§ 9082. Chief of Space Operations

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1. 2019

   United States Space Force Act

   Pub. L. 116–92 div. A title IX § 953(a) · 133 Stat. 1198

   Enacted · 10 U.S.C. § 9082

   Added Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title IX, § 953(a), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1563

   Source evidence

   Code source credit
   Added Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title IX, § 953(a), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1563

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (a) Chief.— Chapter 908 of title 10, United States Code (as added by section 952 of this Act), is amended by inserting after section 9081 the following new section: “§ 9082. Chief of Space Operations “(a) Appointment.— (1) There is a Chief of Space Operations, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from the general officers of the Air Force. The Chief serves at the pleasure of the President. “(2) The Chief shall be appointed for a term of four years. In time of war or during a national emergency declared by Congress, the Chief may be reappointed for a term of not more than four years. “(b) Grade.— The Chief, while so serving, has the grade of general without vacating the permanent grade of the officer. “(c) Relationship to the Secretary of the Air Force.— Except as otherwise prescribed by law and subject to section 9013(f) of this title, the Chief performs the duties of such position under the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of the Air Force and is directly responsible to the Secretary. “(d) Duties.— Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Chief shall— “(1) preside over the Office of the Chief of Space Operations; “(2) transmit the plans and recommendations of the Office of the Chief of Space Operations to the Secretary and advise the Secretary with regard to such plans and recommendations; “(3) after approval of the plans or recommendations of the Office of the Chief of Space Operations by the Secretary, act as the agent of the Secretary in carrying them into effect; “(4) exercise supervision, consistent with the authority assigned to commanders of unified or specified combatant commands under chapter 6 of this title, over such of the members and organizations of the Space Force as the Secretary determines; and “(5) perform such other military duties, not otherwise assigned by law, as are assigned to the Chief by the President, the Secretary of Defense, or the Secretary of the Air Force. “(e) Joint Chiefs of Staff.— (1) Commencing one year after the date of the enactment of the United States Space Force Act, the Chief of Space Operations shall be a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “(2) To the extent that such action does not impair the independence of the Chief in the performance of the duties of the Chief as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff pursuant to paragraph (1), the Chief shall inform the Secretary of the Air Force regarding military advice rendered by members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on matters affecting the Department of the Air Force. “(3) Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense, the Chief shall keep the Secretary of the Air Force fully informed of significant military operations affecting the duties and responsibilities of the Secretary.” .

2. 2021

   William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021

   Pub. L. 116–283 § 922(c)(1)(A) · 134 Stat. 3388

   Substituted · 10 U.S.C. § 9082(a)(1)

   Pub. L. 116–283, § 922(c)(1)(A), substituted “general, flag, or equivalent officers of the Space Force” for “general officers of the Air Force”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 116–283, § 922(c)(1)(A), substituted “general, flag, or equivalent officers of the Space Force” for “general officers of the Air Force”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (A) in paragraph (1), by striking “general officers of the Air Force” and inserting “general, flag, or equivalent officers of the Space Force”; and

   Effective date note
   Amendment by section 1883(b)(2) of Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

3. 2021

   William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021

   Pub. L. 116–283 § 922(c)(1)(B) · 134 Stat. 3388

   Added · 10 U.S.C. § 9082(a)(3); 10 U.S.C. § 9082(a)(4)

   Pub. L. 116–283, § 922(c)(1)(B), added pars. (3) and (4)

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (a)(3), (4). Pub. L. 116–283, § 922(c)(1)(B), added pars. (3) and (4).

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: “(3) The President may appoint an officer as Chief of Space Operations only if— “(A) the officer has had significant experience in joint duty assignments; and “(B) such experience includes at least one full tour of duty in a joint duty assignment (as defined in section 664(d) of this title) as a general, flag, or equivalent officer of the Space Force. “(4) The President may waive paragraph (3) in the case of an officer if the President determines such action is necessary in the national interest.” ;

   Effective date note
   Amendment by section 1883(b)(2) of Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

4. 2021

   William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021

   Pub. L. 116–283 § 922(c)(2) · 134 Stat. 3388

   Substituted · 10 U.S.C. § 9082(b)

   Pub. L. 116–283, § 922(c)(2), substituted “grade in the Space Force equivalent to the grade of general in the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, or admiral in the Navy” for “grade of general”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–283, § 922(c)(2), substituted “grade in the Space Force equivalent to the grade of general in the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, or admiral in the Navy” for “grade of general”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (2) in subsection (b), by striking “grade of general” and inserting “grade in the Space Force equivalent to the grade of general in the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, or admiral in the Navy”; and

   Effective date note
   Amendment by section 1883(b)(2) of Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

5. 2021

   William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021

   Pub. L. 116–283 § 922(c)(3) · 134 Stat. 3388

   Redesignated · 10 U.S.C. § 9082(d)(5)

   Pub. L. 116–283, § 922(c)(3), added par. (5). Former par. (5) redesignated (6)

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 116–283, § 922(c)(3), added par. (5). Former par. (5) redesignated (6).

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (3) in subsection (d)— (A) in paragraph (4), by striking “and” at the end; (B) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and (C) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph (5): “(5) perform duties prescribed for the Chief of Space Operations by sections 171 and 2547 of this title and other provision of law; and” .

   Effective date note
   Amendment by section 1883(b)(2) of Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

6. 2021

   William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021

   Pub. L. 116–283 § 1883(b)(2) · 134 Stat. 3388

   Substituted · 10 U.S.C. § 9082(d)(5)

   Pub. L. 116–283, § 1883(b)(2), substituted “, 1808(a), and 1847(e)(4)(B), (5)” for “and 2547”

   Target inherited from the preceding amendment note.

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Pub. L. 116–283, § 1883(b)(2), substituted “, 1808(a), and 1847(e)(4)(B), (5)” for “and 2547”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   * * Note: Classifications for Sec. 1883(b)(2): 10 USC 113, 118, 129a, 133b, 139a, 171a, 181, 231a, 483, 1091, 1501a, 1701a, 1706, 1724, 1734, 2113, 2343, 2350b, 2463, 2484, 2583, 2688, 3131, 3136, 3137, 3455, 3862, 3905, 4003, 4008, 4009, 4015, 4061, 4062, 4065, 4146, 4147, 4171, 4172, 4252, 4323, 4324, 4505, 4603, 4660, 4816, 4819, 4863, 4864, 4971, 4981, 7462, 7554, 8481, 8633, 8669b, 9082, 9462. (2) Title 10.— Except as otherwise provided in this title, in title 10, United States Code, each reference in the text of such title to a source section is amended by striking such reference and inserting a reference to the appropriate redesignated section.

   Effective date note
   Amendment by section 1883(b)(2) of Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

7. 2021

   William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021

   Pub. L. 116–283 § 922(c)(3) · 134 Stat. 3388

   Redesignated · 10 U.S.C. § 9082(d)(6)

   Pub. L. 116–283, § 922(c)(3), redesignated par. (5) as (6)

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (d)(6). Pub. L. 116–283, § 922(c)(3), redesignated par. (5) as (6).

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (3) in subsection (d)— (A) in paragraph (4), by striking “and” at the end; (B) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and (C) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph (5): “(5) perform duties prescribed for the Chief of Space Operations by sections 171 and 2547 of this title and other provision of law; and” .

   Effective date note
   Amendment by section 1883(b)(2) of Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

8. 2023

   Space Force Personnel Management Act

   Pub. L. 118–31 § 1741(b)(7)(A) · 137 Stat. 136

   Substituted · 10 U.S.C. § 9082(d)(5)

   Pub. L. 118–31, § 1741(b)(7)(A), substituted “sections 171 and 3104 of this title and other provisions of law” for “sections 171, 1808(a), and 1847(e)(4)(B), (5) of this title and other provision of law”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 118–31, § 1741(b)(7)(A), substituted “sections 171 and 3104 of this title and other provisions of law” for “sections 171, 1808(a), and 1847(e)(4)(B), (5) of this title and other provision of law”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (A) Cross-reference correction.— Subsection (d)(5) is amended by striking “sections” and all that follows through “of law” and inserting “sections 171 and 3104 of this title and other provisions of law”.

9. 2023

   Space Force Personnel Management Act

   Pub. L. 118–31 § 1741(b)(7)(B) · 137 Stat. 136

   Substituted · 10 U.S.C. § 9082(e)(1)

   Pub. L. 118–31, § 1741(b)(7)(B), substituted “The Chief” for “Commencing one year after the date of the enactment of the United States Space Force Act, the Chief”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 118–31, § 1741(b)(7)(B), substituted “The Chief” for “Commencing one year after the date of the enactment of the United States Space Force Act, the Chief”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (B) Elapsed-time provision.— Subsection (e)(1) is amended by striking “Commencing” and all that follows through “the Chief” and inserting “The Chief”.

10. 2024

    Pub. L. 118–159 § 521(j)(1) · 138 Stat. 1873

    Struck · 10 U.S.C. § 9082(a)(1); 10 U.S.C. § 9082(3)(B)

    Pub. L. 118–159, § 521(j)(1), struck out “, flag, or equivalent” after “general”

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 118–159 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (a)(1), (3)(B). Pub. L. 118–159, § 521(j)(1), struck out “, flag, or equivalent” after “general”.

11. 2024

    Pub. L. 118–159 § 521(j)(2) · 138 Stat. 1873

    Substituted · 10 U.S.C. § 9082(b)

    Pub. L. 118–159, § 521(j)(2), substituted “grade of general” for “grade in the Space Force equivalent to the grade of general in the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, or admiral in the Navy”

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 118–159 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 118–159, § 521(j)(2), substituted “grade of general” for “grade in the Space Force equivalent to the grade of general in the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, or admiral in the Navy”.

12. 2024

    Pub. L. 118–159 § 509C(b) · 138 Stat. 1873

    Added · 10 U.S.C. § 9082(f)

    Pub. L. 118–159, § 509C(b), added subsec. (f)

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 118–159 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 118–159, § 509C(b), added subsec. (f).

9 of 12 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 3 unresolved