The US Space Force and cybersecurity: A conversation with Lt. Gen. B. Chance Saltzman (CAS’91)

We are pleased to present a special conversation with Lt. General B. Chance Saltzman, who currently serves as Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear for the United States Space Force, as he discusses the way the Space Force is involved in a variety of capacities in the US Military, including operations, intelligence, sustainment, cybersecurity, and nuclear operations. Having previously served as Deputy Commander of the US Air Force Central Command, and currently based at the Pentagon, Lt. Gen. Saltzman gives insight into how the newly formed Space Force works within the US Military landscape and how they work across departments at the Pentagon.

This conversation is moderated by Jack Weinstein, Pardee School of Global Studies Professor of the Practice of International Security, & Lieutenant General, USAF, (Ret).

About the speakers: 

Lt. Gen. B. Chance Saltzman (CAS’91)
Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear for the United States Space Force

Lt. Gen. B. Chance Saltzman is the Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear, United States Space Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.  As the Chief Operations Officer, Lt. Gen. Saltzman has overall responsibility for Operations, Intelligence, Sustainment, Cyber, and Nuclear Operations of the United States Space Force.

Lt. Gen. Saltzman is a graduate of Boston University and was commissioned in 1991. He has operational experience with missile and space systems, as a Minuteman III launch officer, and as a satellite operator for the National Reconnaissance Office.  He also served as the first Chief of Combat Plans for the Joint Space Operations Center, and later as Chief of Combat Operations.

Lt. Gen. Saltzman has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels including the 614th Space Operations Squadron and 1st Space Control Squadron at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California; the 460th Operations Group at Buckley AFB, Colorado; and the Aerospace Data Facility Colorado, Aurora, Colorado.  Before serving in his current assignment, Lt. Gen. Saltzman was the Deputy Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command; Deputy, Combined Force Air Component Commander, U.S. Central Command, Southwest Asia.

Jack Weinstein
Professor of the Practice of International Security, Pardee School

Jack Weinstein, Lieutenant General, USAF, (Ret), served in the U. S. Air Force from 1982 to 2018. Prior to arriving at the Pardee School of Global Studies, he was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters United States Air Force, the Pentagon.  In this position, he was responsible to the Secretary and Chief of Staff on all aspects of nuclear deterrence operations providing direction, guidance, integration and advocacy regarding the nuclear deterrence mission of the U.S. Air Force and engaged with joint, interagency and NATO for nuclear enterprise solutions.

He was commissioned through the ROTC program in 1982 and received distinguished graduate honors.  He served as a Minuteman III missile combat crew commander, instructor, evaluator, flight commander, emergency war order instructor and ICBM test officer.  He served on the Headquarters Air Combat Command, Air Force Space Command, Air Force Global Strike Command and U.S. Strategic Command staffs.

His command assignments include the 2d Space Warning Squadron, Buckley AFB Colorado, the 90th Operations Group, F.E. Warren AFB Wyoming, the 30th Space Wing, Vandenberg AFB California, and 20th Air Force and Task Force 214 U.S. Strategic Command, F.E. Warren AFB Wyoming.

In 2005, he deployed to Southwest Asia as Director of Space Forces for operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.  General Weinstein also served as the Director of Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force; Director Air, Space and Cyberspace Operations, Headquarters Air Force Space Command and as the Vice Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB LA.

General Weinstein has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Lowell, Lowell Massachusetts; a Master of Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida; a Master of Science from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Ft McNair, Washington DC.  In 2006, he attended the Senior Executive Fellowship, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.