5 Reasons to Support a Space Force

Posted: December 19th, 2018

By Lieutenant General Kevin McLaughlin

Lt. Gen. James K. "Kevin" McLaughlin served as the Deputy Commander, U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) in Fort Meade, Maryland. General McLaughlin entered the Air Force in 1983 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has commanded at the squadron, group, wing and numbered air force levels and has served on the staffs at major command headquarters, combatant command headquarters, the National Reconnaissance Office, Air Force headquarters, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Prior to assuming his current position, General McLaughlin was the Commander, 24th Air Force and Commander, Air Forces Cyber, Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland, Texas.

Vice President Mike Pence put a little rocket fuel behind plans to create a new Space Force on Tuesday by announcing that President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to create a U.S. Space Command. Speaking at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Pence said that the new Command will be led by a four-star General and will bring together some 18,000 military and civilian personnel to focus on the final frontier. The next step, which requires Congressional approval, would be the creation of an actual Space Force, which would officially become an additional branch of the U.S. Armed Services.

Cipher Brief Expert and former Deputy Commander of U.S. Cyber Command, Lt. General Kevin McLaughlin (Ret.) recently testified before the National Space Council in strong support of a Space Force. TCB asked him to explain why he thinks it’s a great idea.

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