4th Birthday of the United States Space Force

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

WHEREAS, on December 20, 2019, Air Force Space Command was renamed the United States Space Force and established as an independent service to create the first new branch of the armed services since 1950; and

WHEREAS, the United States Space Force, a separate and distinct branch of the armed services organized under the Department of the Air Force, is the world's first space force and marks a significant stride in our nation’s military evolution; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the United States Space Force is to defend our nation and its freedom to operate in space, keeping it secure, stable, and accessible for military space oversight and new waves of innovation; and

WHEREAS, all Space Force personnel, whether civilian or military, are called “Guardians,” and as of fiscal year 2023, the Space Force has more than 14,000 military and civilian Guardians; and

WHEREAS, the Space Force trains, organizes, and equips Guardians to perform global space operations including developing and defending communication satellites, engineering global cybersecurity networks, supporting rocket launches, tracking space debris, and coordinating battlefield operations across all war fighting domains; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia, a steadfast supporter of our military, is home to a growing number of Space Force Guardians, civilian members and their families who support our national security and protect our freedoms; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia is proud to host new Space Force facilities and expand its presence;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize December 20, 2023, as the 4TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES SPACE FORCE, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.

Governor of Virginia

Proclamations