United States Space Forces – Space

United States Space Forces – Space
United States Space Forces – Space
	S4S emblem
Founded	6 December 2023; 192 days
Country	United States
Branch	United States Space Force
Type	Component field command
Role	Space operations
Part of	United States Space Command
Headquarters	Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
Commanders
Commander	Lt Gen Douglas Schiess
Deputy Commander	Maj Gen Dennis Bythewood
Command Senior Enlisted Leader	CMSgt Grange S. Coffin IV

The United States Space Forces – Space (S4S, SPACEFOR–SPACE)^[2] is the United States Space Force component field command to the United States Space Command. It was formed by combining the Combined Force Space Component Command and Joint Task Force–Space Defense. Its commander also serves as the combined joint force space component commander (CJFSCC). It was activated on 6 December 2023.

History

In 2021, the United States Space Command began thinking about creating a subordinate command that streamlines space operations. Initial plans were to establish a Joint Force Space Component Command by combining the Combined Force Space Component Command (CFSCC) and Joint Task Force–Space Defense (JTF-SD).^[3] On 16 November 2022, General James H. Dickinson, U.S Space Command commander, ordered the creation of the Combined Joint Task Force–Space Operations (CJTF-SO), under which CFSCC and JTF-SD reported. U.S. Army Major General Thomas L. James served as acting commander of CJTF-SO until a three-star commander was nominated and confirmed.^[4]^[5]^[6]

By 2023, no officer has been nominated as CJTF-SO commander. Meanwhile, plans shifted for the Space Force to create a new component field command to U.S. Space Command, the United States Space Forces – Space (S4S). It would be commanded with a three-star officer with the director of staff of the Space Force being downgraded to a two-star billet to make way for it. On 17 October 2023, U.S. Space Force Major General Douglas Schiess was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general and assignment as the first commander of S4S. As S4S commander, he would also serve as the combined joint space component commander (CJFSCC).^[7]

Following the confirmation of Schiess's nomination, S4S was activated on 6 December 2023 by redesignating Space Operations Command West as S4S. CFSCC and JTF-SD were also inactivated.^[8]^[9]^[10] On 31 January 2024, a ceremony presided by General B. Chance Saltzman and General Stephen Whiting was held to commemorate the activation of S4S.^[11]

Structure

Name		Space mission deltas
	Space Delta 5	Combined Space Operations Center	Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
	Space Delta 15	National Space Defense Center	Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado