Congress confirms Schiess as third-ever chief of space operations
Lt. Gen. Doug Schiess has been confirmed as the newest chief of space operations, allowing him to become the third person to ever serve as the Space Force’s highest-ranking officer.
The general was nominated for the role in April by President Donald Trump. Senators approved Schiess’ confirmation Thursday night in a unanimous consent vote. After previously serving as the service’s deputy chief of space operations, Schiess is now set to receive his fourth star and take the helm of the Pentagon’s youngest military service as it undergoes major change and growth.
He will be replacing Gen. Chance Saltzman, who is expected to retire this month after leading the Space Force for nearly four years.
“It will be the honor of my professional career to lead the guardians of the United States Space Force,” Schiess told the Senate Armed Services Committee in July during his confirmation hearing. “I will work tirelessly to ensure our Guardians are ready, our capabilities are resilient, our partnerships remain strong, and our service is worthy of the trust placed in us by the American people.”
A career space officer, Schiess has previously held a number of top leadership positions. He served as the first commander of Space Forces-Space — the service’s primary operational component to U.S. Space Command — from 2023 to 2025. As deputy CSO, Schiess oversaw policies and global operations.
Schiess will inherit a service that is expecting unprecedented expansion in both size and budget in the coming years. The Space Force wants to double its personnel to around 20,000 guardians by 2030 and is seeking $71 billion in funding for fiscal 2027 — twice as much as its fiscal 2026 request — to meet the Pentagon’s growing demand for space capabilities.
Schiess will be tasked with leading the organization through a sprawling transformation of its acquisition structure as it continues to grapple with ongoing workforce shortages.
“Gen. Schiess is a visionary leader who will ensure the Space Force remains equipped and our guardians remain trained to deter conflict while accelerating the delivery of next-generation capabilities that keep the nation ahead of evolving threats,” Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Senate is also expected to hold confirmation votes for nominees for other space-related leadership positions on Friday, including Erich Hernandez-Baquero to become Air Force assistant secretary for space acquisition and integration, and Roger Mason to become director of the National Reconnaissance Office.
