U.S. Space Force Brig. Gen. Christopher A. Fernengel assumed command of U.S. Space Forces in Europe – Space Forces Africa during a change of command ceremony at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 10, 2026.
U.S. Space Forces in Europe – Space Forces Africa, also known as SPACEFOREUR-AF, is the Space Force component responsible for integrating space capabilities in support of the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command. The component supports operations across 51 countries in Europe and 53 countries in Africa.
“Space is inherently joint, interagency, and multinational,” said U.S. Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich, commander, U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe. “It holds the connective tissue that binds our joint force together and helps us take apart that of any adversary.”
Grynkewich highlighted the growth of SPACEFOREUR-AF under U.S. Space Force Brig. Gen. Jacob Middleton, including the expansion of the component to more than three times its original size.
“The rise of space and cyber have demanded the need for multidomain operations, which requires new command and control, new capabilities and a different way of thinking about it,” said U.S. Air Force Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson, commander, U.S. Africa Command. “The U.S. remains the gold standard for space operations.”
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