General MICHAEL A. GUETLEIN Gen. Michael A. Guetlein is the Vice Chief of Space Operations, United States Space Force. As Vice Chief, he is responsible for assisting the Chief of Space Operations in organizing, training and equipping space forces in the United States and overseas, integrating space policy and guidance, and coordinating space-related activities for the U.S. Space Force and the Department of the Air Force. The U.S. Space Force organizes, trains, equips and maintains mission-ready space forces that provide missile warning, space domain awareness, positioning, navigation and timing, communications and space electronic warfare for North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Strategic Command, U.S. Space Command and other combatant commands. Gen. Guetlein was commissioned through the ROTC program at Oklahoma State University in 1991. His acquisition experience spans air and space capabilities and systems across special operations, global power projection, missile warning and detection, and counterspace mission areas. The general has commanded and led at the flight, squadron, division, directorate, Program Executive Officer and Field Command levels. Notable assignments include serving as the Commander, Space Systems Command; Deputy Director of the National Reconnaissance Office and Commander of the Air and Space Force Element; Program Executive for Programs and Integration at the Missile Defense Agency; Director of Remote Sensing Systems; Commander of the Rapid Reaction Squadron; the Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition; and a Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellow. EDUCATION 1991 Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Aerospace Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 1995 Master of Business Administration, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio 1999 Master of Organizational Management, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. 2002 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. by correspondence 2004 Marine Command and Staff College, Quantico, Va., by correspondence 2005 Master of National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Newport Naval Station, R.I. 2006 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. by correspondence 2011 Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellowship Program, SpaceX, Hawthorne, Calif. ASSIGNMENTS 1. September 1991–September 1993, AC-130U Gunship Support Manager, Special Operations Program Office, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 2. October 1993–August 1994, Chief, B-2 Bomber Propulsion, B-2 Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 3. August 1994–January 1996, Executive Officer, Engineering Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 4. January 1996–July 1996, AC-130U Gunship Sortie Generation Flight Commander, 4th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 5. July 1996–July 1997, AC-130H Gunship Flight Commander, 16th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 6. July 1997–June 1999, Air Force Intern, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 7. June 1999–March 2002, Deputy Program Manager, Space-Based Infrared System Ground Segment, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. 8. March 2002–March 2003, Director, Missile Warning Systems, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. 9. March 2003–June 2004, Executive Officer, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. 10. June 2004–June 2005, Student, Naval War College, Newport Naval Station, R.I. 11. June 2005–December 2006, Counterspace Program Element Monitor, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 12. December 2006–June 2008, Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 13. June 2008–July 2010, Commander, Rapid Reaction Squadron, Peterson AFB, Colo. 14. July 2010–June 2011, Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellow, Space Exploration Enterprises, Los Angeles, Calif. 15. June 2011–August 2014, Senior Materiel Leader, Space-Based Infrared System Production Division, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. 16. September 2014–April 2017, Program Director, Remote Sensing Systems Directorate, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. 17. April 2017–June 2019, Program Executive for Programs and Integration, Missile Defense Agency, Redstone Arsenal, Ala. 18. July 2019–July 2021, Deputy Director and Air Force Element Commander, National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Va. 19. August 2021–December 2023, Commander, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. 20. December 2023–present, Vice Chief of Space Operations, U.S. Space Force, Arlington, Va. SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS 1. April 2017–June 2019, Program Executive for Programs and Integration, Missile Defense Agency, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., as a brigadier general MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Defense Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster (Current as of January 2024)