The United States Space Force activated Space Forces Southern last month, shortly before Operation Absolute Resolve, the January 3 mission that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
During a ceremony at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB), AZ, the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) formalized the command’s role in integrating space capabilities throughout the Western Hemisphere. It was also confirmed that SPACEFOR-SOUTH became operational effective on December 1, 2025, a whole month before Operation Absolute Resolve was carried out.
It was also last month that Col. Brandon P. Alford assumed command. Still, he was at the ceremony sporting a new SPACEFOR-SOUTH emblem meant to symbolize the command’s mission and regional focus. It features a Southern Cross constellation meant to signify that Space Forces Southern is the space component focused on South America. A lightning bolt further symbolizes the speed and responsiveness of space-enabled support to joint and partner forces throughout the region.
“Today marks the beginning of a future that is more connected, more informed, agile, and more united in building together to be more capable,” Alford said during the ceremony. “As the first commander of Space Forces Southern, I accept this responsibility with humility and optimism. I am confident that together we will shape a space domain that reflects our shared values and shared aspirations.”
Space Component to SOUTHCOM
The new command will serve as a “space component” to SOUTHCOM, with it responsible for integrating space power with joint, interagency, and multinational partners to support regional security, deterrence, and stability across Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, the Space Force explained.
“This new organization reaffirms our commitment to address local threats of all shapes and sizes, ranging from malign state actors to violent extremist organizations and to transnational criminal organizations,” said Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman. “Space Forces Southern will continue to be a force for good in the region, using space to maintain peace and stability, and defend the homeland.”
Space Force won’t just support the Joint Force, but will serve as a fully integrated and critical component, Saltzman explained.
“As we clearly saw in recent operations in the SOUTHCOM [area of responsibility], without space, kill chains don’t close, our strategic advantage evaporates, and we can’t complete our joint missions,” Saltzman added.
Space Force’s space-enabled capabilities will support operations in the region, with guardians providing positioning, navigation, and timing via secure satellite communications. Space-enabled awareness will also be employed to support counter-illicit trafficking operations, multinational exercises, and partner-nation capability building and crisis response.
“The activation of Space Forces Southern affirms a simple and powerful idea: we are one hemisphere, stronger together,” Alford continued. “Bound together by geography, values, and a shared future above us—connected by shared challenges and shared opportunity.”
Command Performance
According to a report from Air & Space Forces magazine, plans had been in the works for a while to create a Space Forces Southern, but it gained urgency after the Trump administration released its “National Security Strategy” in November, which placed a greater priority on the Western Hemisphere.
The new command follows that of U.S. Space Forces-Central (SPACECENT), which was activated on December 2, 2022. It is a service component of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base, FL. It provides space-based capabilities—missile warning, satellite communications, and navigation—to support military operations across the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia.
Field Commands
The U.S. Space Force also has four primary intermediate-level Field Commands (FIELDCOMs) that organize, train, and equip Guardians.
The commands, each designed for a lean structure, include the Space Operations Command (SpOC), Space Systems Command (SSC), Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM), and the recently announced Space Futures Command.
