Maj. Gen. John L. Rafferty Jr. is stepping into one of the most consequential jobs in the U.S. military—and almost nobody is paying attention. After three decades in war zones and war rooms, he’s now taking charge of America’s shield in space. In an era of hypersonic missiles, rival powers, and political knife fights in the Senate, his confirmation isn’t just another promotion. It’s a warning. The next crisis won’t start where we expe… Continues…
John L. Rafferty Jr.’s rise to lead the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command comes at a moment when the margin for error is shrinking. From Afghanistan and Iraq to Europe and the Middle East, he has learned how fast a battlefield can change—and how costly it is to be unprepared. Now, instead of directing artillery brigades, he will oversee the systems designed to detect, deter, and defeat threats that may unfold in minutes, across continents and in orbit.
