CSO visits Kirtland AFB

Published June 18, 2024
By Senior Airman Ruben Garibay
377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNS) -- Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman visited Kirtland Air Force Base and its mission partners, June 12-14.

During his visit, Saltzman engaged closely with multiple Team Kirtland units. He met with several groups from the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles and Directed Energy Directorates, with the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, one of three space acquisition organizations within and a Direct Reporting Unit of the USSF, and Space Systems Command Innovations and Prototyping Delta members.

People pose for a group photo — Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman, center, is greeted by Dr. Daryl Huck, Sandia Field Office manager and laboratory team members, at the beginning of a tour at Sandia National Laboratories, June 13, 2024. Saltzman visited various Department of the Air Force and space industry organizations on and round Kirtland AFB whose primary mission is space, technology, research and development. (Sandia National Laboratory photo by Craig Fritz)

Man shakes woman hand. — Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman is greeted by U.S. Air Force Col. Elizabeth Keller, 377th Air Base Wing deputy commander, at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., June 12, 2024. Saltzman visited various Department of the Air Force and space industry organizations on and round Kirtland AFB whose primary mission is space, technology, research and development. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Berenger)

Man talks with other men about documents. — Michael Pace, Blue Halo Space Division senior vice president, greets Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman, at the Blue Halo facility in Albuquerque, N.M., June 13, 2024. During his visit, Saltzman visited numerous Blue Halo facilities to further understand their mission and see the progress being made in the space domain. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ruben Garibay)

Man shakes mans hand. — Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman is greeted by Col. Jeremy Raley, Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicle Directorate commander, at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., June 12, 2024. Saltzman visited various Department of the Air Force and space industry organizations on and round Kirtland AFB whose primary mission is space, technology, research and development. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Berenger)

Man is briefed by another man. — A Blue Halo team member briefs Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman during a visit to the Blue Halo facility in Albuquerque, N.M., June 13, 2024. Blue Halos’ focus is to enhance orbital warfare, improve space domain awareness, ensure resilient communications and refine command and control processes. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ruben Garibay)

Saltzman also met with non-Department of Defense partners including Blue Halo, a collaborative organization aimed at integrating advance technologies to bolster air and space superiority, and the Sandia National Laboratories, a center for research related to national security and technology innovation.

Saltzman’s visit underscored the critical collaborations between multiple defense organizations and research institutions, emphasizing the importance of staying at the forefront of technological advancements to safeguard our nation’s security and space capabilities in an era of Great Power Competition and ever-changing threats.