The Space Force was founded in December 2019 as a branch of the military intended to protect the nation and its allies’ interests in space. As chief of space operations, Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond serves as the senior uniformed Space Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipping of all organic and assigned space forces serving in the U.S. and overseas.
Raymond brings to the Space Force an extensive military career. He was commissioned through the ROTC program at Clemson University in 1984, and has since commanded at squadron, group, wing, numbered air force, major command and combatant command levels.
Raymond has served in the Office of Force Transformation, Office of the Secretary of Defense; as the director of plans for programs and analyses at Air Force Space Command; as the director of plans and policy for U.S. Strategic Command; and as the deputy chief of staff for operations at Air Force Headquarters.
Before leading the establishment of the Space Force, Raymond led the re-establishment of U.S. Space Command as the 11th U.S. combatant command.
Why Watch
Part of the Space Force’s responsibilities include developing guardians, acquiring military space systems, maturing the military doctrine for space power and organizing space forces to present to its combatant commands. As chief of space operations, Raymond serves as the principal uniformed adviser to the secretary of the Air Force on Space Force activities. He’s also expected to transmit plans and recommendations to the secretary of the Air Force and acts as the secretary’s agent in carrying them out.