Commander of Space Operations Command

The commander of Space Operations Command is a lieutenant general who leads the field command that provide space forces to the United States Space Command and supports other unified combatant commands. A senior leader in the Space Force, it is only one of three field commanders and, of which, only one of two held by a lieutenant general.

Commander of Space Operations Command
Space Operations Command emblem
Flag of a Space Force lieutenant general
Incumbent Lieutenant General Stephen Whiting since 21 October 2020
United States Space Force
Reports to	Chief of Space Operations
Seat	Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, U.S.
Precursor	Commander, Air Force Space Command
Formation	1 September 1982
First holder	James V. Hartinger
Deputy	Vice Commander, Space Operations Command

Space Operations Command (SpOC) was established by redesignating the Air Force Space Command as Space Operations Command, which was redesignated prior as Headquarters, United States Space Force to serve in transitional capacity as the new service's headquarters. The commander of SpOC, thus, can be traced back to 1 September 1982, when General James V. Hartinger served as the first commander of Space Command.[1]

Like any other three-star officer position in the U.S. Armed Forces, the commander of SpOC is nominated by the president of the United States and must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The current commander of SpOC is Lieutenant General Stephen Whiting.