| Vice Chief of Space Operations | |
|---|---|
 Space Staff Identification Badge | |
 Flag of the vice chief of space operations | |
.jpg) | |
| 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 | Thepresident withSenateadvice and consent |
| Constituting instrument | 10 U.S.C. § 9083 |
| Formation | 2 October 2020 |
| First holder | David D. Thompson |
Thevice chief of space operations (VCSO) is an office held by afour-stargeneral in theUnited States Space Force. The vice chief directly supports theChief of Space Operations (CSO) by serving as a member of theJoint 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 thepresident and confirmed by theSenate. The VCSO is the second-highest position in the U.S. Space Force, equivalent to other services' vice chief positions.
In February 2020, the Space Force sent a report to theUnited 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 GeneralDavid D. Thompson was nominated for promotion to general and assignment as the first VCSO.[2] TheUnited 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 GeneralMichael Guetlein, the nominee to succeed Thompson, wasn't confirmed by the Senate because of a hold placed by SenatorTommy Tuberville on allDepartment of Defense nominees, so Lieutenant GeneralPhilip Garrant, the most senior officer in theSpace Staff, took over as acting VCSO.[5][6]
In December 2024, both the House and Senate passed theNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 to make the position of VCSO at statutory office and rank.
| No. | Vice Chief of Space Operations | Term | Chief of Space Operations | Ref. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | |||
| 1 | .jpg) | 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 (bornc. 1969) Acting | 14 December 2023 | 21 December 2023 | 7 days | B. Chance Saltzman | [6] |
| 2 |  | General Michael Guetlein (born 1967) | 21 December 2023 | 20 July 2025 | 1 year, 211 days | B. Chance Saltzman | [8] |
| – | .jpg) | Lieutenant General DeAnna Burt (born 1969) Acting | 20 July 2025 | 31 July 2025 | 12 days | B. Chance Saltzman | [9] |
| 3 | | General Shawn Bratton (born 1968) | 31 July 2025 | Incumbent | 78 days | B. Chance Saltzman | [10] |
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