Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson , Space and Missile Systems Center commander and Air Force program executive officer for Space, officiates a change of command during which outgoing commander, Col. (now Brig. Gen.) Phil Garrant, relinquishes leadership of the Space Superiority Systems Directorate to Col. Stephen G. Purdy Jr. inside SMC's Gordon Conference Center Aug. 2, 2017 at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, Calif. The incoming director will be responsible for the development, deployment and sustainment of the nation's complex and dynamic portfolio of space-superiority capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Van De Ha)