John W. Raymond

John William "Jay" Raymond (born April 30, 1962) is a United States Space Force general serving as its first chief of space operations. He previously concurrently served as the commander of United States Space Command, a position he held from August 29, 2019, to August 20, 2020. As the Space Force's highest-ranking officer, he currently oversees its organizational stand-up and the transfer of officers and enlisted personnel into the newest service branch.[1]

This article is about the U.S. Space Force general. For others of the same name, see John Raymond.

Jay Raymond
Official portrait, 2021
Nickname(s)Jay
Born (1962-04-30) April 30, 1962
Alexandria, Virginia
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Air Force (1984–2019)
United States Space Force (2019–present)
Years of service1984–present
RankGeneral
Commands heldChief of Space Operations
United States Space Command
Air Force Space Command
Joint Force Space Component Commander
Fourteenth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic)
Joint Functional Component Command for Space
30th Operations Group
5th Space Surveillance Squadron
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan
Iraq War
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (2)
Alma materClemson University (BS)
Central Michigan University (MS)
Naval War College (MA)
Spouse(s)Mollie Raymond
Signature

Prior to being transferred to the Space Force, he served over 35 years in the United States Air Force. While in the Air Force, he was still serving as the commander of U.S. Space Command but was also concurrently serving as the commander of the Air Force Space Command and as commander of Joint Force Space Component. Prior to that, he served as the deputy chief of staff for operations, headquarters United States Air Force at the Pentagon. Raymond has been deployed to serve in the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War.

He originally assumed command of Air Force Space Command on October 25, 2016, and of Joint Force Space Component on December 1, 2017. He assumed the additional command of U.S. Space Command on August 29, 2019. On December 20, 2019, he relinquished command of Air Force Space Command and of Joint Force Space Component, as they were being disestablished, and assumed the office of chief of space operations. He dual-hatted as chief of space operations and as commander of United States Space Command until he relinquished command of U.S. Space Command on August 20, 2020, to U.S. Army general James Dickinson, who previously was the command's deputy commander.

Early life and education

Raised in Alexandria, Virginia, Raymond is the son of Barbara Ryan and John Allen Raymond;[2] his father is a 1958 graduate of the United States Military Academy. Since 1865, his family has had graduates from West Point, including his great great grandfather, great grandfather, grandfather, and father.[3][4] He graduated from Clemson University with a degree in administrative management[5] and was commissioned an officer in the United States Air Force in 1984.[6] The following year, he was assigned to the 321st Strategic Missile Wing at Grand Forks Air Force Base.

Military career

United States Air Force
Raymond visits Thule Air Base in 2017 as Air Force Space Command commander

From 1989 to 1993, Raymond was an operations center officer controller with the 1st Strategic Aerospace Division and Executive Officer of the 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg Air Force Base. In 1993, he was assigned to Air Force Space Command.

In 1997, Raymond was stationed at The Pentagon. He remained there until 2000, at which time he assumed command of the 5th Space Surveillance Squadron located at RAF Feltwell in England. The following year, Raymond returned to the United States and became Deputy Commander of the 21st Operations Group. From 2003 to 2005, he was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

In 2005, Raymond returned to Vandenberg Air Force Base and assumed command of the 30th Operations Group. He held that position until 2007, when he was named Commander of the 21st Space Wing. In 2009, Raymond was reassigned to Air Force Space Command as Director of Plans, Programs and Analyses. From December 2010 to July 2012, Raymond served as Vice Commander of 5th Air Force, and Deputy Commander for 13th Air Force at Yokota Air Base in Japan. From July 2012 to January 2014, Raymond served as director of plans and policy (J5) for United States Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. From January 2014 to August 2015, Raymond served as Commander, Fourteenth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic), Air Force Space Command, and Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space for United States Strategic Command at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. After that, he returned the Pentagon to serve as the deputy chief of staff for operations on the Air Staff.

Raymond was nominated for promotion to the rank of general and to the command of Air Force Space Command on September 8, 2016.[7] This nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 15.[8] He assumed command of the Air Force Space Command on October 27, 2016, replacing John E. Hyten who was then tapped to become the commander of United States Strategic Command.[9]

When the creation of the Space Force was debated, Raymond initially did not support the idea of creating a separate space corps. In 2017, he wrote in a Defense One article that while he applauded the increased focus on space as a warfighting domain, what is needed instead is deeper integration and more resources.[10]

On March 22, 2019, Raymond was nominated to become the commander of United States Space Command.[11] The appointment was confirmed by the Committee on Armed Services on June 12 and later the United States Senate on June 27.[12] He assumed command of the newly established combatant command on August 29, 2019.[13]

United States Space Force
Raymond (left) attends the NDAA 2020 signing ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, where he was appointed first Chief of Space Operations, December 20, 2019

Raymond was appointed Space Force's first chief of space operations on December 20, 2019.[1] According to President Donald Trump, "With today's signing I will proudly appoint Gen. Jay Raymond the first chief of space operations and he will become the very first member of the Space Force and he will be on the Joint Chiefs."[14] He was officially sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence on January 14, 2020.[15]

Raymond's OCP uniform

He continued serving as commander of the U.S. Space Command while being the new military service's head until August 20, 2020 when he relinquished command to his deputy, General James H. Dickinson.[16] The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, which also created the Space Force, included a provision which allowed the chief of space operations to concurrently serve as commander of the newest combatant command for one year.[17]

Assignments
  1. August 1985–October 1989, Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Crew Commander; Alternate Command Post; Flight Commander and Instructor Crew Commander; and Missile Procedures Trainer Operator, 321st Strategic Missile Wing, Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D.
  2. October 1989–August 1993, Operations Center Officer Controller, 1st Strategic Aerospace Division, and Executive Officer, 30th Space Wing, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
  3. August 1993–February 1996, Chief, Commercial Space Lift Operations, Assistant Chief, Current Operations Branch, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
  4. February 1996–August 1996, Deputy Director, Commander in Chief's Action Group, Headquarters AFSPC, Peterson AFB, Colo.
  5. August 1996–June 1997, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  6. June 1997–August 1998, Space and Missile Force Programmer, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
  7. September 1998–April 2000, Chief, Expeditionary Aerospace Force Space and Program Integration, Expeditionary Aerospace Force Implementation Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
  8. April 2000–June 2001, Commander, 5th Space Surveillance Squadron, RAF Feltwell, United Kingdom
  9. June 2001–July 2002, Deputy Commander, 21st Operations Group, Peterson AFB, Colo.
  10. July 2002–June 2003, Student, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
  11. June 2003–June 2005, Transformation Strategist, Office of Force Transformation, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
  12. June 2005–June 2007, Commander, 30th Operations Group, Vandenberg AFB, Calif. (September 2006– January 2007, Director of Space Forces, Combined Air Operations Center, Southwest Asia)
  13. June 2007–August 2009, Commander, 21st Space Wing, Peterson AFB, Colo.
  14. August 2009–December 2010, Director of Plans, Programs and Analyses, Headquarters AFSPC, Peterson AFB, Colo.
  15. December 2010–July 2012, Vice Commander, Fifth Air Force, and Deputy Commander, 13th Air Force, Yokota Air Base, Japan
  16. July 2012–January 2014, director of plans and policy (J5), U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
  17. January 2014–August 2015, Commander, Fourteenth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic), AFSPC, and Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space, U.S. Strategic Command, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
  18. August 2015–October 2016, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
  19. October 2016–December 2019, Commander, AFSPC, Peterson AFB, Colo.
  20. December 2017–August 2019, Commander, Joint Force Space Component Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
  21. August 2019–August 2020, Commander, U.S. Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
  22. December 2019–present, Chief of Space Operations, U.S. Space Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.

Summary of joint assignments
Jay Raymond shakes hands with General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces during a meeting at the Pentagon, September 30, 2021.
  1. June 2003–June 2005, Transformation Strategist, Office of Force Transformation, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
  2. July 2012–January 2014, director of plans and policy (J5), U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., as a major general
  3. December 2017–August 2019, Commander, Joint Force Space Component Command, Peterson AFB, Colo., as a general
  4. August 2019–August 2020, Commander, U.S. Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo., as a general

Awards and decorations

Raymond is the recipient of the following awards:[1]

Command Space Operations Badge
 Command Missile Operations Badge
 Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
 Space Staff Badge
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
 Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
 Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
 Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster
 Meritorious Service Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
 Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters
 Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
 Air Force Recognition Ribbon with one bronze oak leaf cluster
 National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame
 Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
National Order of Merit (France), Officer[18]
  • 2007 General Jerome F. O'Malley Distinguished Space Leadership Award, Air Force Association.
  • 2015 Thomas D. White Space Award, Air Force Association.
  • 2016 Peter B. Teets Government Award, National Defense Industrial Association.
  • 2017 James V. Hartinger Award, National Defense Industrial Association.

Effective dates of promotion
Raymond kneels as his wife, Mollie (left), and his mother, Barbara Raymond, pin on his third star during his promotion ceremony Jan. 31, 2014.
RankDate
Second lieutenantJuly 20, 1984
First lieutenantJuly 20, 1986
CaptainJuly 20, 1988
MajorJuly 1, 1996
Lieutenant colonelJuly 1, 1999
ColonelJuly 1, 2004
Brigadier generalAugust 19, 2009
Major generalMay 4, 2012
Lieutenant general January 31, 2014
General October 25, 2016

[19]

Writings
  • "How the U.S. Space Force is trying to bring order to increasingly messy outer space". The Washington Post. November 29, 2021.
  • "How We're Building a 21st-Century Space Force". The Atlantic. December 20, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  • With David L. Goldfein and Barbara Barrett (July 21, 2020). "US Air Force, Space Force: Here Is Your New Arctic Strategy". Defense One. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  • "We Need to Focus on Space; We Don't Need a 'Space Corps'". Defense One. July 12, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2021.

References
  1. "GENERAL JOHN W. "JAY" RAYMOND". United States Space Force. 2019. Archived from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  2. "United States Military Academy West Point - Howitzer Yearbook (West Point, NY), Class of 1958, Page 477 of 604 | E-Yearbook.com has the largest online yearbook collection of college, university, high school, middle school, junior high school, military, naval cruise books and yearbooks. Search and browse yearbooks online!". e-yearbook.com.
  3. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 17, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Assembly – United States Military Academy. Association of Graduates – Google Books". 2009. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  5. "Clemson Commencement Program". Clemson.edu. May 1984. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  6. "GENERAL JOHN W. "JAY" RAYMOND". Af.mil. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  7. "General Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. September 8, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  8. "PN1673 — Lieutenant General John W. Raymond — Air Force". U.S. Congress. September 15, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  9. "New Air Force Space Command sworn in at Colorado Springs military base".
  10. Raymond, John W. (July 12, 2017). "We Need to Focus on Space; We Don't Need a 'Space Corps'". Defense One. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  11. Erwin, Sandra (March 26, 2019). "Trump nominates Raymond to be commander of U.S. Space Command". SpaceNews. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  12. Yoanna, Michael de (June 17, 2019). "Colorado U.S. Space Command Nominee Seeks To 'Deter A Conflict'". kunc.org. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  13. "Department of Defense Establishes U.S. Space Command". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
  14. Browne, Ryan (December 20, 2019). "With a signature, Trump brings Space Force into being". Cable News Network. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  15. "Raymond sworn in as first Chief of Space Operations at White House event".
  16. "New Bosses at SPACECOM, NORTHCOM". August 20, 2020.
  17. https://www.congress.gov/116/plaws/publ92/PLAW-116publ92.pdf
  18. "Twitter". Mobile.twitter.com. April 16, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  19. "Stratcom" (PDF). stratcom.mil. December 1, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2020.

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