenant general and the first general officer promoted into the Space Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas Schiess</span> U.S. Space Force general officer

Douglas Andrew Schiess is a United States Space Force lieutenant general who serves as the commander of United States Space Forces – Space and combined joint force space component commander of the United States Space Command. He previously served as the commander of Combined Force Space Component Command and vice commander of Space Operations Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeAnna Burt</span> U.S. Space Force general

DeAnna Marie Burt is a United States Space Force lieutenant general who has served as the deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber, and nuclear since 2022. She is the first female major general and second female general officer in the Space Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David N. Miller</span> U.S. Space Force general

David N. Miller Jr. is a United States Space Force lieutenant general who has served as the commander of Space Operations Command. He previously served as the director of operations, training, and force development of the United States Space Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd R. Moore</span> U.S. Space Force general

Todd R. Moore is a United States Space Force brigadier general who is the deputy commander of Space Training and Readiness Command. He previously served as inspector general of Space Operations Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devin Pepper</span> U.S. Space Force general

Devin Ruben Pepper is a United States Space Force brigadier general who served as commander of Buckley Garrison, 460th Space Wing, and the 21st Operations Group. He is the first African American general officer in the Space Force and the first one to have enlisted before commissioning as an officer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leadership of the United States Space Command</span> U.S. Space Command leadership

This is a list of all commanders, deputy commanders, senior enlisted leaders, and chiefs of staff of the United States Space Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shawn Bratton</span> U.S. Space Force general officer

Shawn N. Bratton is a United States Space Force lieutenant general who served as the first commander of Space Training and Readiness Command. He now serves as the deputy chief of space operations for strategy, plans, programs, and requirements. He is the first Space Force general officer to come from the Air National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">55th Combat Training Squadron</span> U.S. Space Force unit

The 55th Combat Training Squadron is a United States Space Force unit assigned to Space Operations Command's Space Delta 5. Formerly the 614 CTS, the squadron was activated on 16 December 2016 to implement and sustain enterprise-wide changes under the Space Training Transformation and Space Mission Force constructs. It is headquartered at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.

References

  1. ↑ "Space Force stands up operations command in Colorado Springs". SpaceNews. October 21, 2020. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Persons born on 14 September 1967, Stephen D. Oppenheim to TERESA L. CRAFT". sortedbybirthdate.com. Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  3. ↑ "8 Jun 1985, 15 - The Sun at". Newspapers.com. June 8, 1985. Archived from the original on March 17, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  4. ↑ WLOX Staff (October 22, 2020). "Ocean Springs native named commander of Space Force first field command". www.wdam.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "General Stephen N. Whiting". United States Space Force . January 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  6. ↑ Martin, Nichols (July 30, 2020). "Maj. Gen. Stephen Whiting Nominated to Lead Space Operations Command".
  7. ↑ "Space Force activates first field command". United States Space Force. October 21, 2020.
  8. ↑ "PN827 — Lt. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting — Space Force, 118th Congress (2023-2024)". U.S. Congress. July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  9. ↑ Hitchens, Theresa (July 12, 2023). "Biden nominates Space Force's Whiting to head SPACECOM". Breaking Defense. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Senate confirms top military nominees, ending Tuberville's hold over promotions". POLITICO. December 19, 2023.
  11. ↑ "USSPACECOM welcomes Whiting as third commander". United States Space Command . January 10, 2024.
  12. ↑ "USSPACECOM releases updated Strategic Vision". United States Space Command . February 21, 2024.
  13. ↑ Whiting, Stephen (February 20, 2024). "USSPACECOM Strategic Vision" (PDF). United States Space Command .
  14. ↑ "Stephen and Tammy Whiting, from left, Robert Ramsden, and Vanessa and Steven Cleveland (Marian Umhoefer/Las Vegas Review-Journal)". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  15. ↑ "21 May 1989, 54 - Sun Herald at". Newspapers.com. May 21, 1989. Archived from the original on March 17, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Lt. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting receives French National Order of Merit". Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander of the 21st Space Wing
2009–2011		Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice Commander of the Air Force Warfare Center
2013–2015		Succeeded by
Preceded by Director of Integrated Air, Space, Cyberspace and ISR Operations of the Air Force Space Command
2015–2017		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Commander of the Joint Force Space Component Command
2017–2019		Command redesignated
Preceded by Commander of the 14th Air Force
2017–2019		Succeeded by
New office Commander of the Combined Force Space Component Command
2019
Preceded by Deputy Commander of the Air Force Space Command, later United States Space Force
2019–2020		Command redesignated
New office Commander of Space Operations Command
2020–2024		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the United States Space Command
2024–present		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Commander of U.S. Strategic Command Order of precedence of the United States
as Commander of U.S. Space Command		Succeeded byas Commander of U.S. Cyber Command
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.