U.S. Strategic Command commander speaks at USTRANSCOM
Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten, commander, U.S. Strategic Command, spoke to members of U.S. Transportation Command and its component commands March 6 in the Seay Auditorium.
Hyten was the sixth guest in USTRANSCOM's 30-4-30 Distinguished Speaker Series, an initiative to celebrate the command's 30th anniversary in October 2017. Air Force Gen. Darren W. McDew, USTRANSCOM commander, has invited 30 four-star general officer, flag officer and equivalent strategic senior leaders to speak about how they view the globe, linkages between USTRANSCOM's and the leader's organization, and a vision for USTRANSCOM partnerships.
Hyten is responsible for global command and control of U.S. strategic forces to meet decisive national security objectives, providing a broad range of strategic capabilities and options for the President and Secretary of Defense.
While here, he also had an office call with McDew and participated in a strategic roundtable with command senior leaders.
During his remarks, Hyten observed the close tie between USSTRATCOM and USTRANSCOM in how both approach their missions, saying, “We’re not functional combatant commands, we’re global warfighting commands.”
“We come to work every day to deter any action that would harm our homeland,” he added.
Hyten assumed his present duties in November 2016. He attended Harvard University on an Air Force Reserve Officer's Training Corps scholarship, graduated in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in engineering and applied sciences, and was commissioned a second lieutenant.
His career includes assignments in a variety of space acquisition and operations positions. He served in senior engineering roles on both Air Force and Army anti-satellite weapon system programs.
His staff assignments include tours with the Air Force Secretariat, the Air Staff, the Joint Staff and the Commander’s Action Group at Headquarters Air Force Space Command as director. He was mission director in Cheyenne Mountain and was the last active-duty commander of the 6th Space Operations Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.
In 2006, he deployed to Southwest Asia as Director of Space Forces for operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Hyten commanded the 595th Space Group and the 50th Space Wing at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, and later served as vice commander then commander of Air Force Space Command.
Hyten has received the 1991 William Jump Award for Excellence within the Federal Government, 1998 Laurels Award from Aviation Week and Space Technology Magazine, and 2009 Gen. Jerome F. O’Malley Distinguished Space Leadership Award.
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