Gen. B. Chance Saltzman
Chief of Space Operations, U.S. Space Force
As chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force, Gen. B. Chance Saltzman is responsible for organizing, training and equipping all space forces in the U.S. and abroad.
He is among the service chiefs who serve as military advisers to the secretary of defense, National Security Council and to the president. Saltzman brings extensive operational experience with missile and space systems to the role, including serving as a satellite operator for the National Reconnaissance Office and as the first chief of combat plans for the Joint Space Operations Center, and later, as chief of combat operations.
Prior to his current assignment, he was deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber and nuclear for the U.S. Space Force.
Why Watch
During a keynote speech at this year’s Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Saltzman said the rapidly changing and increasingly dangerous space domain requires new actions, mindsets and methods to keep up.
“The Space Force, our industry partners, our allies, and inter-agency teammates must collectively pivot to new ways of doing business to keep up with the new operating environment,” he said. As it is the Space Force’s responsibility to spearhead responses to increasing threats and capable competitors, he outlined “lines of effort” to focus on: Field Combat-Ready Forces, Amplify the Guardian Spirit and Partner to Win.