The U.S. Space Force said on Friday that Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess has been nominated to serve as its next chief of space operations, the service’s top uniformed role.
If confirmed, Schiess would become the third officer to hold the position since the Space Force was established in 2019, succeeding Jay Raymond and Chance Saltzman, who is expected to retire later this year.
“The Space Force has made tremendous progress in a short time, and our mission has never been more important,” Schiess said in a statement. “If confirmed, I will focus on sharpening our lethality and accelerating the delivery of space capabilities to the warfighter, keeping the Space Force ahead against any adversary.”
Schiess brings more than three decades of military experience, having joined the U.S. Air Force in 1992 after graduating from the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program at University of California, Los Angeles. He transferred to the Space Force in 2022 and currently serves as deputy chief of space operations for operations.
Throughout his career, Schiess has held several senior roles focused on space missions, including commander of the 45th Space Wing, vice commander of Space Operations Command, and commander of U.S. Space Forces – Space.
The nomination has drawn support from senior officials and industry groups. Saltzman and Troy Meink have expressed backing for Schiess, while the National Security Space Association said his leadership background aligns with the needs of the service.
“His experience across critical space missions and leadership roles reflects the caliber of stewardship required to guide the Space Force into its next phase,” the association said, adding that the nomination highlights the importance of experienced leadership as the space domain grows in strategic significance.
The nomination will next be reviewed by the Senate Armed Services Committee, which will hold a hearing and vote on whether to advance it to the full Senate for confirmation.
