WASHINGTON — President Biden on July 11 submitted to the U.S. Senate the nominations of two three-star Space Force leaders for promotion to four-star generals.
Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting, commander of the Space Force’s Space Operations Command; and Lt. Gen. Michael Guetlein, commander of the Space Force’s Space Systems Command, have been nominated to the rank of general and to receive a fourth star.
Whiting is anticipated to develop into the following commander of U.S. Space Command, replacing Gen. James Dickinson. Guetlein is anticipated to develop into the following vice chief of space operations of the Space Force, replacing Gen. David “DT” Thompson.
The nominations will probably be considered by the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The White House also submitted the nomination of Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant, deputy chief of space operations for strategy, plans, programs and requirements, to a brand new project at the identical rank.
Garrant is anticipated to switch Guetlein because the commander of the Space Systems Command, based in Los Angeles.
Block on military nominations
If the Space Force nominations are approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee, it’s unclear when they are going to reach the Senate floor. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) has placed a hold on general and flag officer nominations to protest a DoD policy that covers certain abortion-related travel expenses for service members.
Tuberville said he’ll proceed to dam military nominations until the Pentagon changes the policy or it’s passed through laws.
The Pentagon said as many as 265 general and flag officer nominations have been delayed within the Senate, affecting the graceful transition of leadership.