He succeeds Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey at a moment when hypersonic weapons, hostile satellites, and rising geopolitical tensions are rewriting the rules of deterrence. Rafferty’s record in Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Spartan Shield, and Inherent Resolve has earned him a reputation for calm under pressure and technical mastery. His confirmation, pushed through amid a surge of Senate approvals, signals continuity of hard-nosed defense policy in an era when space is no longer a sanctuary but a battlefield in waiting.
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