AFSPC commander selected for AFA space award

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Jonathan Simmons
  • Air Force Space Command Public Affairs
Gen. C. Robert Kehler, commander of Air Force Space Command, is the recipient of the 2010 Gen. Thomas D. White U.S. Air Force Space Trophy.

Established in 1961, the White Trophy is the Air Force Association's premier space award and recognizes the most outstanding contribution to the nation's progress in aerospace during the previous calendar year.

"Your inspiring leadership as commander, AFSPC makes you highly deserving of this honor," said Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force chief of staff, in a congratulatory letter to General Kehler. "Your untiring dedication to excellence and innovative efforts in providing game-changing capabilities to Joint force commanders have helped assure our nation's continued asymmetric advantage in the space domain."

This award recognizes Gen. Kehler's accomplishments in 2009. He focused the command's complete effort on providing game-changing capabilities to Joint force commanders, enabling United States, Allied and Coalition forces to navigate with accuracy, see with clarity, communicate with certainty, strike with precision and operate with assurance. He guaranteed the nation's access to and freedom to operate in and through space by overseeing Air Force network operations and managing a global network of satellite command and control, communications, missile warning, space launch facilities and space systems acquisition. General Kehler led the successful transition of ICBM forces out of AFSPC while integrating new cyber forces into the command. As the Commander, he laid the foundation for delivery of six major space systems to the Joint team during the next twenty-four months.

This award is slated for presentation to General Kehler at the AFA Symposium later this year. In 2009 the White Trophy was awarded to Maj. Gen. Stephen T. Sargeant, commander of Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center.