Posted: Sat, May 2, 2026, 11:31 AM ET (1531 GMT)

President Trump nominated Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess to be the next commanding general of the Space Force. The White House announced Friday that it nominated Schiess for promotion to general and to be chief of space operations, a position that requires Senate confirmation. Schiess has served as the Space Force's deputy chief of operations since November. His nomination signals continuity in the service's emphasis on operational readiness and integration with joint forces, as the Pentagon looks to strengthen space capabilities in the face of growing threats from China and Russia. Schiess would succeed Gen. Chance Saltzman, who has led the Space Force since 2022 and is expected to retire later this year.