Saltzman Urges Unity Amid Military-Civilian Rift
In his final major public address as Chief of Space Operations, General B. Chance Saltzman …
16. July 2026
Us General Warns Allies As He Prepares To Set Sail For Retirement
As the US Chief of Space Operations, General Chance Saltzman stood at the threshold of retirement, reflecting on his 35-year career in uniform and the critical role military leaders play in maintaining democracy. In a poignant address to the Global Air and Space Chiefs conference, Saltzman emphasized that alliances are the bedrock upon which democratic stability is built, likening military officials to a stabilizing “ballast” that slows progress but provides essential balance when storms arise.
In the hyper-political environment we find ourselves, with partisan politics creating divisions between a multitude of stakeholders, military leaders serve as the ballast in the ship. While it may feel like the ballast slows progress as the ship of state attempts to quickly move towards its goals, the ballast creates stability when the inevitable storms arise.
Military leaders must remember their roles and think long-term, offering their expertise to decision-makers and striving to provide stability and a calming presence. This philosophy is particularly relevant in today’s trans-Atlantic tensions between the US government and European allies, as exemplified by the recent departure of General Christopher Donahue, the Army’s former top general in Europe.
If one rock is replaced with another rock, you still have the ballast on the ship, Saltzman said during a roundtable discussion with reporters. Alliances are as much a political animal as they are a military animal, and so as we pursue our objectives inside that alliance, we have to make sure from a military perspective that I attend to the military functions that are a part of that alliance.
This emphasis on alliances is more pressing than ever, given the current state of global politics. The NATO summit in Ankara last week was a reminder that even in times of relative calm, tensions can simmer just beneath the surface. Nevertheless, Saltzman’s words carry significant weight, as he has witnessed firsthand the value of alliances over the past 80 years.
We are stronger as a team of nations than any one of us is individually, he said, underscoring this point. There is far too much evidence over the last 80 years to argue otherwise. This perspective is reinforced by the growing recognition within the military establishment of space power’s value as a key component of national security.
We really used to be considered icing on the cake, Saltzman recalled his own early days in uniform when space power was seen as a secondary consideration. Now, I think we are more the eggs in the cake batter. We are fully integrated. You can’t extract us any more and still have a joint force that functions the same way.
The Space Force’s rapid evolution since its founding by the Trump administration has been marked by significant strides in this area. From awarding multi-billion-dollar contracts for airborne moving target indication (AMTI) to SpaceX, to announcing plans for an orbital sensor network with an expected launch date of 2028, Saltzman’s tenure has seen substantial progress.
The initial constellation will offer some demonstrable capability even if it falls short of his own expectations. “There are some technical problems that have been solved,” he acknowledged, adding that the real challenge now lies in securing adequate resources over the next three or four years to expand the network’s reach.
As Saltzman prepares to pass the baton to Lieutenant General Doug Schiess, the newly appointed Space Force deputy chief of operations, his successor inherits a program with significant momentum. Schiess will face scrutiny from the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing on Thursday, and is well-positioned to build upon the progress made under Saltzman’s leadership.
In reflecting on his time in uniform, Saltzman leaves behind a legacy that underscores the enduring importance of military leaders as stabilizing forces for democracy. As he retires and hands over the reins to Schiess, it is clear that his vision will continue to shape the future of the Space Force, providing critical stability and guidance in an increasingly complex world.
In Final Speech as CSO, Saltzman Says Military Leaders Are ‘Ballast’ Against Partisanship