Maj. Gen. John L. Rafferty Jr. has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate for promotion to lieutenant general and will serve as the commanding general of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. The appointment places him in charge of protecting the U.S. and its allies from missile threats and strengthening the Army’s role in space, at a time when these missions are “central to national security.”
Rafferty currently serves as chief of staff at U.S. European Command in Germany and brings more than 33 years of military service. His background in field artillery and strategic staff roles is seen as key preparation for leading a command that sits “at the intersection of warfighting, science, and long-term capability development.”
Throughout his career, Rafferty has held major leadership positions, including commanding general of the 56th Artillery Command in Germany and chief of Army Public Affairs in Washington, D.C. He also led the Long Range Precision Fires Cross Functional Team, one of the Army’s top modernization efforts, helping develop next-generation weapons to counter peer adversaries.
His operational experience includes deployments supporting Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Spartan Shield, and Inherent Resolve. These roles gave him firsthand experience in joint and coalition warfare, reinforcing the importance of integrating missile defense and space capabilities into broader military operations.
Rafferty will succeed Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, who is retiring after more than 35 years of service. His confirmation signals continuity while positioning a leader with modernization expertise to guide one of the Army’s most strategically vital commands as missile defense and space operations become “central pillars of U.S. military strategy.”
