WASHINGTON — A former Missile Defense Agency official at Redstone Arsenal has been confirmed to lead the Department of Defense’s Golden Dome project.

Gen. Michael A. Guetlein, the vice chief of space operations for the Space Force, was confirmed as Golden Dome czar in a unanimous vote Thursday by the U.S. Senate, according to U.S. Rep. Dale Strong.

Guetlein served as the Program Executive for Programs and Integration within the MDA at Redstone Arsenal from April 2017 to June 2019.

“President Trump’s decision to have General Guetlein serve as the Golden Dome Czar is a strategic move to strengthen our national defense at a critical time,” said Strong (R-Huntsville), a co-chair of the Congressional Golden Dome Caucus. “I applaud the Senate for swiftly taking up his nomination, and I look forward to working with him to defend our homeland and advance the Golden Dome’s mission to keep Americans safe.”

The Congressional Golden Dome Caucus was established last month, directing the implementation of a “next-generation missile defense shield for the United States against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks.”

“Congratulations to General Guetlein on his confirmation,” U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank (R-Colo.), also a co-chair of the caucus. “I am confident that under his leadership, President Trump’s vision to innovate our homeland missile defense through Golden Dome will soon become a reality – creating a strong deterrence against our adversaries.

“I look forward to working with General Guetlein to ensure Congress is providing as much support as possible for this essential program.”