USSF Historical Lineage
The U.S. Space Force traces its roots to the beginning of the Cold War, with the first Air Force space programs starting in 1945. Military space forces were unified when Air Force Space Command was established in September 1982. In December 2019, AFSPC became the cornerstone for the U.S. Space Force as a separate military branch. Hover any row to enlarge.
U.S. Space Force
| Gen. John W. Raymond | Jan. 14, 2020 – Nov. 2, 2022 |
| Gen. B. Chance Saltzman Current | Nov. 22, 2022 – |
*Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess was nominated to be commander May 1, 2026.
Air Force Space Command
| Gen. James V. Hartinger | Sept. 1, 1982 – July 30, 1984 |
| Gen. Robert T. Herres | July 30, 1984 – Oct. 1, 1986 |
| Maj. Gen. Maurice C. Padden | Oct. 1, 1986 – Oct. 29, 1987 |
| Lt. Gen. Donald J. Kutyna | Oct. 29, 1987 – March 29, 1990 |
| Lt. Gen. Thomas S. Moorman Jr. | March 29, 1990 – March 23, 1992 |
| Gen. Donald J. Kutyna | March 23, 1992 – June 30, 1992 |
| Gen. Charles A. Horner | June 30, 1992 – Sept. 13, 1994 |
| Gen. Joseph W. Ashy | Sept. 13, 1994 – Aug. 26, 1996 |
| Gen. Howell M. Estes III | Aug. 26, 1996 – Aug. 14, 1998 |
| Gen. Richard B. Myers | Aug. 14, 1998 – Feb. 22, 2000 |
| Gen. Ralph E. Eberhart | Feb. 22, 2000 – April 19, 2002 |
| Gen. Lance W. Lord | April 19, 2002 – April 1, 2006 |
| Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz (acting) | April 1, 2006 – June 26, 2006 |
| Gen. Kevin P. Chilton | June 26, 2006 – Oct. 3, 2007 |
| Lt. Gen. Michael A. Hamel (acting) | Oct. 3, 2007 – Oct. 12, 2007 |
| Gen. C. Robert Kehler | Oct. 12, 2007 – Jan. 5, 2011 |
| Gen. William L. Shelton | Jan. 5, 2011 – Aug. 15, 2014 |
| Gen. John E. Hyten | Aug. 15, 2014 – Oct. 25, 2016 |
| Gen. John W. Raymond | Oct. 25, 2016 – Jan. 14, 2020 |
Combat Forces Command (CFC)
| Lt. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting | Oct. 2020 – Jan. 9, 2024 |
| Lt. Gen. David N. Miller Jr. | Jan. 9, 2024 – Nov. 3, 2025 |
| Lt. Gen. Gregory N. Gagnon Current | Nov. 3, 2025 – |
*Formerly called Space Operations Command (SpOC).
Space Systems Command (SSC)
| Lt. Gen. Michael A. Guetlein | Aug. 13, 2021 – Dec. 21, 2023 |
| Lt. Gen. Philip A. Garrant Current | Feb. 1, 2024 – |
*Joy M. White was acting commander from Dec. 21, 2023, to Feb. 1, 2024.
Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM)
| Maj. Gen. Shawn N. Bratton | Aug. 23, 2021 – July 20, 2023 |
| Maj. Gen. Timothy A. Sejba | July 20, 2023 – July 18, 2025 |
| Maj. Gen. James E. Smith Current | July 18, 2025 – |
Space and Missile Systems Center (1996–2021)
| Lt. Gen. Roger G. DeKok | Aug. 18, 1996 – Aug. 12, 1998 |
| Lt. Gen. Eugene L. Tattini | Aug. 13, 1998 – May 25, 2001 |
| Lt. Gen. Brian A. Arnold | May 25, 2001 – May 20, 2005 |
| Lt. Gen. Michael A. Hamel | May 20, 2005 – May 16, 2008 |
| Lt. Gen. John T. Sheridan | May 16, 2008 – June 3, 2011 |
| Lt. Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski | June 3, 2011 – June 19, 2014 |
| Lt. Gen. Samuel A. Greaves | June 19, 2014 – March 22, 2017 |
| Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson | March 22, 2017 – Aug. 1, 2021 |
Western Development Division
| Gen. Bernard A. Schriever | July 1, 1953 – May 31, 1957 |
Air Force Ballistic Missile Division
| Gen. Bernard A. Schriever | June 1, 1957 – April 24, 1959 |
| Maj. Gen. Osmond J. Ritland | April 25, 1959 – March 31, 1961 |
Space Systems Division (SSD) & Ballistic Systems Division (BSD) — 1961–1969
| Maj. Gen. Osmond J. Ritland (SSD) | April 1, 1961 – May 13, 1962 |
| Lt. Gen. Howell M. Estes Jr. (SSD) | May 14, 1962 – Oct. 2, 1962 |
| Maj. Gen. Ben I. Funk (SSD) | Oct. 3, 1962 – Aug. 31, 1966 |
| Maj. Gen. Paul T. Cooper (SSD) | Sept. 1, 1966 – June 30, 1967 |
| Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Gerrity (BSD) | April 1, 1961 – June 30, 1962 |
| Lt. Gen. W. Austin Davis (BSD) | July 1, 1962 – July 18, 1964 |
| Maj. Gen. Harry Sands Jr. (BSD) | July 20, 1966 – June 30, 1967 |
| Maj. Gen. John L. McCoy (BSD) | July 20, 1966 – June 30, 1969 |
Space and Missile Systems Organization
| Lt. Gen. John W. O’Neill | July 1, 1967 – Aug. 31, 1969 |
| Lt. Gen. Samuel C. Phillips | Sept. 1, 1969 – Aug. 24, 1972 |
| Lt. Gen. Kenneth W. Schultz | Aug. 25, 1972 – Aug. 28, 1975 |
| Lt. Gen. Thomas W. Morgan | Aug. 29, 1975 – April 28, 1978 |
| Lt. Gen. Richard C. Henry | April 29, 1978 – Sept. 30, 1979 |
Space Division
| Lt. Gen. Richard C. Henry | Oct. 1, 1979 – May 1, 1983 |
| Lt. Gen. Forrest S. McCartney | May 1, 1983 – Sept. 30, 1986 |
| Lt. Gen. Aloysius G. Casey | Oct. 9, 1986 – June 23, 1988 |
| Lt. Gen. Donald L. Cromer | June 24, 1988 – March 14, 1989 |
Ballistic Missile Office
| Maj. Gen. John W. Hepfer | Oct. 1, 1979 – Oct. 31, 1980 |
| Maj. Gen. Forrest S. McCartney | Oct. 31, 1980 – May 19, 1982 |
| Maj. Gen. Aloysius G. Casey | May 19, 1982 – Sept. 30, 1986 |
| Maj. Gen. Edward P. Berry Jr. | Sept. 30, 1986 – March 14, 1989 |
Space Systems Division (SSD) & Ballistic Systems Division (BSD) — 1989–1992
| Lt. Gen. Donald L. Cromer (SSD) | March 15, 1989 – May 31, 1991 |
| Lt. Gen. Edward P. Barry Jr. (SSD) | July 8, 1991 – June 30, 1992 |
| Lt. Gen. Edward P. Barry Jr. (BSD) | March 15, 1989 – May 30, 1989 |
| Brig. Gen. Ralph G. Tourino (BSD) | May 30, 1989 – May 4, 1990 |
Space and Missile Systems Center (1992–1996)
| Lt. Gen. Edward P. Barry Jr. | July 1, 1992 – Nov. 16, 1994 |
| Lt. Gen. Lester L. Lyles | Nov. 16, 1994 – Aug. 18, 1996 |
Source: USSF Almanac 2026 — U.S. Space Force Historical Lineage