Maj. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess is the Commander, Combined Force Space Component Command, U.S. Space Command; and Vice Commander, Space Operations Command, U.S. Space Force, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. General Schiess leads more than 17,000 joint and combined personnel with a mission to plan, integrate, conduct and assess global space operations to deliver combat relevant space capabilities to combatant commanders, coalition partners, the joint force and the nation. The General plans and executes space operations through four distinct and geographically dispersed operations centers, including the Combined Space Operations Center at Vandenberg SFB, California; the Missile Warning Center at Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, Colorado; the Joint Overhead Persistent Infrared Planning Center at Buckley SFB, Colorado; and the Joint Navigation Warfare Center located at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.
General Schiess entered the Air Force as a Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of California at Los Angeles in 1992 and transferred to the United States Space Force in 2022. He has commanded the 4th Space Operations Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo; the 45th Operations Group at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.; the 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo; and the 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. He deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, in support of operations Enduring Freedom, Resolute Support, and Inherent Resolve. His staff assignments include Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Headquarters Space Operations Command, the Air Staff and Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. Prior to his current assignment, General Schiess was the Deputy Commanding General, Operations, Headquarters Space Operations Command.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Science, Physics, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Calif.
1996 Master of Science, Human Resources Management, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Mich.
1997 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2000 Master of Arts, Organizational Management, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
2003 Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence)
2004 Master of Science, Space Systems, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2007 Air War College (Correspondence)
2012 Master of Arts, National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2014 Director of Space Forces Course, Advanced Space Operations School, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2015 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2016 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2018 National and International Security Leadership Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2019 Capstone General and Flag Officer Course, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2021 Advanced Senior Leader Development Seminar, Warrenton, Va.
2022 Cybersecurity: The Intersection of Policy and Technology, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
2022 Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2022 Combined/Joint Forces Land Component Commander Course, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa