{"id":22070,"date":"2019-06-20T19:35:58","date_gmt":"2019-06-20T19:35:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2019\/06\/20\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:59:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:59:17","slug":"interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/paris-air-show\/2019\/06\/20\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\/","title":{"rendered":"Interim Air Force secretary: I\u2019ve always supported the Space Force"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">LE BOURGET, France \u2014 Now that Heather Wilson is no longer secretary of the U.S. Air Force, expect service leadership to hew much closer to the Defense Department\u2019s perspective on the overhaul of military space organizations that includes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/space\/2018\/12\/20\/trumps-new-space-force-to-reside-under-department-of-the-air-force\/\" target=_blank>the launch of a Space Force<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI can tell you one thing: I\u2019ve always supported the necessity of an independent Space Force,\u201d said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2019\/01\/18\/the-air-forces-plans-to-begin-a-light-attack-aircraft-competition-are-now-deferred-indefinitely\/\" target=_blank>acting Air Force Secretary Matt Donovan<\/a>, who before this month <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/interviews\/2017\/11\/06\/interview-air-force-under-secretary-matt-donovan-talks-services-relationship-with-congress\/\" target=_blank>held the undersecretary position<\/a>. \u201cIn fact, I wrote papers over 20 years ago advocating for an independent Space Force.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During an exclusive June 19 interview on the sidelines of the Paris Air Show, Donovan expressed support for the administration\u2019s plan, including its position on keeping the Space Force inside the Department of the Air Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/digital-show-dailies\/paris-air-show\/\" target=_blank><b>Click here for more from Paris Air Show 2019!<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also said he backed the creation of the Space Development Agency, or SDA \u2014a new Defense Department organization <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/space\/2019\/04\/10\/sda-has-an-ambitious-plan-to-launch-hundreds-of-small-satellites-can-it-get-off-the-ground\/\" target=_blank>tasked with creating a distributed constellation<\/a> of many small satellites in low-Earth orbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow we\u2019re approaching it is that if someone wants to build a mesh network of inter-networked communications satellites, that\u2019s absolutely foundational with what we\u2019re trying to do with our advanced battle management system, which will lead us to multidomain command and control,\u201d said Donovan, who has had conversations about the new organization with SDA head Fred Kennedy as well as Mike Griffin, undersecretary of research and engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/space\/2019\/03\/01\/space-force-to-cost-2-billion-include-15000-personnel-in-first-five-years\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/37721336822_f40014044a_k.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Space Force to cost $2 billion, include 15,000 personnel in first five years<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">We now know the details of the Space Force.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf someone wants to concentrate on doing that, we\u2019re all about helping them do that so that we can leverage those capabilities for things we need not just in the Air Force, but across the entire joint force,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Donovan\u2019s support constitutes a break from his predecessor, Wilson, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2019\/05\/16\/heather-wilsons-air-force-legacy-fierce-advocate-for-the-service-and-shrewd-political-operator\/\" target=_blank>who departed in May<\/a> after two years as the Air Force\u2019s top civilian. She <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/space\/2019\/03\/13\/in-memo-air-force-head-hits-space-development-agency-as-not-ready-for-prime-time\/\" target=_blank>fiercely opposed the SDA<\/a>, and many believed was she quietly trying to thwart the Space Force even while expressing support in public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While President Donald Trump has tweeted his intention to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airforcetimes.com\/news\/your-air-force\/2019\/05\/21\/trump-taps-barbara-barrett-former-aerospace-corporation-chair-as-next-air-force-secretary\/\" target=_blank>nominate former Aerospace Corporation Chairwoman Barbara Barrett <\/a>as secretary of the Air Force, a formal nomination has not been sent to Congress to begin the approval process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And with the focus on finding a new defense secretary to nominate after Patrick Shanahan resigned from the Pentagon and pulled out of the running, Donovan could have months at the helm of the Air Force before Barrett is confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is clear that, in that time, the Air Force is hoping to distance itself from Wilson\u2019s sometimes combative stances on space reorganization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">John Stopher, who was Wilson\u2019s lead policy adviser on space issues, tendered his resignation Tuesday, effective July 19, \u201cin order to return to the public sector,\u201d according to Stopher\u2019s letter to Trump, which was <a href=\"https:\/\/spacenews.com\/air-force-secretarys-space-adviser-stopher-to-step-down\/\" target=_blank>first reported by Space News<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Multiple sources told Defense News last week that Stopher would be removed from his post at the behest of Air Force leaders who wanted to break from Wilson\u2019s space policies. The sources pointed to Stopher\u2019s role in helming Wilson\u2019s public comments on the space enterprise reorganization, and they said he was a dominant force in slow rolling Space Force-related policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For instance, Stopher ordered the two-star general charged with coming up with the Space Force implementation plan, Maj. Gen. Clinton Crosier, to not speak to anyone on Capitol Hill, preventing him from answering questions from lawmakers and staffers, one source said. He also started meeting privately with officials from think tanks and other influential organizations to try to make the case that a Space Force wasn\u2019t needed, that source said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Donovan downplayed Stopher\u2019s resignation as anything out of the ordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI appreciate all of John\u2019s service. He was very supportive of Secretary Wilson\u2019s agenda for space, and we appreciate his service,\u201d Donovan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe certainly want to make sure that everyone knows that we support the administration\u2019s proposal for the Space Force. I don\u2019t think you can tie that directly with John Stopher[\u2018s] [resignation],\u201d Donovan added. \u201cIt\u2019s just not unusual for appointees of one leader to depart. \u2026 That\u2019s just sort of the normal progress of occurrences with personnel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Defense Department has proposed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/smr\/federal-budget\/2019\/03\/12\/heres-how-much-money-the-defense-department-wants-for-its-trio-of-new-space-organizations\/\" target=_blank>creating a Space Force within the Department of the Air Force<\/a>, which would be led by a four-star general and would be part of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as an undersecretary of the Space Force that would report to the Air Force secretary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although questions remain unanswered about the size and makeup of the Space Force, it seems almost certain a new service for space will be set up inside the Air Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In its version of the defense policy bill, the Senate Armed Services Committee <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/space\/2019\/05\/23\/senate-authorizers-approve-space-force-but-switch-up-its-organizational-structure\/\" target=_blank>voted to fully fund the Space Force<\/a>, albeit with a somewhat different organizational structure than the one proposed by the administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, the House Armed Services Committee <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/congress\/2019\/06\/13\/space-corps-gets-ok-from-hasc-ndaa-markup\/\" target=_blank>voted to establish a Space Corps<\/a> within the Department of the Air Force, with a four-star commandant on the Joint Chiefs, and a civilian secretary. The name and setup of the service closely mirrors the original \u201cSpace Corps\u201d idea that House Strategic Forces Subcommittee Chairman Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., and Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., proposed two years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Donovan said that while lawmakers are \u201creally early in the process,\u201d the support from the Armed Services committees is a good sign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think the really good news is that both of them recognize the necessity for space reorganization and they\u2019re both moving in that direction. The way Congress works, it will be a process of compromise and back and forth as they do those discussions, and we\u2019re going to be there to support and answer questions and give our opinions if asked.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The acting Air Force secretary plans to back elements of the administration&#8217;s Space Force plan that his predecessor did not.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":44750,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":94,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"2":{"categories":["your-military","news","middle-column","home"],"primary_category":"your-military"},"4":{"categories":["your-air-force","news","daily-news-roundup","newsletters","left-column","home"],"primary_category":"your-air-force"}}},"categories":[160,29,162,163,36,94,23],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3384],"class_list":["post-22070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-digital-show-dailies","category-digital-show-daily","category-military-space-report","category-newsletters","category-paris-air-show","category-space"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"QZXZZ6KOJ5EXHAMD2LNRDMDIPI","arc_canonical_url":"\/digital-show-dailies\/paris-air-show\/2019\/06\/20\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Interim Air Force secretary: I\u2019ve always supported the Space Force - Defense News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The acting Air Force secretary plans to back elements of the administration&#039;s Space Force plan that his predecessor did not.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Interim Air Force secretary: I\u2019ve always supported the Space Force\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The acting Air Force secretary plans to back elements of the administration&#039;s Space Force plan that his predecessor did not.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/paris-air-show\/2019\/06\/20\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Defense News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-06-20T19:35:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-07T21:59:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Valerie Insinna\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Valerie Insinna\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/digital-show-dailies\\\/paris-air-show\\\/2019\\\/06\\\/20\\\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\\\/#article\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/digital-show-dailies\\\/paris-air-show\\\/2019\\\/06\\\/20\\\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"author\": {\n\t                \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"headline\": \"Interim Air Force secretary: I\u2019ve always supported the Space Force\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2019-06-20T19:35:58+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-07T21:59:17+00:00\",\n\t            \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/digital-show-dailies\\\/paris-air-show\\\/2019\\\/06\\\/20\\\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"wordCount\": 969,\n\t            \"commentCount\": 0,\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/digital-show-dailies\\\/paris-air-show\\\/2019\\\/06\\\/20\\\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/190214-F-YT646-0155.JPG.jpg\",\n\t            \"articleSection\": [\n\t                \"Daily News Roundup\",\n\t                \"Digital Show Dailies\",\n\t                \"Digital Show Daily\",\n\t                \"Military Space Report\",\n\t                \"Newsletters\",\n\t                \"Paris Air Show\",\n\t                \"Space\"\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"CommentAction\",\n\t                    \"name\": \"Comment\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/digital-show-dailies\\\/paris-air-show\\\/2019\\\/06\\\/20\\\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\\\/#respond\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/digital-show-dailies\\\/paris-air-show\\\/2019\\\/06\\\/20\\\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\\\/\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/digital-show-dailies\\\/paris-air-show\\\/2019\\\/06\\\/20\\\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Interim Air Force secretary: I\u2019ve always supported the Space Force - Defense News\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#website\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"primaryImageOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/digital-show-dailies\\\/paris-air-show\\\/2019\\\/06\\\/20\\\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/digital-show-dailies\\\/paris-air-show\\\/2019\\\/06\\\/20\\\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/190214-F-YT646-0155.JPG.jpg\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2019-06-20T19:35:58+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-07T21:59:17+00:00\",\n\t            \"description\": \"The acting Air Force secretary plans to back elements of the administration's Space Force plan that his predecessor did not.\",\n\t            \"breadcrumb\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/digital-show-dailies\\\/paris-air-show\\\/2019\\\/06\\\/20\\\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\\\/#breadcrumb\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ReadAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/digital-show-dailies\\\/paris-air-show\\\/2019\\\/06\\\/20\\\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\\\/\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/digital-show-dailies\\\/paris-air-show\\\/2019\\\/06\\\/20\\\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\\\/#primaryimage\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/190214-F-YT646-0155.JPG.jpg\",\n\t            \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/190214-F-YT646-0155.JPG.jpg\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/digital-show-dailies\\\/paris-air-show\\\/2019\\\/06\\\/20\\\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\\\/#breadcrumb\",\n\t            \"itemListElement\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 1,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Home\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"home\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 2,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Digital Show Dailies\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/digital-show-dailies\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"digital-show-dailies\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 3,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Paris Air Show\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/digital-show-dailies\\\/paris-air-show\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"paris-air-show\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 4,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Interim Air Force secretary: I\u2019ve always supported the Space Force\"\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebSite\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#website\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Defense News\",\n\t            \"description\": \"Covering the politics, business and technology of defense | Defense News\",\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"SearchAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"EntryPoint\",\n\t                        \"urlTemplate\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"\n\t                    },\n\t                    \"query-input\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"PropertyValueSpecification\",\n\t                        \"valueRequired\": true,\n\t                        \"valueName\": \"search_term_string\"\n\t                    }\n\t                }\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#organization\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Defense News\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/\",\n\t            \"logo\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/defensenews-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/defensenews-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"Defense News\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"\n\t            }\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Person\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\",\n\t            \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"migration\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/author\\\/migration\\\/\"\n\t        }\n\t    ]\n\t}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Interim Air Force secretary: I\u2019ve always supported the Space Force - Defense News","description":"The acting Air Force secretary plans to back elements of the administration's Space Force plan that his predecessor did not.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Interim Air Force secretary: I\u2019ve always supported the Space Force","og_description":"The acting Air Force secretary plans to back elements of the administration's Space Force plan that his predecessor did not.","og_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/paris-air-show\/2019\/06\/20\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\/","og_site_name":"Defense News","article_published_time":"2019-06-20T19:35:58+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-07T21:59:17+00:00","author":"Valerie Insinna","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Valerie Insinna","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/paris-air-show\/2019\/06\/20\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/paris-air-show\/2019\/06\/20\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\/"},"author":{"name":"migration","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1"},"headline":"Interim Air Force secretary: I\u2019ve always supported the Space Force","datePublished":"2019-06-20T19:35:58+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-07T21:59:17+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/paris-air-show\/2019\/06\/20\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\/"},"wordCount":969,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/paris-air-show\/2019\/06\/20\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/190214-F-YT646-0155.JPG.jpg","articleSection":["Daily News Roundup","Digital Show Dailies","Digital Show Daily","Military Space Report","Newsletters","Paris Air Show","Space"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/paris-air-show\/2019\/06\/20\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/paris-air-show\/2019\/06\/20\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/paris-air-show\/2019\/06\/20\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\/","name":"Interim Air Force secretary: I\u2019ve always supported the Space Force - Defense News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/paris-air-show\/2019\/06\/20\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/paris-air-show\/2019\/06\/20\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/190214-F-YT646-0155.JPG.jpg","datePublished":"2019-06-20T19:35:58+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-07T21:59:17+00:00","description":"The acting Air Force secretary plans to back elements of the administration's Space Force plan that his predecessor did not.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/paris-air-show\/2019\/06\/20\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/paris-air-show\/2019\/06\/20\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/paris-air-show\/2019\/06\/20\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/190214-F-YT646-0155.JPG.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/190214-F-YT646-0155.JPG.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/paris-air-show\/2019\/06\/20\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/","ad_zone":"home"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Digital Show Dailies","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/","ad_zone":"digital-show-dailies"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Paris Air Show","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/paris-air-show\/","ad_zone":"paris-air-show"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Interim Air Force secretary: I\u2019ve always supported the Space Force"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#website","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/","name":"Defense News","description":"Covering the politics, business and technology of defense | Defense News","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#organization","name":"Defense News","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/defensenews-logo-white.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/defensenews-logo-white.png","caption":"Defense News"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1","name":"migration","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"migration"},"url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/author\/migration\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Defense News","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews","push-errors":false,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/190214-F-YT646-0155.JPG.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22070","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22070"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22070\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":74619,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22070\/revisions\/74619"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22070"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=22070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}