With the advice and assistance of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the President, through the Secretary of Defense, shall establish under the United States Strategic Command a subordinate unified command to be known as the United States Space Command (in this section referred to as “space command”) for carrying out joint space warfighting operations.

Unless otherwise directed by the Secretary of Defense, all active and reserve space warfighting operational forces of the armed forces shall be assigned to the space command.

The commander of the space command shall hold the grade of general or, in the case of an officer of the Navy, admiral while serving in that position, without vacating the permanent grade of the officer. The commander shall be appointed to that grade by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for service in that position. The position shall be designated, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 526 of this title, as one of the general officer and flag officer positions to be excluded from the limitations in subsection (a) of such section.

(1) The commander of the space command shall hold the grade of general or, in the case of an officer of the Navy, admiral while serving in that position, without vacating the permanent grade of the officer. The commander shall be appointed to that grade by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for service in that position. The position shall be designated, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 526 of this title, as one of the general officer and flag officer positions to be excluded from the limitations in subsection (a) of such section.

(2) During the three-year period following the date on which the space command is established, the commander of the Air Force Space Command may also serve as the commander of the space command so established. After such period, one individual may not concurrently serve as both such commanders.

Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the commander of the space command shall be responsible for, and shall have the authority to conduct, the following functions relating to joint space warfighting operations (whether or not relating to the space command):

(1) Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the commander of the United States Strategic Command, the commander of the space command shall be responsible for, and shall have the authority to conduct, all affairs of such command relating to joint space warfighting operations.

Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the commander of the space command shall be responsible for, and shall have the authority to conduct, the following functions relating to joint space warfighting operations (whether or not relating to the space command):

(A) Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the commander of the space command shall be responsible for, and shall have the authority to conduct, the following functions relating to joint space warfighting operations (whether or not relating to the space command): (i) Developing strategy, doctrine, and tactics. (ii) Preparing and submitting to the Secretary of Defense program recommendations and budget proposals for space operations forces and for other forces assigned to the space command. (iii) Exercising authority, direction, and control over the expenditure of funds for forces assigned directly to the space command. (iv) Training and certification of assigned joint forces. (v) Conducting specialized courses of instruction for commissioned and noncommissioned officers. (vi) Validating requirements. (vii) Establishing priorities for requirements. (viii) Ensuring the interoperability of equipment and forces. (ix) Formulating and submitting requirements for intelligence support. (x) Monitoring the promotion of space operation forces and coordinating with the military departments regarding the assignment, retention, training, professional military education, and special and incentive pays of space operation forces.

(B) The authority, direction, and control exercised by the Deputy Secretary of Defense for purposes of this paragraph is authority, direction, and control with respect to the administration and support of the space command, including readiness and organization of space operations forces, space operations-peculiar equipment and resources, and civilian personnel.

(C) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as providing the Deputy Secretary of Defense authority, direction, and control of operational matters that are subject to the operational chain of command of the combatant commands or the exercise of authority, direction, and control of personnel, resources, equipment, and other matters that are not space-operations peculiar and that are in the purview of the armed forces.

The commander of the space command shall be responsible for—

(A) ensuring the combat readiness of forces assigned to the space command; and

(B) monitoring the preparedness to carry out assigned missions of space forces assigned to unified combatant commands other than the United States Strategic Command.

(4) The staff of the commander shall include an inspector general who shall conduct internal audits and inspections of purchasing and contracting actions through the space command and such other inspector general functions as may be assigned.

This section does not constitute authority to conduct any activity which, if carried out as an intelligence activity by the Department of Defense, would require a notice to the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives under title V of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.).

(Added Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title XVI, § 1601(a)(1), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2101.)