Air Force Space Command last week held its biannual Air Reserve Component focus day at Peterson AFB, Colo. During the day-long summit, senior AFSPC, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve Command officials discussed issues, such as funding constraints, the space and cyber strategic landscapes, and the reserve components’ contributions to the command’s mission. “The smaller we get [as an Air Force], the value of every individual airmen goes up. It doesn’t matter if they’re active or reserve,” said Gen. Robert Kehler, AFSPC boss. Today, there are about 9,500 Air Guardsmen and 1,900 Reservists supporting AFSPC. About 8,000 of the ANG members are involved in the command’s emerging cyber mission under 24th Air Force. “We can’t do the mission without the Total Force,” said Maj. Gen. Richard Webber, 24th AF commander. Altogether, AFSPC has about 46,000 personnel. (Peterson report by 1st Lt. Jonathan Simmons)
US Space Command Should Always Be Led by a Guardian
Sept. 12, 2026
General Stephen Whiting took command of U.S. Space Command in January 2024, and if customary three-year tenures hold, his tour would end in January 2027. The question now before the President and Senate is who should follow him? Whoever they choose, it has to be a Guardian—and so should every successor…
