Gen. Chance “Salty” Saltzman

Schiess confirmed as third Space Force chief

Lt. Gen. Doug Schiess will inherit a bigger service with plans to grow further, but also a complex set of acquisition and workforce challenges.

On eve of retirement, Saltzman champions military’s role as ‘ballast’ for democracy

“We really used to be considered icing on the cake,” US Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman told reporters. Now, “I think we are more the eggs in the cake batter.”

DAF study finds new space launch site ‘probably’ required

Lt. Gen. David Miller, Space Force deputy for Strategy, Plans, Programs and Requirements, said on Tuesday that the service alone is looking at some 1,000 launches between fiscal 2027 and 2031.

Lt. Gen. Doug Schiess tapped as 3rd Space Force chief

Lt. Gen. Doug Schiess will inherit a much larger Space Force, in both budget and end strength, than his predecessor Gen. Chance Saltzman.

CSO Saltzman: Focus space acquisition on ‘minimum viable capabilities’

In his first Commander's Note of 2026, Gen. Chance Saltzman urges close collaboration between the Space Force acquisition and operational corps to speed delivery of new capabilities.

Shifting gears: Space Force moves to embrace space mobility for orbital warfare

The service's new Objective Force plan calls for demonstrating on-orbit refueling and fielding operational "space tugs" by 2030.

Air Force kicks off AMTI program with competition for first ‘increment’

Awards will be issued “fairly shortly” for the first operational satellites that can track aircraft and from space, according to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink. 

Space Force 2040: 30,000 satellites, ‘thousands’ more Guardians

The Space Force's projections of its needs for orbital warfare and electronic warfare are only included in the classified version of the new Objective Force plan, but Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman confirmed that the service wants new kit for orbital warfare.

Nowhere to hide: Iran war spotlights military challenges posed by space-based remote sensing

Planet in a March 9 notice to its customers, obtained by Breaking Defense, explained that the company would be instituting a 14-day delay on release of imagery not just of Iran, but also of nearby military bases, the Gulf States and "existing conflict zones."

Space Force plans to establish HQ staff group as surrogate Futures Command

CSO Gen. Chance Saltzman has signed a memo, obtained by Breaking Defense, initiating the creation of SF/S9 to coordinate future force planning. However, the change has yet to be approved by Air Force Secretary Troy Meink.

FY27 budget ‘to reflect’ Space Force need for rapid capabilities growth: Saltzman

Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said today that the White House, the Office of Management and Budget and DoD all agree that the service needs to grow.

‘Ringleader’: Department of Air Force to start all-encompassing sensor fusion experiments

Separately, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said the Air Force will continue work on two rapid prototypes for the E-7 Wedgetail, though he did not appear to fully commit to the program.

With NDAA, Congress twists Space Force’s arm on beefing up acquisition chops

"I look forward to working with [Air Force] Secretary Meink and the service to make sure the language in the NDAA is fully implemented," Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Mike Rogers, R.-Ala., told Breaking Defense today.

About that ‘tension’ with Qatar, and refueling on orbit: AFA day 3 [Video]

On day three of AFA, a senior Air Force official acknowledged the US didn't see Israel's strike in Qatar coming.