Deputy Chief of Space Operations

A deputy chief of space operations is a senior leadership position in the United States Space Force. There are four deputy chiefs of space operations in the Space Force, staffed either by a lieutenant general or a senior executive service personnel. They are the service's equivalent to the Army's and Air Force's deputy chiefs of staff, the Marine Corps' deputy commandants, and the Navy's deputy chiefs of naval operations. They are part of the Office of the Chief of Space Operations and hold office at the Pentagon.

Space Staff identification badge

The proposed organizational structure of the Space Force's headquarters was first revealed in a February 2020 congressional report, with directors instead of deputy chiefs of space operations. Intending to be "lean and agile", the service consolidated the normal nine functional areas into three directorates.^[1] In a June 2020 draft proposal, the position was renamed deputy chiefs of staff.^[2] On July 29, 2020, the first two deputy chiefs of operations were nominated.^[3] The Space Force adopted C-suite titles in designing their senior leadership positions.^[4]

Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Human Capital

The deputy chief of space operations for human capital^[a] (S1 or SF/CHCO)^[5] is the chief human capital officer of the Space Force.^[6] The CHCO directs the Space Force's personnel management, which encompasses force structure analysis, personnel programs, civilian personnel, readiness, senior officer matters, quality force issues, equal opportunity, and family support.^[7]

Structure

• Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Katharine Kelley
  • Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Todd L. Remington^[8]
    • Director, Analysis and Systems (SF/S1A):
    • Director, Civilian Policy and Management (SF/S1C):
    • Director, Force Development (SF/S1D): Steve Turner Jr.^[9]
    • Director, Senior Leader Management (SF/S1L):
    • Director, Manpower (SF/S1M):
    • Director, Military Policy and Management (SF/S1P): Ruth Afiesimama
    • Director, Quality of Life & Resilience (SF/S1Q):
    • Director, Enterprise Talent Management (SF/ETM): Rob Romer^[10]
  • Senior Enlisted Advisor: CMSgt Abi Scott

List of officeholders

No.	Deputy Chief of Space Operations		Term			Ref.
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length
1		Mulcahy, PatriciaPatricia Mulcahy (born c. 1958)	August 2020	3 June 2022	~1 year, 292 days	[11]
2		Kelley, KatharineKatharine Kelley (born c. 1977)	~13 July 2022	Incumbent	~3 years, 21 days	[12]

Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence

The deputy chief of space operations for intelligence (S2) is the senior intelligence officer of the Space Force. The S2 has intelligence policy, oversight, and guidance of Space Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. The S2 is responsible for the Space Force Intelligence Community Element to the United States Intelligence Community and is the chief of the Service Cryptologic Component with delegated authorities from the Director of the National Security Agency.^[13] The position was originally the director of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance under the COO. It was moved out as a separate position on 12 April 2023.^[14]

Structure

• Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Maj Gen Gregory Gagnon
  • Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Ed Mornston^[15]
    • Director, Analysis and Production (S2A):
    • Director, ISR Partnerships and Integration (S2I):
    • Director, Warfighter Support (S2P): Col Marc D. Daniels^[16]
    • Director, ISR Resources and Requirements (S2R): Col Phoenix L. Hauser^[17]
    • Director, Space Force Cryptologic Office (S2C): Al Monteiro^[18][19]
    • Director, Space Force GEOINT Office (S2G):

List of officeholders

No.	Deputy Chief of Space Operations		Term			Ref.
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length
1		Lauderback, Leah G.Major General Leah Lauderback (born 1971)	~August 2020	July 2022	~1 year, 334 days	[20]
2		Gagnon, Gregory J.Major General Gregory Gagnon (born 1972)	July 2022	24 July 2025	~3 years, 9 days	[21]
3		Sidari, Briari, D.Brigadier General Brian Sidari (born 1973)	24 July 2025	Incumbent	10 days	-

Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear

Chief Operations Office emblem

The deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber, and nuclear (S3/4/6/7/10 or SF/COO)^[5] is the chief operations officer of the Space Force.^[6] The COO has overall responsibility for the Space Force's operations, sustainment, cyber, and nuclear operations.^[22]

Structure

Chief Operations Office organizational chart

• Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Lt Gen DeAnna Burt
  • Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Brig Gen Shay Warakomski
  • Associate Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Bruce E. Hollywood^[23]
  • Director of Staff: Christopher Terrio
  • Senior Enlisted Advisor: CMSgt Amber A. Abramowski
  • Senior Cyber Officer:
    • Director, Force Assessment (COO/S3A): Col Neil Menzie
    • Director, Current Operations (COO/S33): Col Mia L. Walsh
    • Director, Future Operations (COO/S35): Col Ramsey M. Horn^[24]
    • Director, Training (S3T): Col Joseph Tobin
    • Director, Joint and National Security Council Matters (S3J): Col Kelly Anderson
    • Director, Special Programs (S3Z): Mr. Roberto Colon
    • Director, Mission Sustainment (S4O): Col Marcia Quigley
    • Director, Cyber and Spectrum Operations Integration (S6C): Col Joseph J. Wingo^[25]
    • Director, Force Generation (S7O): Col Nathan D. Boardman^[26]
    • Director, Deterrence Operations (S10N):

List of officeholders

No.	Deputy Chief of Space Operations		Term			Ref.
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length
1		Saltzman, B. ChanceLieutenant General B. Chance Saltzman (born 1969)	7 August 2020	2 November 2022	2 years, 87 days	[27]
-		Endicott, Troy L.Brigadier General Troy Endicott (born 1971) Acting	2 November 2022	1 December 2022	29 days	[28]
2		Burt, DeAnnaLieutenant General DeAnna Burt (born 1969)	1 December 2022	Incumbent	2 years, 245 days	[29]

Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Strategy, Plans, Programs, and Requirements

The deputy chief of space operations for strategy, plans, programs, requirements (S5/8 or SF/CSRO) is the chief strategy and resourcing officer of the Space Force.^[6] The CSRO has overall responsibility for the Space Force's strategies, requirements, and budget.^[30]

Structure

• Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Vacant
  • Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Jessica P. Powers^[31]
    • Director of Strategy, Futures, and Partnerships (S5S): Col Todd J. Benson^[32]
      • Chief, Futures and Intgeration (S5SB): Col Carl Bottolfson^[33]
      • Chief, Global Partnerships (S5SP): Col George B. Nuno^[34]
      • Chief, Strategy, Policy, and Plans (S5SS): Col William Sanders^[35]
    • Director of Operational Capability Requirements (S5R):
      • Chief, Information Warfare and Mobility (S5RI):
      • Chief, Combat Power (S5RP):
      • Chief, Requirements Integration (S5RR):
    • Director of Plans and Programs (S8): Brig Gen Robert Hutt
      • Deputy Director & Chief, Planning and Analysis (S8PX): Jason Sutherland<^[36]
      • Chief, Resource Integration (S8PN): Ramon Ayoade^[37]
      • Chief, Programming (S8PS): Emil Garawan^[38]
  • Mobilization Assistant: Brig Gen Damon S. Feltman, USAF
  • Senior Enlisted Advisor:

List of officeholders

No.	Deputy Chief of Space Operations		Term			Ref.
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length
1		Liquori, William J. Jr.Lieutenant General William Liquori (born c. 1969)	7 August 2020	1 August 2022	1 year, 359 days	[39]
2		Garrant, Philip A.Lieutenant General Philip Garrant (born c. 1969)	2 August 2022	22 December 2023	1 year, 142 days	[40]
3		Bratton, ShawnLieutenant General Shawn Bratton (born 1968)	22 December 2023	1 August 2025	1 year, 222 days	[41]
-		Powers, Jessica P.Jessica P. Powers (born c. 1974) Acting	1 August 2025	Incumbent	2 days	[42]

Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Cyber and Data

The deputy chief of space operations for cyber and data (S6)^[4][5] is the chief technology and innovation officer of the Space Force.^[6][43] Originally the deputy chief of space operations for technology and innovation, the position was redesignated as deputy chief of space operations for cyber and data on 19 November 2024.^[14]

Structure

• Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Ms. Charleen Laughlin
  • Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations: Col Nathan L. Iven^[44]
  • Director, Science, Technology, and Research (STR): Joel B. Mozer^[45]
  • Director, Innovation and Digital Transformation (IDT): Col Stephen Landry^[46]
  • Director, Digital Infrastructure, Data, and Data Analytics (IDA):
  • Director, Analysis (S9): Gerald Diaz^[47]

List of officeholders

No.	Deputy Chief of Space Operations		Term			Ref.
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length
–		Crider, Kimberly A.Major General Kimberly Crider (born c. 1964) Acting	August 2020	May 2021	~273 days	[48]
–		Olson, John M.Brigadier General John M. Olson (born c. 1970) Acting	May 2021	September 2021	~123 days	[49]
1		Costa, Lisa A.Lisa A. Costa (born c. 1964)	September 2021	June 2024	~2 years, 274 days	[50]
–		Iven, Nathan L.Colonel Nathan L. Iven (born c. 1974) Acting	June 2024	July 2025	~1 year, 30 days	[51]
2		Charleen Laughlin	July 2025	Incumbent	~19 days

Assistant Chief of Space Operations for Future Concepts and Partnerships

No.	Assistant Chief of Space Operations		Term			Ref.
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length
1		Godfrey, PaulAir Marshal Paul Godfrey	17 June 2024	Incumbent	1 year, 47 days	[52]

See also

• Director of Staff of the United States Space Force
• Space Staff
• United States Space Force