Raymond sworn in as the first chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force

Pence: “The following 12 months goes to be a busy 12 months and we’re going to see actually 1000’s of Air Drive personnel transfer into the Area Drive.”

WASHINGTON — Vice President Mike Pence on Jan. 14 administered the oath of workplace to Gen. John “Jay” Raymond as the primary chief of area operations for the U.S. Area Drive.

The swearing-in ceremony came about on the Eisenhower Government Workplace Constructing positioned subsequent to the White Home West Wing.

Pence known as this a historic event as Raymond grew to become the primary official member and chief of the newly established U.S. Area Drive.

President Donald Trump on Dec. 20 signed the Nationwide Protection Authorization Act for Fiscal 12 months 2020 that created the U.S. Area Drive because the sixth department of the nation’s armed forces. Trump in June 2018 directed the Protection Division to face up a brand new navy service for area, however bringing that objective to fruition required Congress to cross authorizing laws.

“I do know the subsequent 12 months goes to be a busy 12 months and we’re going to see actually 1000’s of Air Drive personnel transfer into the Area Drive,” mentioned Pence.

Raymond is the best rating navy official within the U.S. Area Drive and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Workers. He additionally serves because the commander of U.S. Area Command at Peterson Air Drive Base, Colorado.

In attendance on the ceremony had been Secretary of Protection Mark Esper, Deputy Secretary of Protection David Norquist, Secretary of the Air Drive Barbara Barrett, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers Gen. John Hyten, Air Drive Chief of Workers Gen. David Goldfein, Air Drive Vice Chief of Workers Gen. Stephen Wilson, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday, Chief of the Nationwide Guard Bureau Gen. Joseph Lengyel, Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard Adm. Charles Ray and Vice Commander of the U.S. Area Drive Lt. Gen. David Thompson.

Pence acknowledged Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) who had been within the viewers and had been key advocates for the institution of the U.S. Area Drive.

The vp mentioned Trump “didn’t hesitate” in making Raymond the primary chief of area operations given his 35-year navy profession and expertise main area organizations.

In remarks after being sworn in, Raymond mentioned: “It’s an enormous honor for me, it’s an enormous honor for my household. Extra importantly, it’s an enormous honor for the 26,000 airmen that come to work each day targeted on guaranteeing our entry to, and our freedom to maneuver in area.”

By creating the U.S. Area Drive, mentioned Raymond, “the president and Congress have given us an incredible alternative to construct the power we have to reply to the challenges we face within the area area.”

Having a sixth department of the navy devoted to area, Raymond mentioned, is “not solely historic nevertheless it’s crucial to our nationwide safety and that of our allies.”

Addressing Pence, Raymond mentioned: “Mr. vp, we now have our marching orders and we’re shifting out.”

Raymond has been insistent that though area has been declared a warfighting area, the objective of the U.S. Area Drive is to discourage a battle from extending into area. The brand new service, nevertheless, will probably be ready to battle if deterrence had been to fail.

“We don’t need a battle to start or prolong into area,” Raymond mentioned. “We wish to deter that battle from occurring. One of the simplest ways I understand how to do this is from a place of power.”

The NDAA that was signed Dec. 20, mentioned Raymond, “offers us a chance to start out with a clear sheet of paper, to construct this service in shut partnership with the Air Drive. … We’ll construct this new service in a approach that strengthens our joint power and permits us to maneuver with the pace and the agility wanted to reply to the present strategic surroundings.”