PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. –
After only one week since the historic change of command, U.S. Space Command continued its steady pace of firsts with the command senior enlisted leader change of responsibility today.
U.S. Space Force Chief Master Sgt. Roger A. Towberman, who served dual-hatted as the USSPACECOM and USSF CSEL relinquished his responsibilities to U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Scott H. Stalker.
Prior to arriving at USSPACECOM, Stalker served as the U.S. Cyber Command and National Security Agency CSEL. Throughout his career, Stalker has supported multiple named combat and contingency operations as well as joint deployments globally.
“Master Guns Stalker is a joint leader and a joint warrior,” said U.S. Army Gen. James H. Dickinson, USSPACECOM commander, who officiated the ceremony. “We have a new command senior enlisted leader — a Marine — who is solely focused on the readiness and lethality of our joint forces.
“We know our adversaries have reorganized for space, and they have demonstrated their commitment to develop their space capabilities while trying to deny the long-standing U.S. advantage in the space domain,” Dickinson continued. “But, we have a formidable weapon — our joint enlisted corps. Our combat tested warfighters are the foundation of our deterrence.”
During the change of responsibility ceremony, Stalker’s remarks reflected his warfighting ethos.
“I am excited to be here at U.S. Space Command where we not only support the warfighter, but we are the warfighter,” Stalker said. “Together with our allies and partners we will sharpen our warfighting forces in such a way that deters potential adversaries from taking their misguided actions too far.”
During the ceremony, USSPACECOM bid farewell to its first CSEL, Towberman.
“Chief Towberman's leadership, strategic vision and sound judgement was critical to the establishment of the command,” Dickinson said. “He supported elevating this critical function from a component command to an independent combatant command. From this day forward, Towberman will serve as an adviser to the Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond and Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett. Stalker will lead our joint warfighters and integrate those forces with our allies’ and partners’ to create a ready, combined force.”
Towberman shared his final thoughts with the audience before the ceremony concluded.
“We’ve overcome incredible challenges over the last year and the new team will overcome many more,” he said. “There is no team better equipped than this one to help win the joint fight and I couldn’t be more proud to have been a part of it. As I leave Space Command and focus fully on the mission of the United States Space Force, I’ll miss the warfighting mission and the joint team though I’m excited about the limitless opportunities in front of us. We will take what we’ve learned and the great relationships we’ve built and accelerate the work we’ve started. Nobody is better in space than the United States, and U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command will ensure the advantage we have over our adversaries and those who threaten our freedoms continue to grow.”
USSPACECOM is one of 11 unified commands under the Department of Defense. USSPACECOM conducts operations in, from and to space to deter conflict, and if necessary, defeat aggression, deliver space combat power for the Joint/Combined force and defend U.S. vital interests with allies and partners.