Defense & Military

Space Force Activates SOUTHCOM Component

January 22, 2026 at 02:45Z
BIAS: Center
RELIABILITY: High

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Air Force Magazine
02:41Z

The Space Force celebrated the activation of its component under U.S. Southern Command in a Jan. 21 ceremony—though it did reveal the organization became operational Dec.

1, 2025, presumably meaning it contributed to Operation Absolute Resolve , the Jan. 3 mission to capture Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and take him to the U.S. for trial.

Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, Air Force Undersecretary Matthew Lohmeier, and acting SOUTHCOM Commander Air Force Lt.

Gen. Evan L. Pettus were all on hand for the activation ceremony at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

Col. Brandon P. Alford leads the new organization, Space Forces Southern, which will be co-located alongside Air Forces Southern.

“This new organization reaffirms our commitment to address local threats of all

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Center
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