AFA IN ACTION: Gagnon Recognized as Space Visionary 

Aurora, Colo.  

The Air & Space Forces Association presented Lt. Gen. Gregory Gagnon with the Gen. Jerome F. O’Malley Space Visionary Award at the 2026 Warfare Symposium on Feb. 25. The award honors vision, risk-taking, and innovation that advance U.S. Space Force operational capabilities.

As commander of U.S. Space Force Combat Forces Command, Gagnon leads more than 12,000 Guardians and Airmen responsible for generating and delivering combat-ready space forces worldwide. Under his direction, Space Operations Command was restructured and redesignated as Combat Forces Command to better align with emerging offensive and defensive warfighting demands, reinforcing a readiness-first approach and a shift toward a true warfighting service.

A career intelligence officer and cyberspace operations expert, Gagnon brought a nontraditional background that enabled him to challenge legacy assumptions and drive operational innovation. He fostered a culture of experimentation, advanced intelligence integration, and data analytics, and accelerated force design, training, and deployment models.

Drawing on extensive joint and intelligence experience, his leadership has reshaped how the Space Force organizes, equips, and employs combat-ready space forces, exemplifying the visionary spirit embodied by General O’Malley.

The award was presented by Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess; AFA Board Chair Kathleen Ferguson; AFA President & CEO Lt. Gen. Burt Field, USAF (Ret.); and General O’Malley’s daughter, Shannon O’Malley Burg.

O’Malley was a pioneer of U.S. military spacepower who championed integrating space into everyday operations and emphasized agility, technological advancement, and forward-looking leadership. His legacy underscores the critical role of innovation in space for national security and future readiness.

AFA established the O’Malley Award in 2021 to recognize the critical contributions of outstanding Space Force leaders to U.S. national security. The first recipient of the award was the U.S. Space Force and last year’s winner was Gen B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations.