Lt. Gen. John Raymond has been nominated to take over Air Force Space Command, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said during a Wednesday briefing before the official Pentagon announcement. If confirmed, Raymond will receive his fourth star and replace Gen. John Hyten, who is leaving the post for an unannounced position. Raymond has served as the deputy chief of staff for operations since August 2015, and has been the commander of 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) and the director of plans and policy for US Strategic Command. Hyten has overseen large-scale changes since taking command in August 2014, such as opening up National Security Space launches to private competition.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
