Stephen Whiting

File:Cdt Stephen N. Whiting (4).jpg

Whiting was born on 14 September 1967, in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.{{cite web|url=https://sortedbybirthdate.com/small_pages/1967/19670914_1022.html|title=Persons born on 14 September 1967, Stephen D. Oppenheim to TERESA L. CRAFT|website=sortedbybirthdate.com|access-date=August 4, 2021|archive-date=August 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804072039/https://sortedbybirthdate.com/small_pages/1967/19670914_1022.html|url-status=live}} He studied at Ocean Springs High School, where he was a class officer and member of the soccer team that won four state championships.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/737827591 |title=8 Jun 1985, 15 - The Sun at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=1985-06-08 |accessdate=2022-06-05 |archive-date=March 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317053620/http://www.newspapers.com/image/737827591/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.wdam.com/2020/10/22/ocean-springs-native-named-commander-space-force-first-field-command/|title=Ocean Springs native named commander of Space Force first field command|author=WLOX Staff|website=www.wdam.com|date=October 22, 2020|access-date=October 23, 2020|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026220510/https://www.wdam.com/2020/10/22/ocean-springs-native-named-commander-space-force-first-field-command/|url-status=live}}

In 1989, Whiting received a B.A. degree in aeronautical engineering from the United States Air Force Academy as a distinguished graduate. He then received an M.A. in administrative sciences (organizational management) in 1997 from the George Washington University. He also has M.A. degrees in military operational arts and sciences from the Air Command and Staff College and airpower strategy from the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. He has also attended the Senior Executives in National and International Security program of the Harvard Kennedy School in 2017. He has also studied in the Squadron Officer School and Joint Forces Staff College as part of his professional military education.{{cite web|url=https://www.spaceforce.mil/Biographies/Display/Article/2830940/stephen-n-whiting/|title=General Stephen N. Whiting|date=January 2024|website=United States Space Force|accessdate=2024-02-24}}

File:Vice President Pence visits VAFB (4).jpg to the Combined Space Operations Center, July 2019]]

Whiting was commissioned into the United States Air Force as a second lieutenant on 31 May 1989, as a distinguished graduate from the United States Air Force Academy. First assigned to UPT Columbus AFB MS. (14th Flying training squadron), failed out in Nov 89. He was then reassigned to Lowry AFB CO. A year later, he finished undergraduate space training at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado, as the top graduate and distinguished graduate. From 1990 to 1993, he served on his first operational assignment at the 6th Space Warning Squadron at Cape Cod Air Force Station in Massachusetts as a crew commander, deputy chief of training, and chief of standardization and evaluation.

As a captain, Whiting served as a radar systems officer at the 21st Operations Support Squadron in Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado from 1993 to 1994. After that, he served a year as the executive officer for the 21st Operations Group. In 1995, he was reassigned to Washington, D.C. as an Air Force intern while he studied at the George Washington University. From 1997 to 1999, he was stationed at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado as UHF Follow-On satellite satellite vehicle operator, crew commander, and operations flight commander for the 3rd Space Operations Squadron.

File:14th AF CC visits Schriever (1).jpg during a tour at Schriever Air Force Base]]

Whiting was promoted to major on 1 July 1999. At this time, he was working as an operations officer for the 22nd Space Operations Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base. From 2000 to 2002, he studied at the Air Command and Staff College and School of Advanced Air and Space Studies at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. After studying, he was assigned as a regional policy officer at the United States Space Command, during which time the combatant command was disestablished, thereby he continuing this role at United States Strategic Command West. After that assignment, he was selected to serve as special assistant to the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, Admiral James O. Ellis, for a year.

In July 2004, Whiting took command of the 13th Space Warning Squadron at Clear Air Force Station, Alaska. He relinquished command a year later when he was selected as an Air Force fellow at the RAND Corporation. From June 2006 to June 2008, he served as commander of the 614th Air and Space Operations Center and director of the Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. After his second command tour, he was selected as a Chief of Staff U.S. Air Force Fellow assigned at the Chief of Naval Operations' Strategic Studies Group in Newport, Rhode Island.

From August 2009 to June 2011, Whiting served as commander of the 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force Base. After that, he served as a military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, for whom he also served as senior military assistant.

File:Cyber Defense Correlation Cell for Space stands up.jpg, Maj Gen Whiting, and Brig Gen Burt during the Cyber Defense Correlation Cell-Space ribbon cutting ceremony in October 2019]]

On 8 July 2013, Whiting was promoted to brigadier general and assigned as vice commander of the Air Force Warfare Center. Two years later, he was selected to lead Air Force Space Command's (AFSPC) Space Enterprise Vision Team. After that, he was assigned as director of integrated air, space, and cyberspace and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance of AFSPC. In 2017, he also served as the lead for the Joint Force Space Component Command (JFSCC) Integration Team.

In December 2017, Whiting took command of the Fourteenth Air Force (14 AF) and became deputy commander of JFSCC. In August 2019, JFSCC was inactivated and the U.S. Space Command was reestablished. Consequently, the Combined Force Space Component Command (CFSCC) was stood up and he took command of the new unit. Three months later, in November 2019, he relinquished command of CFSCC and 14AF to Major General John E. Shaw and became deputy commander of AFSPC.

On 20 December 2019, the United States Space Force was established and AFSPC was temporarily designated as Headquarters, United States Space Force. Whiting thus continued to serve as deputy commander of Headquarters, United States Space Force. In August 2020, he was one of the first general officers nominated to transfer to the Space Force and promoted to general. He was also selected to serve as the first commander of Space Operations Command (SpOC).{{Cite web|url=https://executivegov.com/2020/07/maj-gen-stephen-whiting-nominated-to-lead-space-operations-command/|title=Maj. Gen. Stephen Whiting Nominated to Lead Space Operations Command|first=Nichols|last=Martin|date=July 30, 2020}} On 21 October 2020, SpOC was established and Whiting became its first commander.{{Cite web |date=21 October 2020 |title=Space Force activates first field command |url=https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article/2390148/space-force-activates-first-field-command/ |website=United States Space Force}}

In July 2023, Whiting was nominated for promotion to general and appointment as commander of the United States Space Command.{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/118th-congress/827|title=PN827 — Lt. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting — Space Force, 118th Congress (2023-2024)|date=2023-07-11|access-date=2023-07-12|website=U.S. Congress}}{{cite web|last=Hitchens|first=Theresa|url=https://breakingdefense.com/2023/07/biden-nominates-space-forces-whiting-to-head-spacecom/|title=Biden nominates Space Force's Whiting to head SPACECOM|date=2023-07-12|access-date=2023-07-13|website=Breaking Defense|archive-date=July 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715134128/https://breakingdefense.com/2023/07/biden-nominates-space-forces-whiting-to-head-spacecom/|url-status=live}} He was confirmed on 19 December 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/19/senate-confirms-top-military-nominees-ending-tubervilles-hold-over-promotions-00132588|title=Senate confirms top military nominees, ending Tuberville's hold over promotions|date=December 19, 2023|website=POLITICO}} On 10 January 2024, he took command of the United States Space Command from General James H. Dickinson.{{cite web |url=https://www.spacecom.mil/Newsroom/News/Article-Display/Article/3641979/usspacecom-welcomes-whiting-as-third-commander/ |title=USSPACECOM welcomes Whiting as third commander |date=2024-01-10 |website=United States Space Command}} In February 2024, he released his strategic vision as commander of the combatant command.{{cite web |url=https://www.spacecom.mil/Newsroom/News/Article-Display/Article/3683192/usspacecom-releases-updated-strategic-vision/ |title=USSPACECOM releases updated Strategic Vision |date=2024-02-21 |website=United States Space Command}}{{cite web |url=https://www.spacecom.mil/Portals/57/Documents/USSPACECOM%20Strategic%20Vision_Feb%202024%20Online.pdf?ver=INczxf__t9IyetlohPw5dA%3d%3d |title=USSPACECOM Strategic Vision |last=Whiting |first=Stephen |date=2024-02-20 |website=United States Space Command}}

Whiting is the son of late Mr. and Mrs. Larry Whiting. His father was a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel. He married Tammy Lynn Preslar on 1 June 1989.{{cite web|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/life/nevada-military-personnel-honored-at-annual-gala/attachment/stephen-and-tammy-whiting-from-left-robert-ramsden-and-vanessa-and-steven-cleveland-marian-umhoeferlas-vegas-review-journal-2/|title=Stephen and Tammy Whiting, from left, Robert Ramsden, and Vanessa and Steven Cleveland (Marian Umhoefer/Las Vegas Review-Journal)|website=Las Vegas Review-Journal|access-date=July 23, 2021|archive-date=July 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723071256/https://www.reviewjournal.com/life/nevada-military-personnel-honored-at-annual-gala/attachment/stephen-and-tammy-whiting-from-left-robert-ramsden-and-vanessa-and-steven-cleveland-marian-umhoeferlas-vegas-review-journal-2/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/743991999 |title=21 May 1989, 54 - Sun Herald at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=1989-05-21 |accessdate=2022-06-05 |archive-date=March 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317054129/http://www.newspapers.com/image/743991999/ |url-status=live }}

File:Lt. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting receives French National Order of Merit (4).jpg, November 2021]]

Whiting is the recipient of the following awards:

File:Lt Gen Whiting Promotion.jpg, October 2020]]

• {{cite journal |title=Space and Diplomacy: A New Tool for Leverage |journal=Astropolitics |volume=1 |date=2003 |pages=54–77 |issue=1 |doi=10.1080/1477-760391832516|last1=Whiting |first1=Stephen N. |bibcode=2003AstPo...1...54W |s2cid=143339687 }}
• {{cite thesis |type=M.S. |date=June 2002 |title=Policy, Influence, and Diplomacy: Space as a National Power Element |publisher=School of Advanced Air and Space Studies |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA420751.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101133210/https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA420751.pdf |url-status=live |archive-date=1 November 2021}}

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{{Current US Department of Defense Secretaries}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:United States Air Force Academy alumni

Category:George Washington University alumni

Category:Air Command and Staff College alumni

Category:School of Advanced Air and Space Studies alumni

Category:United States Air Force generals

Category:United States Space Force generals

Category:Office of the Chief of Space Operations personnel

Category:1967 births

Category:People from Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Category:Military personnel from Mississippi

Category:Aviators from Mississippi

Category:Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal

Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit

Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)