Douglas Schiess becomes Chief of Space Operations

General Douglas Schiess has been sworn in as the third Chief of Space Operations for the United States Space Force, succeeding General B. Chance Saltzman. During a ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Schiess emphasized that national security and the economy depend on achieving space superiority. He identified orbital threats from China and Russia, stating that the service's purpose is deterrence rather than confrontation.

Despite this leadership transition, the Space Force faces significant challenges regarding its workforce. A report from the RAND Corporation, titled ‘Breaking Glass, Missing Hands,’ warns that the United States lacks the necessary workforce to quickly rebuild military space assets in the event of a conflict. The report recommends that the government and industry invest in apprenticeships and talent retention to ensure the ability to reconstruct critical national security space infrastructure following an attack.