Vice Chief of Space Operations

The vice chief of space operations (VCSO) is an office held by a four-star general in the United States Space Force. The vice chief directly supports the Chief of Space Operations (CSO) by serving as a member of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) and also operates with the full authority of the chief of space operations during the CSO's absence. The VCSO is nominated for appointment by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The VCSO is the second-highest position in the U.S. Space Force, equivalent to other services' vice chief positions.

Vice Chief of Space Operations
Space Staff Identification Badge
Flag of the Vice Chief of Space Operations
Incumbent General Michael Guetlein since 21 December 2023
United States Space Force Space Staff
Abbreviation	VCSO
Member of	Space Staff Joint Requirements Oversight Council
Reports to	Secretary of the Air Force Chief of Space Operations
Seat	The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, United States
Appointer	The President with Senate advice and consent
Constituting instrument	10 U.S.C. § 9083
Formation	2 October 2020
First holder	David D. Thompson

History

Gen John W. Raymond (left) promotes Lt Gen David D. Thompson to the rank of general during a ceremony in the Pentagon, 1 October 2020

In February 2020, the Space Force sent a report to the United States Congress on the service's proposed organizational structure, in which it outlines the plan for the position of the vice chief of space operations. The VCSO would be established as a four-star statutory position with duties and responsibilities equivalent to other service vice positions that would grant the VCSO parity with vice positions established in law in the other military services.^[1]

On August 6, 2020, Lieutenant General David D. Thompson was nominated for promotion to general and assignment as the first VCSO.^[2] The United States Senate confirmed him on September 30, 2020.^[3] Thompson was promoted on October 1, 2020, and assumed the position of VCSO the next day, October 2, 2020.^[4]

In 2023, Thompson retired from active duty. Lieutenant General Michael Guetlein, the nominee to succeed Thompson, wasn't confirmed by the Senate because of a hold placed by Senator Tommy Tuberville on all Department of Defense nominees, so Lieutenant General Philip Garrant, the most senior officer in the Space Staff, took over as acting VSCO.^[5][6]

In December 2024, both the House and Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 to make the position of VCSO at statutory office and rank.

List of vice chiefs of space operations

No.	Vice Chief of Space Operations		Term			Chief of Space Operations	Ref.
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length
1		General David D. Thompson (born 1963)	2 October 2020	14 December 2023	3 years, 73 days	John W. Raymond B. Chance Saltzman	[7]
-		Lieutenant General Philip Garrant (born c. 1969) Acting	14 December 2023	21 December 2023	7 days	B. Chance Saltzman	[6]
2		General Michael Guetlein (born 1967)	21 December 2023	Incumbent	1 year, 143 days	B. Chance Saltzman	[8]

Timeline

See also

• Secretary of the Air Force
• Chief of Space Operations
• Vice Chief of Staff of the Army
• Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
• Vice Chief of Naval Operations
• Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force
• Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard