Schiess appointed as the top officer in the Space Force

Chief of Space Operations Gen. Douglas Schiess Takes Command

Chief of Space Operations Gen. Douglas Schiess salutes during his change of responsibility ceremony on Joint Base Andrews, Md., Sept. 3, 2026. Schiess succeeded Gen. Chance Saltzman as the third chief of space operations of the Space Force. (Eric Dietrich/U.S. Air Force)

Gen. Douglas A. Schiess was sworn in as the Space Force’s chief of space operations during a change of responsibility ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Md., taking over leadership of over 15,000 uniformed and civilian members.

As the third officer to head the military’s youngest branch, Schiess succeeded Gen. Chance Saltzman, who led the Space Force since 2022. Saltzman formally retired earlier in August.

“Thanks to your help, we have articulated the critical need for space to our nation and our national security,” Saltzman stated at the ceremony.

Schiess’ promotion was confirmed by the Senate in August, after only six senators attended his confirmation hearing in July, indicating the panel’s confidence in him, according to Senator Angus King, I-Maine.

“My charge is to enable our guardians to write the force’s exciting next chapter,” Schiess said, emphasizing continuity built on the legacy of past leaders.

Previously, Schiess served as the Space Force’s deputy chief of operations. His military career began in 1992 with the Air Force, and he transitioned to the Space Force in 2022. On Sept. 3, he was promoted to a four-star general.

“We must build on our combat credibility and increase the number of options we provide to the president and the Joint Force,” he added.

The Space Force is seeking to nearly double its budget for 2027, requesting $71 billion for new weapons and facilities. Additionally, they are looking to hire 2,000 civilians after a significant number of employees left recently.

“I will be relentless in my efforts to ensure our Guardians are ready, our capabilities are resilient, and our service is worthy of the trust placed in us by the American people,” Schiess concluded.