Gen. Chance Saltzman, the outgoing chief of the U.S. Space Force, warned at the Global Air & Space Chiefs' Conference in London on July 15 that orbital conflict would expose satellites from every nation, and argued that the best deterrent is building military forces capable of fighting and winning in space. Saltzman's address capped nearly four years leading the service, during which the Space Force shifted focus from its early identity as a support function toward explicit preparation for combat against China and Russia, emphasizing what the service calls "space control" -- protecting allied access to orbit while denying adversaries the benefits of their own space systems.
Saltzman rejected the idea that deterrence can be achieved through declarations alone, instead contending that military capability itself creates deterrent effect. He stressed that satellites operate across shared orbital regimes without regard to national boundaries, making multinational military cooperation essential and terming space "the ultimate team sport." He acknowledged that some persistent challenges -- acquisition speed, interoperability among allied systems, and classified information sharing -- cannot be permanently solved but must be managed. His nominated successor, Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess, would become the third chief of space operations if confirmed by the Senate.