John W. Raymond

John William "Jay" Raymond[1] (born April 30, 1962) is a United States Space Force general serving as its first chief of space operations. He previously concurrently served as the commander of United States Space Command, a position he held from August 29, 2019, to August 20, 2020. As the Space Force's highest-ranking officer, he currently oversees its organizational stand-up and the transfer of officers and enlisted personnel into the newest service branch.[2]

Jay Raymond
Official portrait, 2019
Born	April 30, 1962 Alexandria, Virginia
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Air Force (1984–2019) United States Space Force (2019–present)
Years of service	1984–present
Rank	General
Commands held	Chief 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/wars	War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (2)
Alma mater	Clemson University (BS) Central Michigan University (MS) Naval War College (MA)
Signature

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 but was also concurrently serving 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 originally assumed command of Air Force Space Command on October 25, 2016, and of Joint Force Space Component on December 1, 2017. He assumed the additional command of U.S. Space Command on August 29, 2019. On December 20, 2019, he relinquished command of Air Force Space Command and of Joint Force Space Component, as they were being disestablished, and assumed the office of chief of space operations. He dual-hatted as chief of space operations and as commander of United States Space Command until he relinquished command of U.S. Space Command on August 20, 2020, to U.S. Army general James Dickinson, who previously was the command's deputy commander.

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 OCP 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 Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
	Space Staff Badge

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal
	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]

Rank	Date
Second lieutenant	July 20, 1984
First lieutenant	July 20, 1986
Captain	July 20, 1988
Major	July 1, 1996
Lieutenant colonel	July 1, 1999
Colonel	July 1, 2004
Brigadier general	Aug. 19, 2009
Major general	May 4, 2012
Lieutenant general	January 31, 2014
General	October 25, 2016

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". 2009. 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 (March 26, 2019). "Trump nominates Raymond to be commander of U.S. Space Command". SpaceNews. Retrieved March 26, 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".

External links

• John W. Raymond on Twitter
• Appearances on C-SPAN