Air Force nominates Maj. Gen. David Thompson as new A11 space advocate

The Air Force has nominated Maj. Gen. David Thompson to serve as deputy chief of staff for space superiority and to lead its new Space Operations Directorate.

If approved, Thompson would be promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and would play a key role in the Air Force's effort to elevate and prioritize space warfighter requirements within the service.

Thompson is currently the deputy chief of Air Force Space command.

As House lawmakers push for a major reorganization across the Defense Department's space enterprise through the creation of a separate Space Corps, the Air Force has cited the newly created role, dubbed the A11, as a major step toward improving its focus in the domain.

"This is one more element of the plan to ensure our space forces are organized, trained and equipped to prevail in any conflict," Sec. Heather Wilson said in August when the service announced the creation of the new directorate.

Speaking of the A11 specifically, Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein said in August, "the A11 will be key to ensuring we link combatant commander and service space requirements with our capabilities."

The organization will have an initial staff of 43 military, civilian and contractor space professionals.