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Senate confirms Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess as Space Force’s third chief of space operations

The Senate confirmed Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess on Aug. 6 to lead the U.S. Space Force, succeeding Gen. Chance Saltzman, who is expected to retire in the coming months. Schiess, a career missile and space officer, will take command as the service prepares for expanded funding, personnel and missions amid competition with China.

Discovered 2026-08-07T04:45:45.434730-07:00 | 2026-08-07T04:45:45.434730-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

Schiess will become the Space Force’s third chief of space operations, establishing the service’s next senior leadership direction as Gen. Chance Saltzman prepares to retire.
His tenure begins as the Space Force faces planned growth in funding, personnel and military missions driven by increasing competition with China.
Schiess’s background as a career missile and space officer aligns his appointment with the service’s expanding role in space and national security.

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