Gen. B. Chance Saltzman Cites USAF Weapons School’s Value to Space Force Guardians

Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, U.S. Space Force chief of space operations, pointed out the important role of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School in molding weapons officers tailored fit for the Guardians. 

Saltzman, a USAFWS graduate and a past Potomac Officer event speaker, told attendees at the school’s recent 75th anniversary that Space Force weapons officers have to lead tactics development and adjustment at the unit level to counter adversaries. The space operations chief, also a Wash 100 awardee, additionally discussed the need for a service platform template and the value of forming joint combat-ready forces, AF .mil reported.

Gen. Charles Brown Jr., Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman and a 2024 Wash100 award winner, said during the anniversary celebration that the USAFWS role of sharpening warfighting skills was one of the areas highlighted in the expectation letter that he laid out upon taking the helm as Joint Chiefs of Staff head. 

Brown also stressed that in addition to Air Force skills, joint combat capabilities with allies and partners ensure that adversaries will consider the service branch as their “worst nightmare” to avoid each day.

Starting as a gunnery school in 1949, the USAFWS has grown to 21 squadrons with 31 weapons instructor courses and eight advanced enlisted courses. The school, with Nevada Nellis Air Force Base as its headquarters, has 39 combat specialties at nine sites across the United States.