Space Force Base Commander Dismissed Over Remarks About VP J.D. Vance
The commander of the U.S. Space Force installation in Greenland has been relieved of her duties after making comments related to Vice President J.D. Vance.
Col. Susannah Meyers, who had been leading Pituffik Space Base, was officially removed from her position on Thursday, according to a statement from Space Operations Command. The statement cited a "loss of confidence in her ability to lead" as the reason for her dismissal.
Meyers’ removal came just hours after a report surfaced revealing she had sent an email attempting to distance the base from Vance and the Trump administration’s policies. Vice President Vance had visited Pituffik during a March 28 trip to Greenland, and Meyers’ email was sent shortly after his departure.
According to a Military.com report published Thursday, Meyers had emailed the entire Pituffik team. In her message, she reflected on Vance’s visit, writing, "I do not presume to understand current politics," but insisted that "the concerns of the U.S. administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base."
Meyers further pledged her commitment to unity, stating, "I commit that, for as long as I am lucky enough to lead this base, all of our flags will fly proudly, together."
Sources indicated that her email was distributed not only to U.S. military personnel but also to Danish and Greenlandic staff working at Pituffik.
In its official release, Space Operations Command stated, "Colonel Susannah Meyers, commander of Pituffik Space Base was removed from command by Colonel Kenneth Klock, commander of Space Base Delta 1, on April 10, 2025, for loss of confidence in her ability to lead. Commanders are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially as it relates to remaining nonpartisan in the performance of their duties."
Col. Shawn Lee has now assumed command of the Greenland facility.
Meyers’ firing received notable attention on social media. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell commented on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump’s agenda will not be tolerated at the Department of Defense.”
Indiana Senator Jim Banks also weighed in, posting on X, “Colonel Meyers tried to politicize the Space Force and was held accountable. Lloyd Austin isn’t SecDef anymore.”
The incident comes amid renewed U.S. interest in Greenland, a territory that former President Donald Trump has previously expressed a desire to purchase. During the recent delegation trip led by Vice President Vance, he suggested the United States may need to "take more territorial interest in Greenland."
Trump has long maintained that acquiring mineral-rich Greenland would serve "international security" interests, at one point telling Congress he wanted to gain control of the region "one way or another."
In February, Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed Trump's focus on Greenland during an interview with Megyn Kelly. When asked how Greenland factored into U.S. strategy, Rubio explained, "The Arctic circle and the Arctic region is going to become critical for shipping lanes," particularly as ice melts, making the region increasingly accessible.
Rubio warned of Chinese ambitions in the Arctic, noting that Beijing might attempt to establish a presence in Greenland similar to its activities at the Panama Canal. He emphasized that "install[ing] facilities that give them access to the Arctic" would be "completely unacceptable" to U.S. national security.
He added that in the event of conflict, such facilities could allow Chinese naval vessels to operate from Greenland, a possibility Rubio said "the United States cannot ignore." Citing America's defense commitments to Greenland under its agreements with Denmark, Rubio concluded that if the U.S. is already obligated to protect the territory, it would be in America’s best interest to exert "more control over what happens there."