WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator and Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) member Kevin Cramer (R-ND) highlighted the need to build a modernized, well-equipped U.S. Space Force with the Air Force Space Command (AFSC) Commander and Combatant Commander of U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) nominee General John Raymond.
“Space is emerging as the next realm of military conflict,” Senator Cramer said after their meeting. “In our meeting, I stressed to General Raymond that our next USSPACECOM Commander must not only be ready to address current threats from foreign adversaries, but he must also be prepared to help build a Space Force that is set up for success.”
Senator Cramer met with General Raymond after today’s SASC hearing on his nomination, where the Senator pressed General Raymond on his responsibilities if a U.S. Space Force were created. In the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) recently passed by SASC, the USSPACECOM Commander would also be the U.S. Space Force Commander. Under an amendment led by Senator Cramer, these dual responsibilities would only be in place the first year Space Force is created, after which a separate U.S. Space Force Commander would be appointed.