The vice chief of space operations (VCSO) is an office held by a four-star general in the United States Space Force. The vice chief directly supports the Chief of Space Operations (CSO) by serving as a member of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) and also operates with the full authority of the chief of space operations during the CSO's absence. The VCSO is nominated for appointment by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The VCSO is the second-highest position in the U.S. Space Force, equivalent to other services' vice chief positions.
| Vice Chief of Space Operations | |
|---|---|
Space Staff Identification Badge | |
Flag of the vice chief of space operations | |
Incumbent since 31 July 2025General Shawn Bratton | |
| United States Space Force Space Staff | |
| Abbreviation | VCSO |
| Member of | Space Staff Joint Requirements Oversight Council |
| Reports to | Secretary of the Air Force Chief of Space Operations |
| Seat | The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, United States |
| Appointer | The president with Senate advice and consent |
| Constituting instrument | 10 U.S.C. § 9083 |
| Formation | 2 October 2020 |
| First holder | David D. Thompson |
History
In February 2020, the Space Force sent a report to the United States Congress on the service's proposed organizational structure, in which it outlines the plan for the position of the vice chief of space operations. The VCSO would be established as a four-star statutory position with duties and responsibilities equivalent to other service vice positions that would grant the VCSO parity with vice positions established in law in the other military services.
On August 6, 2020, Lieutenant General David D. Thompson was nominated for promotion to general and assignment as the first VCSO. The United States Senate confirmed him on September 30, 2020. Thompson was promoted on October 1, 2020, and assumed the position of VCSO the next day, October 2, 2020.
In 2023, Thompson retired from active duty. Lieutenant General Michael Guetlein, the nominee to succeed Thompson, wasn't confirmed by the Senate because of a hold placed by Senator Tommy Tuberville on all Department of Defense nominees, so Lieutenant General Philip Garrant, the most senior officer in the Space Staff, took over as acting VCSO.
In December 2024, both the House and Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 to make the position of VCSO at statutory office and rank.
List of vice chiefs of space operations
| No. | Vice Chief of Space Operations | Term | Chief of Space Operations | Ref. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | |||
| 1 | General David D. Thompson (born 1963) | 2 October 2020 | 14 December 2023 | 3 years, 73 days | John W. Raymond B. Chance Saltzman | ||
| – | Lieutenant General Philip Garrant (born c. 1969) Acting | 14 December 2023 | 21 December 2023 | 7 days | B. Chance Saltzman | ||
| 2 | General Michael Guetlein (born 1967) | 21 December 2023 | 20 July 2025 | 1 year, 211 days | B. Chance Saltzman | ||
| – | Lieutenant General DeAnna Burt (born 1969) Acting | 20 July 2025 | 31 July 2025 | 12 days | B. Chance Saltzman | ||
| 3 | General Shawn Bratton (born 1968) | 31 July 2025 | Incumbent | 138 days | B. Chance Saltzman | ||
Timeline
See also
- Secretary of the Air Force
- Chief of Space Operations
- Vice Chief of Staff of the Army
- Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
- Vice Chief of Naval Operations
- Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force
- Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard
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