| United States Space Forces – Space | |
|---|---|
 S4S emblem | |
| Founded | 6 December 2023; 714 days |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Space Force |
| Type | Component field command |
| Role | Space operations |
| Part of | United States Space Command |
| Headquarters | Vandenberg Space Force Base,California |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Lt GenDennis Bythewood |
| Deputy Commander | Brig GenFrank R. Kincaid[1] |
| Command Senior Enlisted Leader | CMSgt Tina R. Timmerman |
TheUnited States Space Forces – Space (S4S,SPACEFOR–SPACE)[2] is theUnited States Space Force componentfield command to theUnited States Space Command. It was formed by combining theCombined Force Space Component Command andJoint Task Force–Space Defense. Its commander also serves as the combined joint force space component commander (CJFSCC). It was activated on 6 December 2023.
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In 2021, theUnited States Space Command began thinking about creating a subordinate command that streamlines space operations. Initial plans were to establish a Joint Force Space Component Command by combining theCombined Force Space Component Command (CFSCC) andJoint Task Force–Space Defense (JTF-SD).[3] On 16 November 2022, GeneralJames H. Dickinson, U.S Space Command commander, ordered the creation of theCombined Joint Task Force–Space Operations (CJTF-SO), under which CFSCC and JTF-SD reported. U.S. Army Major GeneralThomas L. James served as acting commander of CJTF-SO until a three-star commander was nominated and confirmed.[4][5][6]
By 2023, no officer has been nominated as CJTF-SO commander. Meanwhile, plans shifted for the Space Force to create a new component field command to U.S. Space Command, the United States Space Forces – Space (S4S). It would be commanded with a three-star officer with thedirector of staff of the Space Force being downgraded to a two-star billet to make way for it. On 17 October 2023, U.S. Space Force Major GeneralDouglas Schiess was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general and assignment as the first commander of S4S. As S4S commander, he would also serve as the combined joint space component commander (CJFSCC).[7]
Following the confirmation of Schiess's nomination, S4S was activated on 6 December 2023 by redesignating Space Operations Command West as S4S. CFSCC and JTF-SD were also inactivated.[8][9][10] On 31 January 2024, a ceremony presided by GeneralB. Chance Saltzman and GeneralStephen Whiting was held to commemorate the activation of S4S.[11]
| Name | Space mission deltas | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Space Delta 5 | Combined Space Operations Center | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | |||
.png) | Space Delta 15 | National Space Defense Center | Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado | |||
Generally, the missions of the two deltas can be understood as Space Delta 5 / CSOC, a multinational ("combined") body controlling activities which are going on in space, primarily satellite control; and Space Delta 15, NSDC, carrying out space warfare. Space warfare or space superiority can involve activities actually underway in space; anti-satellite missile launches (historical U.S. systems have included theProgram 437 and theASM-135 ASAT); and jamming of communications by ground-based means.
| No. | Commander | Term | Ref | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | ||
| 1 |  | Lieutenant General Douglas Schiess (born 1970) | 6 December 2023 | 4 November 2025 | 1 year, 333 days | [12] |
| 2 |  | Bythewood, Dennis O.Lieutenant General Dennis Bythewood (bornc. 1970) | 4 November 2025 | Incumbent | 15 days | [13] |
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
