Shelton To Lead Space Command

Shelton To Lead Space Command

By Colin Clark Thursday, September 9th, 2010 8:43 pm
Posted in Air, Intelligence, International, Rumors, Space

UPDATED: OSD Makes Shelton Nom Official, Breedlove Picked For Air Vice Chief

Lt. Gen. William Shelton,  Air Force assistant vice chief of staff and air staff director, will be nominated for a fourth star and has been proposed to lead Air Force Space Command.

A key factor in Shelton’s promotion may well be that he played what one source says was “a key” role in the February 2008 shoot down of US 193, the highly classified but failed reconnaissance satellite. At the time, Shelton was commander of Strategic Command’s joint functional component command for space. Marine Gen. Hoss Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, led the team that executed the satellite’s destruction. Also, the operation involved close coordination between the National Reconnaissance Office, the Air Force and the Navy. All this highlights what is clearly a strong ability on Shelton’s part to execute joint operations, something Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz both highly prize.


Shelton’s job will be crucial over the next few years as the number of satellite launches is due to increase and a steady hand needs to be kept on the tiller of Space and Missile Systems Center to ensure that the improvements in space acquisition over the last two years remain on course.

In addition to Shelton’s nomination, the Pentagon formally announced today that Lt. Gen. Philip M. Breedlove has been nominated for promotion to general and the job of Air Force vice chief of staff. He is deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and requirements. Lt. Gen. Herbert J. Carlisle will replace Breedlove.  Carlisle is commander of Thirteenth Air Force at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. Maj. Gen. Stanley T. Kresge has been nominated to replace Carlisle and for promotion to lieutenant general. He is commander of the Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

Finally, Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton has been nominated as assistant vice chief of staff and director of the Air Staff. He is Air Force deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel.

We had reported rumors that Gen. Kevin “Chilli” Chilton, head of Strategic Command, would become Air Force Chief of Staff. As he has since retired, that is obviously not going to happen.

Join the Conversation

guest September 9th, 2010 at 10:11 pm

If being nominated to head AFSPC, believe Shelton would be replacing Gen Kehler — not Gen Chilton at USSTRATCOM. I think Gen Kehler, current AFSPC Commander, has been nominated to replace Gen Chilton at USSTRATCOM.

CharlesHouston September 10th, 2010 at 12:13 am

Correct, in fact Gen Kehler is replacing Gen Chilton. DoD Buzz has good intentions but they are not space experts.

Colin Clark September 10th, 2010 at 6:36 am

Folks,

Mea culpa about Chilton. You are correct about Kehler. Signals got crossed in the old noggin. Corrected.

Jim Muncy September 10th, 2010 at 11:37 am

Hey Colin!

Where’s my freaking WAB?!?!?!?!

- Muncy

Dodbuzz1 September 10th, 2010 at 12:05 pm

Jim,

It’s HERE, just in a new form and without the crappy delivery system.… OK, we may not get as far down into the space weeds as I used to, but we try on the intel and DoD side to stay ahead of abreast!

CharlesHouston September 10th, 2010 at 2:05 pm

Colin — mine was the most gentlemanly criticism, you have to have thick skin in your business. Yes you have done well on space — I do think you could have looked more critically at what Mark Pieczynski told you. Still, your reporting is often better than Florida Today or the Orlando Sentinel — though Bobby Block at the Sentinel usually does well. Those two rags have dedicated space reporters and do not cover defense as well as you do.

CharlesHouston September 11th, 2010 at 12:23 am

What is a WAB? I know what a WAG is.. I know what a WAC was…

Cliffs of Insanity September 11th, 2010 at 11:20 am

The Air Force must be scraping the bottom of the barrel. After reading their official USAF biographies on af​.mil, Shelton, Kehler and Chilton’s one-star wife have no overseas experience and no combat experience. All of them have managed to avoid all wartime activities for the last 30 years. Most of the Air Force’s 300 generals have no overseas or combat experience. Appalling, to say the least.

Space Wx Dude September 11th, 2010 at 2:52 pm

Gen Kehler is replacing (supposely at this time until confirmed) to replace Gen Chilton due to his retirement and since he was at STRAT before. Gen Shelton is replacing Gen Kehler because he has been to AFSPC before.

Not everyone who has been overseas is worthy of being a GO, nor do you have to have been overseas to be a GO. Being in a hot zone or on the end of a kinetic weapon is not the only classification you need to be a leader. Much of what we do now can be done from CONUS with the same effect or in addition to the kinetic effects taking place over there now. Wake up and come to the 21st century!

Pentagonguy September 13th, 2010 at 10:04 pm

Remeber that Gen Schwartz had his retirement announced before he became the chief. So if he moves to Vice Chair then maybe Chilton could still move to DC.

John Edward Luke September 16th, 2010 at 12:41 am

The Space race is real, it is here. China is reportedly building satellites which can attack other satellites. China is also developing missile technologies which are capable of taking out our naval ships and submarines. We can not allow China to defeat us in the space race. No matter how the politicians act we must secure a competitive advantage as soon as possible. Research and development is the key coupled with appropriate resource allocations.

Missileman007 September 16th, 2010 at 2:10 am

Remember, in China, Tang is not a drink, but the name of one of their Astronauts!!

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