Deputy Chief of Space Operations
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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 Operations | Term | Ref. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | ||
| 1 | Mulcahy, PatriciaPatricia Mulcahy (born c. 1958) | August 2020 | 3 June 2022 | ~1 year, 292 days | ||
| 2 | Kelley, KatharineKatharine Kelley (born c. 1977) | ~13 July 2022 | Incumbent | ~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 Operations | Term | Ref. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | ||
| 1 | Lauderback, Leah G.Major General Leah Lauderback (born 1971) | ~August 2020 | July 2022 | ~1 year, 334 days | ||
| 2 | Gagnon, Gregory J.Major General Gregory Gagnon (born 1972) | July 2022 | 24 July 2025 | ~3 years, 9 days | ||
| 3 | Sidari, Briari, D.Major General Brian Sidari (born 1973) | 24 July 2025 | Incumbent | 286 days | - |
Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations

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

- 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 Operations | Term | Ref. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | ||
| 1 | Saltzman, B. ChanceLieutenant General B. Chance Saltzman (born 1969) | 7 August 2020 | 2 November 2022 | 2 years, 87 days | ||
| - | Endicott, Troy L.Brigadier General Troy Endicott (born 1971) Acting | 2 November 2022 | 1 December 2022 | 29 days | ||
| 2 | Burt, DeAnnaLieutenant General DeAnna Burt (born 1969) | 1 December 2022 | 14 August 2025 | 2 years, 256 days | ||
| - | Warakomski, ShayBrigadier General Shay Warakomski (born 1975) Acting | 14 August 2025 | September 2025 | ~32 days | - | |
| - | Hague, NickBrigadier General Nick Hague (born 1975) Acting | September 2025 | 4 November 2025 | ~50 days | - | |
| 3 | Schiess, DouglasLieutenant General Douglas Schiess (born 1970) | 4 November 2025 | Incumbent | 183 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 Operations | Term | Ref. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | ||
| 1 | Liquori, William J. Jr.Lieutenant General William Liquori (born c. 1969) | 7 August 2020 | 1 August 2022 | 1 year, 359 days | ||
| 2 | Garrant, Philip A.Lieutenant General Philip Garrant (born c. 1969) | 2 August 2022 | 22 December 2023 | 1 year, 142 days | ||
| 3 | Bratton, ShawnLieutenant General Shawn Bratton (born 1968) | 22 December 2023 | 1 August 2025 | 1 year, 222 days | ||
| - | Powers, Jessica P.Jessica P. Powers (born c.1974) Acting | 1 August 2025 | 3 November 2025 | 94 days | ||
| 3 | Miller, David N. Jr.Lieutenant General David N. Miller (born c.1971) | 3 November 2025 | Incumbent | 184 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 Operations | Term | Ref. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | ||
| – | Crider, Kimberly A.Major General Kimberly Crider (born c. 1964) Acting | August 2020 | May 2021 | ~273 days | ||
| – | Olson, John M.Brigadier General John M. Olson (born c. 1970) Acting | May 2021 | September 2021 | ~123 days | ||
| 1 | Costa, Lisa A.Lisa A. Costa (born c. 1964) | September 2021 | June 2024 | ~2 years, 274 days | ||
| – | Iven, Nathan L.Colonel Nathan L. Iven (born c.1974) Acting | June 2024 | July 2025 | ~1 year, 30 days | ||
| 2 | Charleen D. Laughlin | July 2025 | Incumbent | ~295 days |
Assistant Chief of Space Operations for Future Concepts and Partnerships
| No. | Assistant Chief of Space Operations | Term | Ref. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | ||
| 1 | Godfrey, PaulAir Marshal Paul Godfrey | 10 June 2024 | Incumbent | 1 year, 330 days |