John W. Raymond

John William "Jay" Raymond[1] is a general in the United States Space Force and serves as the Space Force's first chief of space operations.[2] He also concurrently serves as the commander of United States Space Command and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Jay Raymond
Born1962 (age 57–58)
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Air Force (1984–2019)
United States Space Force (2019–present)
Years of service1984–present
RankGeneral
Commands heldChief of Space Operations
United States Space Command
Air Force Space Command
Joint Force Space Component Commander
Fourteenth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic)
Joint Functional Component Command for Space
30th Operations Group
5th Space Surveillance Squadron
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan
Iraq War
AwardsAir Force Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (2)

Prior to being unilaterally transferred to the Space Force, he served over 35 years in the United States Air Force. While in the Air Force, he was still serving as the commander of U.S. Space Command and also concurrently served as the commander of the Air Force Space Command and as commander of Joint Force Space Component. Prior to that, he served as the deputy chief of staff for operations, headquarters United States Air Force at the Pentagon. Raymond has been deployed to serve in the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War.

He assumed his command of Air Force Space Command on October 25, 2016, Joint Force Space Component on December 1, 2017, United States Space Command on August 29, 2019, and as the chief of space operations on December 20, 2019.

Early life and education

Raised in Alexandria, Virginia, Raymond is the son of Barbara Ryan and John Allen Raymond;[3] his father is a 1958 graduate of the United States Military Academy. Since 1865, his family has had graduates from West Point, including his great great grandfather, great grandfather, grandfather, and father. [4][5] He graduated from Clemson University with a degree in administrative management[1] and was commissioned an officer in the United States Air Force in 1984.[6] The following year, he was assigned to the 321st Strategic Missile Wing at Grand Forks Air Force Base.

Military career
Raymond visits Thule Air Base in 2017 as Air Force Space Command commander

From 1989 to 1993, Raymond was an operations center officer controller with the 1st Strategic Aerospace Division and Executive Officer of the 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg Air Force Base. In 1993, he was assigned to Air Force Space Command.

In 1997, Raymond was stationed at The Pentagon. He remained there until 2000, at which time he assumed command of the 5th Space Surveillance Squadron located at RAF Feltwell in England. The following year, Raymond returned to the United States and became Deputy Commander of the 21st Operations Group. From 2003 to 2005, he was assigned to the Office of the United States Secretary of Defense.

In 2005, Raymond returned to Vandenberg Air Force Base and assumed command of the 30th Operations Group. He held that position until 2007, when he was named Commander of the 21st Space Wing. In 2009, Raymond was reassigned to Air Force Space Command as Director of Plans, Programs and Analyses. From December 2010 to July 2012, Raymond served as Vice Commander, 5th Air Force, and Deputy Commander, 13th Air Force, Yokota Air Base, Japan. From July 2012 to January 2014, Raymond served as Director of Plans and Policy (J5), United States Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base. From January 2014 to August 2015, Raymond served as Commander, Fourteenth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic), Air Force Space Command, and Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space, United States Strategic Command, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. After that, he returned the Pentagon to serve as the deputy chief of staff for the headquarters of the Department of the Air Force.

Raymond (left) attends the NDAA 2020 signing ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, where he was appointed first Chief of Space Operations, December 20, 2019
Raymond's ACU uniform

Raymond was nominated for promotion to the rank of general and to the command of Air Force Space Command on September 8, 2016.[7] This nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 15.[8]

On March 22, 2019, Raymond was nominated to become the commander of United States Space Command.[9] The appointment was confirmed by the Committee on Armed Services on June 12 and later the United States Senate on June 27.[10] Raymond was appointed Space Force's first chief of space operations on December 20.[2] According to President Donald Trump, "With today's signing I will proudly appoint Gen. Jay Raymond the first chief of space operations and he will become the very first member of the Space Force and he will be on the Joint Chiefs."[11]

Awards and decorations
Command Space Operations Badge
Command Missile Operations Badge
Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
United States Space Command Badge
 Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster[12]
 Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster[12]
 Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster[12]
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters[12]
Air Force Commendation Medal[12]
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
 Air Force Recognition Ribbon with oak leaf cluster
 National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame
Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
National Order of Merit (France), Officer[13]
  • 2007 General Jerome F. O'Malley Distinguished Space Leadership Award, Air Force Association.
  • 2015 Thomas D. White Space Award, Air Force Association.
  • 2016 Peter B. Teets Government Award, National Defense Industrial Association.
  • 2017 James V. Hartinger Award, National Defense Industrial Association.

Effective dates of promotion[14]
RankDate
Second lieutenantJuly 20, 1984
First lieutenantJuly 20, 1986
CaptainJuly 20, 1988
MajorJuly 1, 1996
Lieutenant colonelJuly 1, 1999
ColonelJuly 1, 2004
Brigadier generalAug. 19, 2009
Major generalMay 4, 2012
Lieutenant general January 31, 2014
General October 25, 2016


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gollark: You have to remember that you're limited in hatchlings and they *always* take 3 days to grow up.
gollark: I mean, at the platinum trophy level I think you can raise a bit over 8 per 6 days.
gollark: There are so many of them, it's crazy.
gollark: I didn't see or catch any CB golds either, but I *did* get yet another nebula.

References
  1. "Clemson Commencement Program". Clemson.edu. May 1984. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  2. "GENERAL JOHN W. "JAY" RAYMOND". United States Space Force. 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  3. http://www.e-yearbook.com/yearbooks/United_States_Military_Academy_West_Point_Howitzer_Yearbook/1958/Page_477.html
  4. https://www.westpointaog.org/file/history/Legacy-Article-WPM-FA12.pdf
  5. "Assembly – United States Military Academy. Association of Graduates – Google Books". Books.google.ca. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
  6. "GENERAL JOHN W. "JAY" RAYMOND". Af.mil. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  7. "General Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. 2016-09-08. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
  8. "PN1673 — Lieutenant General John W. Raymond — Air Force". U.S. Congress. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
  9. Erwin, Sandra (26 March 2019). "Trump nominates Raymond to be commander of U.S. Space Command". SpaceNews. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  10. Yoanna, Michael de. "Colorado U.S. Space Command Nominee Seeks To 'Deter A Conflict'". kunc.org. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
  11. Browne, Ryan (December 20, 2019). "With a signature, Trump brings Space Force into being". Cable News Network. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  12. "GENERAL JOHN W. "JAY" RAYMOND > United States Space Force > Biographies". spaceforce.mil. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  13. "Twitter". Mobile.twitter.com. 2018-04-16. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
  14. "Stratcom" (PDF). stratcom.mil. 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2020-04-10.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document: "http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/108479/major-general-john-w-jay-raymond.aspx".

Military offices
Preceded by
Jay G. Santee		 Commander of the 21st Space Wing
June 28, 2007–August 20, 2009		 Succeeded by
Stephen N. Whiting
Preceded by
Susan Helms		 Commander of the Fourteenth Air Force
January 31, 2014 – August 14, 2015		 Succeeded by
David J. Buck
Commander of the Joint Functional Component Command for Space
January 31, 2014 – August 14, 2015
Preceded by
John E. Hyten		 Commander of the Air Force Space Command
October 25, 2016 – December 20, 2019		 Unit redesignated
New office Commander of the United States Space Command
August 29, 2019–present		 Incumbent
New office Chief of Space Operations
December 20, 2019–present		 Incumbent
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