Clemson grad named 4-star general, heads Air Force Space Command
November 10, 2016
Clemson University ’84 graduate U.S. Air Force Gen. John “Jay” Raymond has been promoted to the rank of four-star general, making him the highest ranking military officer to have graduated from any Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at Clemson.
As the commander of Air Force Space Command, Raymond will oversee satellite launch capabilities and ensure friendly forces have access to the nation’s space assets. Additionally, Space Command provides force enhancement capabilities such as satellite-based weather, communications, intelligence, missile warning, and navigation. He is responsible for about 38,000 space and cyberspace professionals assigned to 134 locations worldwide.A business management graduate who was commissioned through Clemson’s Air Force ROTC program in July of 1984, Raymond has also been named commander of the Air Force Space Command at Peterson AFB in Colorado.
“Detachment 770 is honored to call General Raymond one of our own and we couldn’t be more proud of his well-deserved promotion,” said Col. Chris Mann, commander, Air Force ROTC Detachment 770. “While not every graduate of a military commissioning program will become a four-star general officer, General Raymond is a product of the outstanding training, education and leadership preparation available to Clemson cadets.”
There have been 214 four-star generals in the history of the U.S. Air Force, and there are only 40 active-duty four-star officers in the entire U.S. armed services. Promotions at Raymond’s level require nomination by the president and the approval of Congress.
The vast majority of Raymond’s career has focused on integrating space and cyberspace to the forefront of the Air Force’s joint operations.
Since 2007, the general has commanded the 30th Operations Group at Vandenberg AFB, California, the 21st Space Wing at Peterson AFB, the 14th Air Force, also at Vandenberg, and he led the Joint Functional Component Command for space for U.S. Strategic Command.
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