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A deputy chief of space operations is a senior leadership position in the United States Space Force. There are five 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. In a June 2020 draft proposal, the position was renamed deputy chiefs of staff. On July 29, 2020, the first two deputy chiefs of operations were nominated. The Space Force adopted C-suite titles in designing their senior leadership positions.

Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Human Capital

The deputy chief of space operations for human capital (S1 or SF/CHCO) is the chief human capital officer of the Space Force. 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.

Structure

  • Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Katharine Kelley Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Todd L. Remington Director, Analysis and Systems (SF/S1A): Director, Civilian Policy and Management (SF/S1C): Director, Force Development (SF/S1D): Steve Turner Jr. Director, Senior Leader Management (SF/S1L): Director, Manpower (SF/S1M): Director, Military Policy and Management (SF/S1P): Ruth Afiesimama Director, Quality of Life & Resilience (SF/S1Q): Director, Enterprise Talent Management (SF/ETM): Rob Romer Senior Enlisted Advisor: CMSgt Abi Scott

List of officeholders

No.Deputy Chief of Space OperationsTermRef.
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm length
1Mulcahy, PatriciaPatricia Mulcahy (born c. 1958)August 20203 June 2022~1 year, 292 days
2Kelley, KatharineKatharine Kelley (born c. 1977)~13 July 2022Incumbent~3 years, 297 days

Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence

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. 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.

Structure

  • Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Maj Gen Brian Sidari Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Ed Mornston Director, Analysis and Production (S2A): Director, ISR Partnerships and Integration (S2I): Director, Warfighter Support (S2P): Col Marc D. Daniels Director, ISR Resources and Requirements (S2R): Col John V. Otte Director, Space Force Cryptologic Office (S2C): Luis Gonzalez Director, Space Force GEOINT Office (S2G):

List of officeholders

No.Deputy Chief of Space OperationsTermRef.
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm length
1Lauderback, Leah G.Major General Leah Lauderback (born 1971)~August 2020July 2022~1 year, 334 days
2Gagnon, Gregory J.Major General Gregory Gagnon (born 1972)July 202224 July 2025~3 years, 9 days
3Sidari, Briari, D.Major General Brian Sidari (born 1973)24 July 2025Incumbent286 days-

Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations

Chief Operations Office emblem

The deputy chief of space operations for operations (S3/4/7/10 or SF/COO) is the chief operations officer of the Space Force. The COO has overall responsibility for the Space Force's operations, sustainment, cyber, and nuclear operations. The position used to be deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber, and nuclear until 2025 when the cyber function was transferred to the deputy chief of space operations for cyber and data.

Structure

Chief Operations Office organizational chart
  • Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Lt Gen Douglas Schiess Senior Enlisted Advisor: CMSgt Amber A. Abramowski Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Brig Gen Nick Hague Associate Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Kathryn Kolbe Director of Staff: Karl D. Hebert
  • Senior Cyber Officer: Director, Force Assessment (COO/S3A): Col Stephan Cummings Director, Current Operations (COO/S33): Col Mia L. Walsh Director, Future Operations (COO/S35): Col Evan J. Briggs Director, Training (S3T): Col Joseph Tobin Director, Joint and National Security Council Matters (S3J): Col Kelly Anderson Director, Special Programs (S3Z): Mr. Roberto Colon Director, Mission Sustainment (S4O): Col Marcia Quigley Director, Cyber and Spectrum Operations Integration (S6C): Col Joseph J. Wingo Director, Force Generation (S7O): Col Nathan D. Boardman Director, Deterrence Operations (S3N):

List of officeholders

No.Deputy Chief of Space OperationsTermRef.
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm length
1Saltzman, B. ChanceLieutenant General B. Chance Saltzman (born 1969)7 August 20202 November 20222 years, 87 days
-Endicott, Troy L.Brigadier General Troy Endicott (born 1971) Acting2 November 20221 December 202229 days
2Burt, DeAnnaLieutenant General DeAnna Burt (born 1969)1 December 202214 August 20252 years, 256 days
-Warakomski, ShayBrigadier General Shay Warakomski (born 1975) Acting14 August 2025September 2025~32 days-
-Hague, NickBrigadier General Nick Hague (born 1975) ActingSeptember 20254 November 2025~50 days-
3Schiess, DouglasLieutenant General Douglas Schiess (born 1970)4 November 2025Incumbent183 days

Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Strategy, Plans, Programs, and Requirements

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. The CSRO has overall responsibility for the Space Force's strategies, requirements, and budget.

Structure

  • Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Lt Gen David N. Miller Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Jessica P. Powers Director of Strategy, Futures, and Partnerships (S5S): Col Todd J. Benson Chief, Futures and Intgeration (S5SB): Col Carl Bottolfson Chief, Global Partnerships (S5SP): Col George B. Nuno Chief, Strategy, Policy, and Plans (S5SS): Col William Sanders Director of Operational Capability Requirements (S5R): Col Peter Mastro Chief, Information Warfare and Mobility (S5RI): Chief, Combat Power (S5RP): Chief, Requirements Integration (S5RR): Director of Plans and Programs (S8): Vacant Deputy Director & Chief, Planning and Analysis (S8PX): Jason Sutherland Chief, Resource Integration (S8PN): Ramon Ayoade Chief, Programming (S8PS): Emil Garawan Mobilization Assistant: Brig Gen Damon S. Feltman, USAF Senior Enlisted Advisor:

List of officeholders

No.Deputy Chief of Space OperationsTermRef.
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm length
1Liquori, William J. Jr.Lieutenant General William Liquori (born c. 1969)7 August 20201 August 20221 year, 359 days
2Garrant, Philip A.Lieutenant General Philip Garrant (born c. 1969)2 August 202222 December 20231 year, 142 days
3Bratton, ShawnLieutenant General Shawn Bratton (born 1968)22 December 20231 August 20251 year, 222 days
-Powers, Jessica P.Jessica P. Powers (born c.1974) Acting1 August 20253 November 202594 days
3Miller, David N. Jr.Lieutenant General David N. Miller (born c.1971)3 November 2025Incumbent184 days

Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Cyber and Data

The deputy chief of space operations for cyber and data (S6) is the chief technology and innovation officer of the Space Force. 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.

Structure

  • Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Ms. Charleen Laughlin Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Col Nathan L. Iven Director, Science, Technology, and Research (STR): Joel B. Mozer Director, Innovation and Digital Transformation (IDT): Col Stephen Landry Director, Digital Infrastructure, Data, and Data Analytics (IDA): Director, Analysis (S9): Gerald Diaz

List of officeholders

No.Deputy Chief of Space OperationsTermRef.
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm length
Crider, Kimberly A.Major General Kimberly Crider (born c. 1964) ActingAugust 2020May 2021~273 days
Olson, John M.Brigadier General John M. Olson (born c. 1970) ActingMay 2021September 2021~123 days
1Costa, Lisa A.Lisa A. Costa (born c. 1964)September 2021June 2024~2 years, 274 days
Iven, Nathan L.Colonel Nathan L. Iven (born c.1974) ActingJune 2024July 2025~1 year, 30 days
2Charleen D. LaughlinJuly 2025Incumbent~295 days

Assistant Chief of Space Operations for Future Concepts and Partnerships

No.Assistant Chief of Space OperationsTermRef.
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm length
1Godfrey, PaulAir Marshal Paul Godfrey10 June 2024Incumbent1 year, 330 days

See also

Notes

References