Gen. Bernard A. Schriever was the chief architect of the U.S. Air Force's early ballistic missile and space programs. His visionary leadership in the 1950s and 1960s made the USAF a world leader in developing military science and technology. Known as the “Father of Air Force space and missiles” he poses for a photograph with some of the systems created under his leadership. His management philosophy made rapid development possible. USAF
Photo Caption & Credits

2021 USAF & USSF Almanac: USSF Historical Lineage

July 1, 2021

The U.S. Space Force traces its roots to the beginning of the Cold War, with the first Air Force space programs starting in 1945. USAF’s Western Development Division, under Gen. Bernard A. Schriever, was established in 1954 as the first dedicated space organization within the U.S. Armed Forces. Military space forces were organized under several different Air Force major commands until they were unified when Air Force Space Command was established in September 1982. In December 2019, AFSPC became the cornerstone for the U.S. Space Force as a separate military branch. Below, we trace space organizational lineage within the Department of the Air Force. Because the space mission was—and to some extent still is—spread across several commands, offices, organizations, divisions, and services, some entries are concurrent and non-USAF organizations are not listed. This Space Force history is not intended to be all-inclusive.

WESTERN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
Gen. Bernard A. SchrieverJuly 1, 1953May 31, 1957
AIR FORCE BALLISTIC MISSILE DIVISION
Gen. Bernard A. SchrieverJune 1, 1957April 24, 1959
Maj. Gen. Osmond J. RitlandApril 25, 1959March 31, 1961
SPACE AND MISSILE SYSTEMS ORGANIZATION
Lt. Gen. John W. O’NeillJuly 1, 1967Aug. 31, 1969
Lt. Gen. Samuel C. PhillipsSept. 1, 1969Aug. 24, 1972
Lt. Gen. Kenneth W. SchultzAug. 25, 1972Aug. 28, 1975
Lt. Gen. Thomas W. MorganAug. 29, 1975April 28, 1978
Lt. Gen. Richard C. HenryApril 29, 1978Sept. 30, 1979
SPACE DIVISION
Lt. Gen. Richard C. HenryOct. 1, 1979May 1, 1983
Lt. Gen. Forrest S. McCartneyMay 1, 1983Sept. 30, 1986
Lt. Gen. Aloysius G. CaseyOct. 9, 1986June 23, 1988
Lt. Gen. Donald L. CromerJune 24, 1988March 14, 1989
BALLISTIC MISSILE OFFICE
Maj. Gen. John W. HepferOct. 1, 1979Oct. 31, 1980
Maj. Gen. Forrest S. McCartneyOct. 31, 1980May 19, 1982
Maj. Gen. Aloysius G. CaseyMay 19, 1982Sept. 30, 1986
Maj. Gen. Edward P. Berry Jr.Sept. 30, 1986March 14, 1989
SPACE SYSTEMS DIVISION (SSD) AND BALLISTICS SYSTEM DIVISION (BSD)
Lt. Gen. Donald L. Cromer (SSD)March 15, 1989May 31, 1991
Lt. Gen. Edward P. Barry Jr.  (SSD)July 8, 1991 June 30, 1992
Lt. Gen. Edward P. Barry Jr. (BSD)March 15, 1989May 30, 1989
Brig. Gen. Ralph G. Tourino (BSD)May 30, 1989May 4, 1990
SPACE AND MISSILE SYSTEMS CENTER
Lt. Gen. Edward P. Barry Jr.July 1, 1992Nov. 16, 1994
Lt. Gen. Lester L. LylesNov. 16, 1994Aug. 18, 1996
SPACE SYSTEMS DIVISION (SSD) AND BALLISTIC SYSTEMS DIVISION (BSD)
Maj. Gen. Osmond J. Ritland (SSD)April 1, 1961May 13, 1962
Lt. Gen. Howell M. Estes Jr. (SSD)May 14, 1962Oct. 2, 1962
Maj. Gen. Ben I. Funk  (SSD)Oct. 3, 1962Aug. 31, 1966
Maj. Gen. Paul T. Cooper (SSD)Sept. 1, 1966June 30, 1967
Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Gerrity (BSD)April 1, 1961June 30, 1962
Lt. Gen. W. Austin Davis (BSD)July 1, 1962July 18, 1964
Maj. Gen. Harry Sands Jr. (BSD)July 20, 1966June 30, 1967
Maj. Gen. John L. McCoy (BSD) July 20, 1966June 30, 1969
SPACE AND MISSILE SYSTEMS CENTER
Lt. Gen. Roger G. DeKokAug. 18, 1996Aug. 12, 1998
Lt. Gen. Eugene L. TattiniAug. 13, 1998May 25, 2001
Lt. Gen. Brian A. ArnoldMay 25, 2001May 20, 2005
Lt. Gen. Michael A. HamelMay 20, 2005May 16, 2008
Lt. Gen. John T. SheridanMay 16, 2008May 16, 2008
Lt. Gen. Ellen M. PawlikowskiJune 3, 2011June 19, 2014
Lt. Gen. Samuel A. GreavesJun 19, 2014March 22, 2017
Lt. Gen. John F. ThompsonMarch 22, 2017
An Air Force Global Strike Command unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during an operational test at 12:27 a.m. Pacific Time, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. ICBM test launches demonstrate the U.S. nuclear enterprise is safe, secure, effective and ready to defend the United States and its allies. ICBMs provide the U.S. and its allies the necessary deterrent capability to maintain freedom to operate and navigate globally in accordance with international laws and norms. Tech Sgt. Patrick Harrower
AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND
Gen. James V. HartingerSept. 1, 1982July 30, 1984
Gen. Robert T. HerresJuly 30, 1984Oct. 1, 1986
Maj. Gen. Maurice C. PaddenOct. 1, 1986Oct. 29, 1987
Lt. Gen. Donald J. KutynaOct. 29, 1987March 29, 1990
Lt. Gen. Thomas S. Moorman Jr.March 29, 1990March 23, 1992
Gen. Donald J. KutynaMarch 23, 1992June 30, 1992
Gen. Charles A. HornerJune 30, 1992Sept. 13, 1994
Gen. Joseph W. AshySept. 13, 1994Aug. 26, 1996
Gen. Howell M. Estes IIIAug. 26, 1996Aug. 14, 1998
Gen. Richard B. MyersAug. 14, 1998Feb. 22, 2000
Gen. Ralph E. EberhartFeb. 22, 2000April 19, 2002
Gen. Lance W. LordApril 19, 2002April 1, 2006
Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz (acting)April 1, 2006June 26, 2006
Gen. Kevin P. ChiltonJune 26, 2006Oct. 3, 2007
Lt. Gen. Michael A. Hamel (acting)Oct. 3, 2007Oct. 12, 2007
Gen. C. Robert KehlerOct. 12, 2007Jan. 5, 2011
Gen. William L. SheltonJan. 5, 2011Aug. 15, 2014
Gen. John E. HytenAug. 15, 2014Oct. 25, 2016
Gen. John W. RaymondOct. 25, 2016Jan. 14, 2020
U.S. SPACE FORCE
Gen. John W. RaymondJan. 14, 2020

Related Content

Learn to Accelerate Software Delivery at Prodacity 2025

Nov. 21, 2024
In a modern, connected military, software is crucial to every step of every operation, from planning to coordination and logistics to target engagement. But as threats and requirements change, software needs to change too. If requirements change faster than developers can...

Northrop Grumman Delivers First SiAW Missile for Air Force Testing

Nov. 20, 2024
The first Stand-in Attack Weapon, expected to be used in large numbers to clear a path through enemy air defenses, has been delivered for initial Air Force testing, Northrop Grumman announced. The missile is expected to be operational in just two years.

STRATCOM Boss: AI Useful, But Don’t Expect ‘WarGames’

Nov. 20, 2024
Gen. Anthony J. Cotton wants to use artificial intelligence to more efficiently process vast amounts of data related to America’s nuclear weapons—but when it comes to actually making a decision on what to do with those weapons, it will be always be a human making the call, he said Nov. 19…

Cyber Guardians Get Some Friendly Competition While Training to Defend NRO

Nov. 19, 2024
When Delta 26, the Space Force unit that defends the National Reconnaissance Office from cyberattacks and online espionage, wanted to stage competitive training exercises this year, they used a private sector cyber range for part of the contests and run them at an unclassified level, its commander said.