Gen. John E. Hyten (right), accepts the command guidon from Secretary of Defense Ash Carter as he assumes command of U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) during a change of command ceremony at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Nov. 3, 2016. Carter presided over the change of command and provided remarks during which he congratulated Hyten on his appointment as the new USSTRATCOM commander. He also thanked Adm. Cecil D. Haney, outgoing USSTRATCOM commander, for his service. Additionally, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph F. Dunford provided remarks during the ceremony and presented the Joint Meritorious Unit Award to USSTRATCOM. Hyten previously served as commander of Air Force Space Command, and Haney will retire from active military duty during a separate ceremony in January. One of nine DoD unified combatant commands, USSTRATCOM has global strategic missions assigned through the Unified Command Plan that include strategic deterrence; space operations; cyberspace operations; joint electronic warfare; global strike; missile defense; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; combating weapons of mass destruction; and analysis and targeting. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Lovelady)