Building Combat Power in Orbit: Lt. Gen. Gagnon on Training Space Operators

What does it take to build combat power when the domain itself is still being defined?In this episode of the Spacepower Podcast, SFA Founder and host Bill Woolf speaks with Lt. Gen. Greg Gagnon, Commander of Combat Forces Command, about how the Space Force is preparing Guardians to operate in the most contested environment humanity has ever tried to control.Space is no longer a benign domain. As adversaries develop capabilities designed to contest U.S. operations on orbit, the mission is shifting from support to warfighting. And that shift demands operators who can do more than execute technical tasks. It demands resilience, judgment, and the ability to adapt under pressure.In this conversation, Lt. Gen. Gagnon discusses:What "training like we fight" actually means in space operationsHow realistic, integrated exercises prepare Guardians for degraded environmentsWhy integration with the joint force isn't optional—it's the missionHow Combat Forces Command builds readiness through immersive, scenario-based trainingThe cultural shift needed to move from compliance to initiativeWhy leadership expects operators to think critically, not just follow checklistsHow after-action reviews focus on learning, not blameWhat it takes to sustain combat readiness in a domain defined by speed and competitionFrom training operators to integrating with combatant commanders, from building culture to delivering effects under pressure, this episode explores how the Space Force is turning technology into combat power through the people who operate it.Hosted by Bill WoolfProduced by Ty HollidayGuest: Lt. Gen. Greg Gagnon, Commander, Combat Forces Command, U.S. Space ForceHe leads the training, readiness, and force presentation for space operations, ensuring Guardians are prepared to deliver effects in contested environments across the joint force.Learn more about Combat Forces Command: https://www.ussf-cfc.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/About-Combat-Forces-CommandLearn more about the U.S. Space Force: https://www.spaceforce.mil/Join SFA: https://ussfa.org/Subscribe for more conversations on spacepower, national security, and the future of the space domain.