US Space Force European and African Commander: "I hope we can... repel the aliens"
2024-08-17
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"Why do you always have to go to space?" Brigadier General Jacob Middleton was asked on August 13, according to the Stars and Stripes website. It was a fitting question for him on his first day as commander of the U.S. Space Force Europe and Africa Command. He replaced Col. Max Lantz, who is retiring that day. "I wish I could say it like Will Smith did in the movie Independence Day: We're fighting off aliens," Middleton replied. "What I'm saying is, if it's true, I can't tell you anyway because it's classified," he added. Lantz is the first commander of the U.S. Space Force Europe and Africa Command, which was established in Ramstein, Germany, in December last year. The force provides a cadre of experts to the U.S. European Command and the U.S. Africa Command to facilitate training, information sharing and other activities in about 100 countries.
At the handover ceremony of the U.S. Space Force European and African Command Command held at Ramstein Air Base on the 13th, U.S. Space Force Chief of Operations Chance Saltzman said that the selection of a brigadier general to replace Colonel Lantz highlights the importance of space power in the region. Middleton has long served as a space and missile operations officer. He said he looks forward to answering the question of "why we are here and what we are doing" in the process of carrying forward the work led by Lantz. "The 'guardians' here (space force members)... bring technical expertise to a rapidly developing and changing field. On this global stage, we need you now more than ever," said Michael Langley, commander of the U.S. Africa Command, at the handover ceremony. The U.S. Space Force helped establish a space reconnaissance and tracking project in Africa, enabling the Africa Command to provide non-confidential information to partners through commercial satellite imagery and other means. Saltzman and Langley said data sharing helps solve problems such as cross-border violence, disaster relief and illegal fishing. Langley said these programs have promoted U.S. partnerships on the African continent. In Europe, the U.S. Space Force European and African Commands have strengthened cooperation with NATO and supported Ukraine in resisting Russia. "Please take this command to new heights, or should I say, a new trajectory," Langley said.
Source: Reference News
