At the direction of the President of the United States, Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper established U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) today as the eleventh Unified Combatant Command. Gen. John W. Raymond is its Senate confirmed commander.
To
ensure the protection of America’s interests in space we must apply the
necessary focus, energy, and resources to the task – and that is exactly what
Space Command will do,” said Secretary Esper. “Gen. Raymond is acutely aware of
the vital role that space plays in U.S. national security and our way of life
and is an ideal choice to lead this new command. Establishing the United States
Space Command as a unified combatant command is the next critical step towards
the creation of an independent Space Force as the sixth branch of the armed
forces.”
“Assured
access to space is vital across the full range of military operations,” said
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. “This step
puts us on a path to maintain a competitive advantage in this critical war
fighting domain.”
From
establishment, Gen. Raymond will remain dual-hatted as Commander, U.S. Space
Command, and Commander, Air Force Space Command.
https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/1948288/
**More
information can be found at https://www.spacecom.mil.