Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink, right, greets U.S. Space Force Col. Nathaniel Peace, U.S. Space Forces – Space intelligence director, middle, and Chief Master Sgt. Tina R. Timmerman, S4S command senior enlisted leader, while arriving at S4S Headquarters on Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., Aug. 28, 2025. During his visit, Secretary Meink received a brief from the National Reconnaissance Office, experienced a SpaceX facility tour, and gained insight into S4S operations through discussion led by U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess, S4S commander and Combined Joint Force Space Component Commander. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman)

U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess, U.S. Space Forces – Space commander and Combined Joint Force Space Component Commander, left, leads a group of distinguished visitors, that include Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink and Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), to S4S Headquarters on Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., Aug. 28, 2025. Secretary Meink is the 27th Secretary of the Air Force, responsible for organizing, training, and equipping the U.S. Air and Space Forces. As the Department’s senior leader, he oversees an annual budget exceeding $200 billion, provides Air and Space forces to combatant commanders in support of global military operations, and is accountable for the welfare of nearly 680,000 active duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian Airmen and Guardians and their families. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman)

(From Left to Right) U.S. Space Force Chief Master Sgt. Tina R. Timmerman, U.S. Space Forces – Space command senior enlisted leader, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Secretary of the Air Force Troy E. Meink, and U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess, S4S commander and Combined Joint Force Space Component Commander, stand together for a group photo in front of a P-40 Warhawk static display at S4S Headquarters on Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., Aug. 28, 2025. The visit emphasized the S4S mission which is commanding combat forces in space superiority operations to protect and defend, along with our Allies and partners, U.S. Space Command’s Area of Responsibility and to deliver global space-enabled effects to the Joint Force. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman)

U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess, U.S. Space Forces – Space commander and Combined Joint Force Space Component Commander, right, walks with Secretary of the Air Force Troy E. Meink, middle, and Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), through S4S’s Heritage Hall during a visit to S4S Headquarters on Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., Aug. 28, 2025. During their visit to Vandenberg SFB, Secretary Meink and Sen. Cramer received a brief from the National Reconnaissance Office, experienced a SpaceX facility tour, and gained insight into S4S operations through discussion led by Lt. Gen. Schiess. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman)