Homegrown top general returns, brings Space Force film to WKU
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The highest-ranking officer in the United States Space Force returned to his hometown Friday, bringing with him a former NASA astronaut, other Guardians and a message about why space matters far more than many Americans realize.
General Chance Saltzman, the Chief of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force, visited WKU’s Hardin Planetarium for a showing of “Always Above,” a short educational film designed to give the public a closer look at the nation’s newest military branch and its role in protecting satellites and critical space infrastructure.
“To think that some kid from Kentucky grew up to take on that responsibility is a little humbling,” Saltzman said. “I wanted to come back to my hometown and explain how important I think the Space Force is to the entire country.”
Saltzman, who grew up in Bowling Green, said the idea behind the film came from a challenge unique to the Space Force.
“The problem with space is it’s a little bit out of sight, out of mind, quite frankly,” he said. “I wanted to come up with some kind of experience that people could understand that the Space Force is out there, it’s important.”
Joining Saltzman was Brigadier General Nick Hague, a NASA astronaut and Space Force Guardian who has spent 374 days aboard the International Space Station across two missions.
Hague described the experience of seeing Earth from orbit as transformative.
“You float over to the cupola… staring out at the globe as the Earth just kind of glides by underneath,” Hague said. “You don’t see borders.”
He said the perspective gained in space changes the way people think about the world and humanity’s connection to it.
“We’re on a small planet floating in the middle of a vast ocean,” Hague said.
Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force John Bentivegna also joined the group Friday, emphasizing how dependent everyday life has become on space-based technology.
“When you think about the agricultural industry, the financial industry, the transportation industry… all really rely on space capabilities,” Bentivegna said.
He added that many Americans use space technology daily without realizing it.
“If you went and got gas today and used an ATM machine or you pay with a credit card or use GPS to get to where you’re going… all that comes from space,” Bentivegna said.
Saltzman said the Space Force was created because space has increasingly become a contested military domain, with adversaries developing anti-satellite weapons and cyber capabilities targeting space systems.
“The Space Force is all about protecting our capabilities,” Saltzman said. “We also have to recognize that other countries are building satellites that are designed to target our forces.”
Still, Friday’s event focused less on conflict and more on connection, particularly Saltzman’s connection to Bowling Green.
“The Space Force values: courage, character, commitment and connection; those aren’t just words to us, we really mean those when we say them” Saltzman said. “They resonate with me because a lot of that was developed here in Bowling Green.”
