Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess nominated as next U.S. Space Force chief of space operations

President Donald J. Trump has nominated Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess to serve as the next Chief of Space Operations, putting the veteran space operator in line to become the Space Force’s top officer pending Senate confirmation.

If confirmed, Schiess would be the service’s third Chief of Space Operations since the Space Force was created in December 2019, succeeding Gen. Chance Saltzman, who has led the service since November 2022 and is expected to retire later this year. The CSO serves as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping the nation’s newest military service.

“The Space Force has made tremendous progress in a short time, and our mission has never been more important,” Schiess said. “I’m humbled by the President’s nomination. 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. My wife Debbie and I also look forward to serving all Guardians and their families if given the opportunity.”

Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink endorsed the choice and credited Saltzman with steering the service through a formative period. “I am pleased to support the nomination of Lt. Gen. Doug Schiess to be our next Chief of Space Operations,” said Meink. “He brings the operational experience, strategic mindset and leadership we need to continue that momentum and ensure space capabilities remain a decisive advantage for our nation. I’d also like to thank Gen. Saltzman for his leadership during his tenure as CSO. He has led the Space Force through a period of remarkable growth and transformation, positioning the service to win despite an increasingly contested domain.”

Saltzman, who became the second CSO in 2022 following the service’s first leader, Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, praised his prospective successor. “Leading the Space Force has been the privilege of a lifetime for Jennifer and me,” Saltzman said. “Doug is the right leader at the right time. He understands the mission, he understands the stakes, and he will continue to push the Space Force to deliver the capabilities the Joint Force and the American people rely on.”

The service framed the transition as occurring amid sustained operational demand, citing recent global activity, including in Iran and Venezuela, as examples of Guardians delivering asymmetric advantages from orbit.

Schiess has served since November 2025 as the Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, overseeing policy for global operations, sustainment, training, and readiness and serving as the operations deputy to the CSO on Joint Chiefs matters. He commissioned into the Air Force in 1992 as a distinguished ROTC graduate from UCLA and transferred to the Space Force in 2022. His career includes command at the squadron, group, wing, joint component, and field command levels, along with deployments supporting Operations Enduring Freedom, Resolute Support, and Inherent Resolve.

The nomination now heads to the Senate, where Armed Services Committee review and a confirmation vote will determine whether Schiess takes the post.