By Maj. Cody Chiles 14th Air Force Public Affairs

Senior space officials from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States pose for a photo during a Commander's Conference Nov. 20, 2019, at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. John E. Shaw, Commander, Combined Force Space Component Command and 14th Air Force, hosted the conference immediately following the CFSCC and 14th AF change of command ceremony. During the conference the commanders discussed their respective missions, as well as recent successes and challenges. (U.S. Air Force photo by Major Cody Chiles)

Maj. Gen. John E. Shaw, Combined Force Space Component Command and 14th Air Force commander, speaks during the CFSCC and 14th AF change of commander ceremony Nov. 20, 2019, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. As the new commander of the CFSCC, Shaw oversees the planning and execution of space operations through four distinct and geographically dispersed operations centers, including: Combined Space Operations Center at Vandenberg AFB, Calif; Missile Warning Center at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colo; Joint Overhead Persistent Infrared Planning Center at Buckley AFB, Colo; and Joint Navigation Warfare Center located at Kirtland AFB, N.M. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Aubree Milks)

Maj. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting, former Combined Force Space Component Command and 14th Air Force commander, receives applause after speaking during the CFSCC and 14th AF change of command ceremony Nov. 20, 2019, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. During the ceremony, Whiting gave his final remarks as commander of the CFSCC and 14th Air Force, and thanked coalition and U.S. service members for their efforts to defend allied and partner nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Aubree Milks)

Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, U.S. Space Command and Air Force Space Command commander, presents the 14th Air Force guidon to Maj. Gen. John. E. Shaw, Combined Force Space Component Command and 14th AF commander, during a change of commander ceremony Nov. 20, 2019, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. As the Air Force's sole numbered Air Force for space, 14th AF is responsible for the organization, training, equipping, command and control and employment of Air Force space forces to support operational plans and missions for U.S. combatant commanders and air component commanders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Aubree Milks)

Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, U.S. Space Command and Air Force Space Command commander, presents the Combined Force Space Component Command guidon to Maj. Gen. John. E. Shaw, CFSCC and 14th AF commander, during a change of commander ceremony Nov. 20, 2019, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The CFSCC mission is to plan, integrate, conduct, and assess global space operations in order to deliver combat relevant space capabilities to Combatant Commanders, Coalition partners, the Joint Force, and the Nation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Aubree Milks)

Air Force Maj. Gen. John E. Shaw took command of Combined Force Space Component Command and 14th Air Force from Maj. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting during a change of command ceremony at the Combined Space Operations Center, Nov. 20.

Air Force Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, commander, U.S. Space Command and Air Force Space Command, presided over the ceremony, which officially recognized Shaw as the new commander of CFSCC and 14th Air Force; and Whiting’s new assignment as the deputy commander, AFSPC.

“Today we mark the change of command for two very important commands; and we celebrate two exceptional officers, and space giants if you will in our Air Force – Maj. Gen. Stephen Whiting and Maj. Gen. John Shaw,” Raymond said. “In this trading places scenario Air Force Space Command and U.S. Space Command win big at both ends of the trade.”

Prior to the change, Shaw served as the deputy commander for AFSPC; assisting the AFSPC commander in organizing, training, equipping and maintaining mission-ready space forces and providing missile warning, positioning, navigation and timing and communications capabilities for U.S. Space Command and other combatant commands.

During the ceremony Shaw highlighted the history of 14th Air Force leading coalition forces against adversaries under the command of Maj. Gen. Claire Chennault; and the importance of continuing to work with allies and partners to overcome future national defense challenges.

“This is a particularly special command to take," Shaw said. "It is one that is combined, because it is about partners and teamwork. We are indeed stronger together; we can go faster together; and we can go higher together; and I’m grateful to be part of that team."

As commander, Shaw is responsible for the CFSCC mission to plan, integrate, conduct and assess global space operations in order to deliver combat relevant space capabilities to combatant commanders, coalition partners, the Joint Force and the nation.

Additionally, Shaw is responsible for the 14th Air Force mission to produce combat-ready Airmen gaining and maintaining space superiority for the nation, the Joint Force and allies.

“The Combined Force Space Component Command and 14th Air Force are at the nexus of a lot of the change you are going to witness in the next few years,” Shaw said. “I’m excited to be here; I’m proud to be on the team with you; and I can’t wait to get started.”

Shaw entered the Air Force in 1990 as a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy with a degree in astronautical engineering and a minor in Russian language. His operational commands have included the 4th Space Operations Squadron, the 50th Operations Group and the 21st Space Wing.

Shaw’s staff assignments include positions at the Office of Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; Headquarters, United States Air Force; Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisitions; United States Strategic Command; United States Air Forces in Europe, Air Force Space Command; and NATO Armed Forces South.