Gen. John W. "Jay" Raymond assumed the duties as the first Chief of Space Operations, United States Space Force, Dec. 20, 2019; and Commander, United States Space Command, Aug. 29, 2019.

U.S. Space Force is responsible for providing resilient, defendable and affordable space capabilities for the nation and the joint force. It is the duty of the U.S. Space Force to protect the interests of the United States in space; deter aggression in, from and to space; and conduct prompt and sustained space operations. As the Chief of Space Operations, U.S. Space Force, Gen. Raymond leads the organizing, training, equipping and maintaining of mission-ready space forces and capabilities for U.S. Space Command and other combatant commands around the world. The Chief of Space Operations performs the duties of such position under the authority, direction and control of the Secretary of the Air Force and is directly responsible to the Secretary.

Gen. Raymond was commissioned through the ROTC program at Clemson University in 1984. He has commanded the 5th Space Surveillance Squadron at RAF Feltwell, United Kingdom, the 30th Operations Group at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, the 21st Space Wing at Peterson AFB, Colorado, the 14th Air Force and Joint Force Space Component Command. He deployed to Southwest Asia as Director of Space Forces in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Gen. Raymond’s staff assignments include Headquarters AFSPC, U.S. Strategic Command, the Air Staff and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Sponsored by:

• Sam Nunn School of International Affairs
• Center for International Strategy, Technology, and Policy 
• School of Aerospace Engineering
• Center for Space Technology and Research

The event in the Kendeda Building Auditorium is free and open to the public. Visitior parking is available in Visitor Lot 5.