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From the CSO
Reading has always been central to my professional development because thoughtful reading introduces diverse perspectives, new ideas, and novel frameworks. Reading also builds habits of mind that strengthen our ability to think critically and abstractly. Additionally, the novel ideas and plot twists we encounter improve our ability to act under uncertainty by making us more comfortable with ambiguity and surprise. All these traits help build strong communicators, effective problem solvers, and well-rounded leaders.
I believe the benefits of reading are not confined to a single genre. Non-fiction introduces new ideas, frameworks, and perspectives; fiction strengthens creativity and empathy. History allows us to learn from the experiences of others; following current events makes us informed citizens. Studying a range of topics broadens our world view; investigating a specific topic in depth exposes nuance and conflicting opinions. Philosophy develops critical reasoning skills; poetry helps us interpret emotion.
The one overarching insight I offer is that how you read is more important than what you read. I encourage you to read frequently on a variety of topics told from a diverse collection of perspectives. Don’t just passively absorb what you read; scrutinize, critique, and improve upon the ideas and arguments you encounter. Share these ideas with others and engage in meaningful debate.
With those comments in mind, below is a collection of works that have significantly impacted my professional development. I’ll continue to share recommendations from my library in future C-notes, and I encourage you to do the same with your fellow Guardians.
- The Killer Angels (Michael Shaara)
- Thinking, Fast and Slow (Daniel Kahneman)
- A Short History of Nearly Everything (Bill Bryson)
- Nineteen Stars: A Study in Military Character & Leadership (Edgar Puryear, Jr.)
- Groupthink: Psychological Studies of Policy Decisions and Fiascoes (Irving Janis)
- Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis (Graham Allison & Philip Zelikow)
- Moon Shot: The Inside Story of America’s Race to the Moon (Alan Shepard & Deke Slayton)
- Thinking in Time: The Uses of History for Decision Makers (Richard Neustadt & Ernest May)
- Longitude (Dava Sobel)
- The Age of Heretics (Art Kleiner)
I challenge each of you to not just read as a personal pursuit but also bring others with you. Take a moment and ask a peer what they’re reading. Just like a good book, you never know where the conversation will go or what exciting ideas you may discover.
Semper Supra!
CSO Remarks
- CSO speaks at Australian Air, Space Power Conference
- Remarks by CSO Gen. Chance Saltzman at the Australian Air and Space Conference
- Remarks by CSO Gen. Chance Saltzman at the 2024 Space Symposium (April 10, 2024)
- Remarks by Chief of Space Operations General Chance Saltzman during the AFA Air Warfare Symposium’s Great Power Competition Senior Leader Panel
- Remarks by CSO Gen. Chance Saltzman at the Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium
- Remarks by Chief of Space Operations Gen Chance Saltzman at the Space Systems Command Change of Command Ceremony
- Remarks by Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman at Space Forces - Space Activation Ceremony
- Remarks by CSO Gen. Chance Saltzman at the SpOC change of command ceremony
- Remarks by CSO Gen. Chance Saltzman at the Space Force Association Spacepower Conference
C-Notes 1-20
C-NOTE #1 Assuming the Duties of CSO
C-Note #2 Three years of Learning
C-NOTE #3 Fielding Combat-Ready Forces
C-NOTE #4 Amplifying the Guardian Spirit
C-NOTE #5 Partnering to Win
C-NOTE #6 Mission Command
C-NOTE #7 Barriers to Mission Command
C-NOTE #8 The Formative Purpose of the Space Force
C-NOTE #9 Inaugural Guardian Field Forum
C-NOTE #10 Guardian Spirit Handbook
C-NOTE #11 Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force
C-NOTE #12 USSF Mission Statement
C-NOTE #13 Telling our Story
C-NOTE #14 Rethinking Space Superiority
C-NOTE #15 Competitive Endurance
C-NOTE #16 Our Mission Statement
C-NOTE #17 Professional Reading
C-NOTE #18 Forging a Purpose-built Space Force
C-NOTE #19 STEMtoSpace
C-NOTE #20 GREAT POWER COMPETITION
C-NOTES 21-40
C-NOTE #21 FORGING THE FORCE
C-NOTE #22 BIRTHDAY MESSAGE
C-Note #23 Component Field Commands
C-NOTE #24 A UNIFIED MODEL OF SERVICE
C-Note #25 FORCE PRESENTATION
C-NOTE #26 FORCE GENERATION
C-Note #27 Force Generation Clarifications
The Case for Change
Department of the Air Force and Space Force senior leaders, Feb. 12, unveiled sweeping plans for reshaping, refocusing, and reoptimizing the Space Force and Air Force to ensure continued supremacy in those domains while also better posturing the services to deter and, if necessary, prevail in an era of Great Power Competition. The Space Force’s Case for Change can be read here.
A Proposed Theory Of Success For The U.S. Space Force
Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman published a White Paper titled Competitive Endurance: A Proposed Theory of Success for the U.S. Space Force in January 2024, detailing a system of assumptions, guiding principles, and logical conclusions that focus the service’s activities on a common operational perspective. This approach has three core tenets: avoiding operational surprise, denying first-mover advantage, and responsible counterspace campaigning. Saltzman emphasized that, like any theory, Competitive Endurance is meant to serve as a point of departure for analysis and critique. The White Paper is viewablehereandshould not serve as new doctrine or policy guidance.
CSO Library Bookshelf
19 Stars: A Study in Military Character and Leadership
The Age of Heretics: A history of the radical thinkers who reinvented corporate management
Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis
GroupThink
The Killer Angels: A novel of the Civil War
Longitude: The true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time
Moon Shot: The inside story of America's Apollo moon landings
Thousands of interesting scientific facts I forgot seconds after closing the book
Thinking, Fast and Slow
Thinking in Time: The uses of history for decision makers
Official United States Space Force Website
