On Thursday, Defense Secretary Mark Esper officially established the U.S. Space Command under direction from the White House. Space Command is the newest unified command, drawing military personnel from every branch of the armed services.
President Donald Trump spoke at a ceremony at the White House alongside Esper and Air Force Gen. John W. Raymond, commander of the new Space Command. The new command will ensure the defense and deployment of military space capabilities such as communications, intelligence, early missile defense warnings and navigation.
Trump and Pence officially establish U.S. Space Command as the Defense Department’s 11th combatant command during a signing ceremony at the White House on Aug. 29, 2019.
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Each week, Defense Reporter Jared Serbu speaks one-on-one and in depth with the people responsible for managing the inner workings of the federal government's largest department, and those who know it best.