General John (Jay) Raymond

General John (Jay) Raymond

U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations

Lt. General John F. Thompson

Lt. General John F. Thompson

Space and Missile Systems Center,

Los Angeles Air Force Base

Last Thursday morning I had the distinct honor of attending a roundtable with General Raymond, Chief of Space Operations, U.S. Space Force and Lt. General John F. Thompson, Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) as part of the Honorary Commanders Program.

During this roundtable, General Raymond, explained the Space Force release of the organizational structure for its new Space Systems Command (SSC). The Command is set to officially stand up in summer 2021 once all required conditions are met to re-designate the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, as SSC headquarters.

SSC will rapidly identify, prototype, and field innovative, space-based solutions to deliver swift and responsive space capabilities to meet the demands of the National Defense Strategy.

“Space Systems Command’s organizational structure was purpose-built to anticipate and be responsive to the challenges presented by a contested space domain,” said Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, USSF chief of space operations. “We took the SMC 2.0 transformation of 2019 to the next level, aligning missions and organizations, and pushing authorities down from the three-star level to lower echelons in order to reduce cost and go fast. This will allow us to move at speed in delivering the resilient space capabilities necessary to stay ahead of a growing threat.”

The establishment of SSC will elevate the current responsibilities of SMC to that of a U.S. Space Force Field Command. SSC will be responsible for developing, acquiring, equipping, fielding, and sustaining resilient space capabilities to enhance joint lethality. This includes launch, developmental testing, on-orbit checkout, and sustainment. SSC will also provide strategic oversight of USSF science and technology activities.

“SMC led the nation in developing and delivering unparalleled, enduring space capabilities to the warfighter and our nation’s allies,” said Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson, SMC commander. “With the re-designation of SMC as SSC, we will further build upon the success seen with SMC 2.0, while synchronizing the science and technology research, capability development, system production, launch operations, and system sustainment efforts to more effectively deliver cutting-edge space systems needed to ensure the future of our national security and prosperity. Furthering our focus on accelerating the pace of acquisition while still delivering excellence, we will continue to emphasize more partnerships and more innovation.”

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