Chief of Space Operations
The chief of space operations (CSO) is the service chief of the United States Space Force. The CSO is the principal military adviser to the secretary of the Air Force for Space Force operations and, as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a military adviser to the National Security Council, the secretary of defense, and the president. The CSO is a statutory office held by a Space Force general, who is typically the highest-ranking officer on active duty in the Space Force.
| Chief of Space Operations | |
|---|---|
Space Staff identification badge | |
CSO flag | |
| United States Space Force Space Staff | |
| Abbreviation | CSO |
| Member of | Joint Chiefs of Staff Space Staff |
| Reports to | Secretary of Defense Secretary of the Air Force |
| Residence | Space House, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. |
| Seat | The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia |
| Appointer | The President with Senate advice and consent |
| Term length | 4 years Renewable one time, only during war or national emergency |
| Constituting instrument | 10 U.S.C. ยง 9082 |
| Formation | 20 December 2019 |
| First holder | John W. Raymond |
| Deputy | Vice Chief of Space Operations |
The CSO is an administrative position based in the Pentagon, and while they do not have operational command authority over Space Force forces, the chief of space operations does exercise supervision of Space Force units and organizations as the designee of the secretary of the Air Force.