Trump Orders Formation of US Space Command

President Donald Trump issued Tuesday a memorandum that orders the establishment of a unified combatant command that would focus on space.

Trump directs Defense Secretary James Mattis to nominate commander and deputy chiefs for U.S. Space Command, according to a White House memo published Tuesday.

Space Command will assume space-related responsibilities previously designated to the head of U.S. Strategic Command, Joint Force Provider and Joint Force Trainer for Space Operations Forces. 

The document noted that a detailed list of the new command’s responsibilities and authorities will be mentioned in the next unified command plan.

Vice President Mike Pence said Space Command will serve as the 11^th combatant command and oversee all military space activities.

The new command “will develop the space doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures that will enable our warfighters to defend our nation in this new era,” he said Tuesday at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Pence noted the Trump administration has begun to work with Congress to establish the U.S. Space Force before the end of calendar year 2020.