United States Space Forces – Central
| United States Space Forces Central | |
|---|---|
 USSPACEFORCENT emblem | |
| Founded | 2 December 2022; 741 days |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Space Force |
| Type | Component field command |
| Role | Space operations |
| Size | 28 personnel[1] |
| Part of | United States Central Command |
| Headquarters | MacDill Air Force Base, Florida |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Col Christopher S. Putman |
The United States Space Forces Central (USSPACEFORCENT) is the planned United States Space Force component field command to the United States Central Command. Headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, it plans, coordinates, supports, and conducts employment of space operations across the full range of military operations, including security cooperation, in support of the combatant command's objectives.[2][3] It will be activated on 2 December 2022.[4]
History
Director of Space Forces, U.S. Air Forces Central
USSPACEFORINDOPAC's presence in the United States Central Command traces back to the director of space forces (DIRSPACEFOR) construct before the establishment of the Space Force. When the Space Force was still Air Force Space Command, there would be a space operations officer called the DIRSPACEFOR in every air service component command that would advise the air component commander on matters relating to space operations.[2] As such, there was a director of space forces assigned to United States Air Forces Central.[5]
List of directors of space forces
 |
Assistant Combined Air Operations Center Director for Space and Information Warfare
- Brig Gen Richard E. Webber, October 2001 – March 2002
Directors of Space Forces
- Col Teresa A. H. Djuric, April 2004 – August 2004
- Col Michael Carey, October 2004 – March 2005
- Col Jack Weinstein, ~March 2005 – ~June 2005
- Col J. Kevin McLaughlin, October 2005 - February 2006[6]
- Col Martin Whelan, January 2006 – June 2006[7]
- Col John E. Hyten, May 2006 – October 2006
- Col John W. Raymond, September 2006 – January 2007
- Col Cary C. Chun, January 2007 – June 2007
- Col John Riordan, ~June 2007 – ~2008[8][9]
- Col David D. Thompson, June 2009 – June 2010
- Col David J. Buck, May 2010 – May 2011
- Col Clinton Crosier, May 2011 – July 2012
- Col Keith W. Balts, May 2012 – May 2013[10]
- Col Jennifer Moore, ~May 2013 – April 2014
- Col Douglas Schiess, April 2014 – April 2015
- Col Michael S. Hough, April 2015 – April 2016[11]
- Col Jacob Middleton Jr., ??? – ~23 September 2019[12]
- Col Todd J. Benson, ~23 September 2019 – ~December 2020[13]
- Col Robert J. Schreiner, December 2020 – June 2021
- Col Anthony Mastalir, July 2021 – April 2022
- Col Christopher S. Putnam, March 2022 – present[14]
Establishment
USSPACEFORCENT will be established on 2 December 2022. It will be initially composed of 28 personnel and Col Christopher S. Putnam will serve as its first commander.[1]
List of commanders
| No. | Commander | Term | Ref | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term Length | ||
| 1 | Colonel Christopher S. Putnam (born c. 1970) | 2 December 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 10 days | [14] | |
See also
References
- ^ a b "Space Force set to establish CENTCOM-focused component". Stars and Stripes.
- ^ a b Cohen, Rachel (11 August 2021). "Space Force planning for new component in the Middle East alongside AFCENT". Air Force Times.
- ^ "Space Force, COVID, and Space Launch Delta 30 – Reflecting on Col Mastalir's legacy at the". Vandenberg Space Force Base.
- ^ Hadley, Greg (2 November 2022). "Space Force to Establish Components for INDOPACOM, CENTCOM, Korea by End of 2022".
- ^ https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/pacaf/publication/afi13-103_pacafsup/afi13-103_pacafsup.pdf
- ^ "LIEUTENANT GENERAL JAMES K. "KEVIN" MCLAUGHLIN". www.af.mil.
- ^ "MAJOR GENERAL MARTIN WHELAN". www.af.mil.
- ^ https://www.afspc.af.mil/Portals/3/documents/HF/AFD-080226-050.pdf
- ^ "New commander takes reins of 595th Space Group". Schriever Space Force Base (Archived).
- ^ "Col Keith W. Balts". militaryhallofhonor.com.
- ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-hough/
- ^ "ADF-Colorado hails Middleton, farewells Brig.Gen. Povak". National Reconnaissance Office.
- ^ "AFCENT Space Force director enlists Airmen into Space Force". www.spaceforce.mil.
- ^ a b https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-putman-2400a19/
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