Chief of Space Operations

Chief of Space Operations
Space Staff identification badge
CSO flag
since 2 November 2022
United States Space Force
Space Staff
TypeService chief
AbbreviationCSO
Member ofJoint Chiefs of Staff
Space Staff
Reports toSecretary of Defense
Secretary of the Air Force
ResidenceSpace House, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.[1]
SeatThe Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Term length4 years
Renewable one time, only during war or national emergency
Constituting instrument10 U.S.C. § 9082
Formation20 December 2019
First holderJohn W. Raymond
DeputyVice 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.[a]

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.

  1. ^ Dietrich, Eric (12 December 2020). "CSO Holiday Event [Image 2 of 17]". Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.


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