Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Lt. Gen. Chance Saltzman nominated to be next Space Force CSOPublished July 28, 2022
                    
                    
                    Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
            **ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) --****Lt. Gen. B. Chance Saltzman**has been nominated to be U.S. Space Force’s nextchief of space operations.If confirmed by the Senate, Saltzman will become the service’shighest-ranking officer and the second CSO in the young service’s history. Saltzman will step into the position currently held by **Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond**, who has led the**Space Force**since its establishment in December 2019. Raymond is projected to retire later this year.“I am very honored and humbled by the nomination to be the secondchief of space operations. If confirmed, Jennifer and I will be committed to building on the incredible foundation General Jay and Mollie Raymond put in place for our service and we are forever grateful for their service and dedication,” Saltzman said.Raymond praised Saltzman and his nomination and paid tribute to the Guardians and Airmen that he has led over his career.“It has been the honor of a lifetime to lead Guardians and Airmen and to serve as the Space Force’s firstchief of space operations. I couldn't be more excited about the next chapter for the world’s greatest Space Force and the nomination of Chance Saltzman to serve as our next CSO,” Raymond said.“His extensive space experience and deep understanding of how to integrate space into the defense of our nation have made him indispensable to the establishment of this service and Guardians the world over will not find a more loyal teammate.” Raymond said.Likewise, Secretary of the Air Force**Frank Kendall**praised Raymond for his tenure and for the way he built the Space Force. Kendall said that Saltzman was the ideal nominee to build on the Space Force’s accomplishments."General Jay Raymond has worked tirelessly to create a strong foundation for the Space Force and to set our Guardians up for long-term success. Every American should be grateful for what he has accomplished,” Kendall said.“I'm certain that General Saltzman has the skill and the drive needed to build on that foundation, and if confirmed, I'm looking forward to the opportunity to work with him as the secondchief of space operations,” he said.If confirmed, Saltzman would inherit a Space Force as it continues its transition from the early planning and organizational phases required to form the first new branch of the military since 1947, to one that focuses more on the Department of the Air Force’s operational imperatives.Since August 2020, Saltzman has served asdeputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber, and nuclear. In this role, Saltzman has overall responsibility for operations, intelligence, sustainment, cyber, and nuclear operations for the Space Force.Commissioned in 1991 after graduating from Boston University, he has deep operational experience with missile and space systems as a**Minuteman III**launch officer and as a satellite operator for the**National Reconnaissance Office**. He also served as the firstchief of combat plans for the Joint Space Operations Center, and later, as chief of combat operations.Saltzman has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels including the 614th Space Operations Squadron and 1st Space Control Squadron at what is now**Vandenberg Space Force Base**, California, as well as the 460th Operations Group at what today is**Buckley SFB**, Colorado.Before serving in his current assignment under Raymond, Saltzman was thedeputy commander, **U.S. Air Forces CentralCommand**; deputy, Combined Force Air Component Commander, **U.S. Central Command**, Southwest Asia.During his time in the Air Force and later, the Space Force, Saltzman has earned a collection of notable awards and decorations, including the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.LR 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



space force 



CSO 



Chief of Space Operations 



Lt. Gen. Chance Saltzman 



Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond 



nomination 



guardians 



One Air Force 



Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil