Some AFRL Field Grade Officers transfer to U.S. Space Force
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFRL) – Eleven Field Grade Officers assigned to the Air Force Research Laboratory joined more than 700 Airmen across the nation, ceremonially transferring from the U.S. Air Force to the U.S. Space Force. All have or will complete separate transfer actions to become official USSF Guardians.
As the nation’s newest service under the Department of Defense, the USSF protects U.S. and allied interests in space.
In a hybrid ceremonial transfer event livestreamed from the Pentagon Aug. 2, Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. Raymond encouraged the live audience members and virtual attendees prior to delivering the oath of office.
“There is a force that is hungry for your leadership,” said Gen. Raymond. “I challenge each of you to be bold, to think differently and to help us get these big ideas across the finish line.”
Chief Master Sgt. of the USSF Roger Towberman welcomed the newest Guardians by emphasizing the importance of “influential leadership,” citing steady guidance as critical to the future success of the Space Force. “We are so excited that you are with us,” he said to the audience.
As one lab supporting two services, AFRL provides game-changing capabilities to the U.S Air Force and Space Force.
Lt. Col. Brian Hans, an AFRL materiel leader who took the oath Aug. 2, said he transferred to the USSF to realize this “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that capitalizes on the majority of [his] Air Force career spent working space programs.”
“It’s the recognition that space is a co-equal warfighting domain that requires dedicated professional competency as a national priority,” he said.
Maj. Rob Lamott, a new Guardian and AFRL S&T engagement lead for disruptive technologies referred to joining the Space Force as “a lifelong dream” noting, “it’s an incredible chance to build a new service from the ground up and influence what our satellites and missions are for the next 50 years.”
Joining Hans and Lamott as newly sworn USSF Guardians from AFRL are: Col. Eric Felt, Lt. Col. David Johnson, Maj. Megan Harkins, Maj. Matt Holland, Maj. Derek Miller, Maj. Jonathan Poole, Lt. Col. Jodie Pleisch, Lt. Col. Jeremy Selstrom and Maj. Matthew Shutt.
Six of the new AFRL Guardians hail from Wright-Patterson AFB with two from Edwards AFB, two from Kirtland AFB and one from AFRL’s Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing site.
After the FGOs took the oath of office, Gen. Raymond and Chief Towberman answered questions from audience members about various topics including professional development.
“As a small service, we can develop each person with some hands-on art, and we are committed to doing that,” Raymond said. “I really want to make sure we take care of our folks,” he said.
Field Grade Officers participate in a ceremonial swearing-in event livestreamed Aug. 2 from the Pentagon as Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. Raymond administers the oath of office to more than 700 officers, ceremonially commissioning them into the U.S. Space Force. Locations from across the world participated including this group of FGOs who gathered in the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Kenney Hall at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Keith Lewis)
Field Grade Officers participate in a ceremonial swearing-in event livestreamed Aug. 2 from the Pentagon as Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. Raymond administers the oath of office to more than 700 officers, commissioning them into the U.S. Space Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Keith Lewis)
Maj. Rob Lamott from the Air Force Research Laboratory takes the oath of office with Lt. Col. Karl Schwenn from Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, ceremonially transferring from the U.S. Air Force to the U.S. Space Force in a livestreamed ceremony held Aug. 2 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Keith Lewis)