Space Force commander Gregory Gagnon to speak at Spacepower Conference

Lt. Gen. Gregory J. Gagnon, commander of U.S. Space Force Combat Forces Command, will speak at Spacepower Conference in Orlando on Dec. 8-10. The appearance puts the service’s top force provider in front of Guardians, allied partners and industry as the Space Force pushes readiness and combat power.

Why it matters: - Lt. Gen. Gregory J. Gagnon leads the Space Force’s combat-ready force provider, the command responsible for preparing forces for service and combatant commander missions. - His appearance at Spacepower Conference puts readiness, force generation and space combat power at the center of the event. - The conference is designed to gather Guardians, joint and allied partners, industry leaders and investors around the future of U.S. space operations.

What happened: - The Space Force Association announced that Gagnon will speak at Spacepower Conference 2026, or SPC26. - SPC26 runs Dec. 8-10, 2026, at the Hilton Orlando in Orlando, Florida. - The conference theme is “The Decisive Edge.” - Gagnon has led U.S. Space Force Combat Forces Command, based at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado, since November 2025.

The details: - Gagnon oversees more than 12,000 Guardians and Airmen. - The command focuses on generating, presenting and sustaining combat-ready space control, global operations and combat service support forces. - As the Space Force’s service force provider, Gagnon is responsible for sourcing, training, certifying and assessing readiness for space forces assigned to service and combatant commander missions. - Gagnon is a career intelligence officer with a background in cyberspace operations. - He was commissioned through ROTC at Saint Michael’s College in Vermont. - His previous leadership roles include squadron, group and joint wing commands, plus a command tour in Afghanistan. - Before his current post, Gagnon served as Special Assistant to the Chief of Space Operations and as Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence. - Damon Feltman, CEO of the Space Force Association, said Combat Forces Command is “where readiness becomes real” and that Gagnon leads the Guardians and Airmen who generate those forces. - Feltman also said, “The Decisive Edge starts with forces that are ready to fight.” - The conference is in its fourth year. - SPC26 will feature five stages, senior leader keynotes, operator debriefs and sessions on artificial intelligence, space nuclear power, in-space servicing and refueling, and the Golden Dome mandate. - SPC26 will also close out America’s 250th anniversary year.

Between the lines: - The speaker lineup signals that the conference is leaning hard into readiness, operational capability and high-end conflict, not just space policy or industry networking. - The event’s mix of military leaders, industry and investors suggests the Space Force Association wants SPC26 to serve as a bridge between operational needs and emerging technologies. - The emphasis on AI, nuclear power and in-space servicing points to the capabilities most likely to shape future space missions.

What's next: - SPC26 is set for Dec. 8-10, 2026, at the Hilton Orlando. - Registration, hotel information and program updates are available at attendspacepower.org. - The Space Force Association said the conference program will continue to be updated ahead of the event.

The bottom line: - Spacepower Conference is shaping up as a readiness-focused gathering, with one of the Space Force’s top force providers as a featured voice.