The vice chief of space operations (VCSO) is an office held by a four-star general in the United States Space Force. The vice chief directly supports the Chief of Space Operations (CSO) by serving as a member of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) and also operates with the full authority of the chief of space operations during the CSO's absence. The VCSO is nominated for appointment by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The VCSO is the second-highest position in the U.S. Space Force, equivalent to other services' vice chief positions.
| Vice Chief of Space Operations | |
|---|---|
 Space Staff Identification Badge | |
 Flag of the Vice Chief of Space Operations | |
 | |
| United States Space Force Space Staff | |
| Abbreviation | VCSO |
| Member of | Space Staff Joint Requirements Oversight Council |
| Reports to | Secretary of the Air Force Chief of Space Operations |
| Seat | The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, United States |
| Appointer | The President with Senate advice and consent |
| Formation | 2 October 2020 |
| First holder | David D. Thompson |
History
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In February 2020, the Space Force sent a report to the United States Congress on the service's proposed organizational structure, in which it outlines the plan for the position of the vice chief of space operations. The VCSO would be established as a four-star statutory position with duties and responsibilities equivalent to other service vice positions that would grant the VCSO parity with vice positions established in law in the other military services.[1]
On August 6, 2020, Lieutenant General David D. Thompson was nominated for promotion to general and assignment as the first VCSO.[2] The United States Senate confirmed him on September 30, 2020.[3] Thompson was promoted on October 1, 2020, and assumed the position of VCSO the next day, October 2, 2020.[4]
In 2023, Thompson retired from active duty. Lieutenant General Michael Guetlein, the nominee to succeed Thompson, wasn't confirmed by the Senate because of a hold placed by Senator Tommy Tuberville on all Department of Defense nominees, so Lieutenant General Philip Garrant, the most senior officer in the Space Staff, took over as acting VSCO.[5][6]
In December 2024, both the House and Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 to make the position of VCSO at statutory office and rank.
List of vice chiefs of space operations
edit| No. | Vice Chief of Space Operations | Term | Chief of Space Operations | Ref. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | |||
| 1 | General David D. Thompson (born 1963) | 2 October 2020 | 14 December 2023 | 3 years, 73 days | John W. Raymond B. Chance Saltzman | [7] | |
| - | Lieutenant General Philip Garrant (born c. 1969) Acting | 14 December 2023 | 21 December 2023 | 7 days | B. Chance Saltzman | [6] | |
| 2 | General Michael Guetlein (born 1967) | 21 December 2023 | Incumbent | 364 days | B. Chance Saltzman | [8] | |
Timeline
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Comprehensive Plan for the Organizational Structure of the U.S. Space Force" (PDF). Department of the Air Force. February 2020. p. 16. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Cohen, Rachel S. (7 August 2020). "Thompson Tapped as Space Force Vice Chief". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- ^ "PN2163 – 1 nominee for Space Force, 116th Congress (2019–2020) | Congress.gov | Library of Congress".
- ^ "First-ever Vice CSO joins U.S. Space Force". United States Space Force. 4 October 2020.
- ^ "See where Sen. Tommy Tuberville is blocking 301 military promotions". Washington Post. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
- ^ a b "DAF commemorates Air Force's 76th anniversary, Space Force's 4th anniversary with worship service". United States Air Force. 15 September 2023. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "David D. Thompson". United States Space Force. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Michael A. Guetlein". United States Space Force. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.