Raymond retirement set for Nov. 2

By Michael Marrow / October 25, 2022 at 5:47 PM

Gen. John Raymond will step down as the first chief of space operations at Joint Base Andrews on Nov. 2, the Air Force announced today.

The event will feature a change of responsibility ceremony and Raymond’s retirement officiated by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, Air Force spokeswoman Rose Riley said in a statement.

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are also scheduled to give remarks.

Raymond will be succeeded by current Lt. Gen. B. Chance Saltzman after senators voted by unanimous consent to approve his nomination and promotion to general on Sept. 29.

Saltzman recently served as deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber and nuclear. President Biden has nominated Maj. Gen. DeAnna Burt to serve as the new deputy space chief following Saltzman’s promotion.

216289