Space Force Association: early legitimacy by doing all of those kind of iconic things that are just required of services. ⁓ but it took a lot of energy and a lot of effort ⁓ to put in place. In fact, as as I was ⁓ General Raymond pinned me on to three stars the first time he brought a general officer over, you know, and we were downstairs, I think I was getting collecting Jennifer from the front door of the Pentagon. We were walking up and ⁓ and General Raymond said, you know, if there's not a flag here By all these other flags at the entrance of the Pentagon before the ceremony today, you're not getting your third star. So just make this happen. I'm like, yes, sir, got it. So we we just had to kind of get it done and and ⁓ and and and and just recognize that that's what it means to be a service in the in the department and we're gonna take care of all those things. But it it was quite an effort. Still is to some degree. Absolutely. It's interesting. I always would love to look back because, you know, when the when the Air Force came out of the army. I was like, I wonder what that was like. Again, we have instant gratification, there's pictures, and everybody's a judge, and this is terrible. I, you know, don't like this. It took, it was like six or seven years that airmen wore army uniforms. I I mean, it was a long time. And like six days after the Space Force, I felt like there, you know, it was like, well, where is it? You know, what how do you not have it yet? And I just often, you know, wonder how that was. Like You know, all of the things of, you know, do we need a space force? The Air Force was doing fine. Well, did they say that when the air for like army flew planes? It's fine. Like, you know, was there that discussion back then of, you know, why is this a needed service? And I always think that's kind of a I don't know, an interesting thing to think about because once again, in our instant gratification and everybody's a judge, a big one, ⁓ is an interesting thing. And I just wonder what that was like back then. I don't know. Sir, it as you look back in your tenure as a chief, you've accomplished so much and we're celebrating that soon. What is the one thing that you said the the one thing I didn't quite get across the finish line? What's that one thing you said, man? If I could have gotten that done, that would be This is such a weapons officer question. Hey, I know you've done a thousand great things, but critique yourself for a moment. And what's the one thing that you failed on that you would like to publicize for everybody? It's such a weapons officer question. So I appreciate it. ⁓ You know, I and I have said this out loud. I I I really don't have any regrets because we've we've moved as fast as we can. I think we've prioritized the actions that we need to accomplish. ⁓ I think we've focused on, like you said, the blocking and tackling. What are those foundational processes that'll be the gift that keeps on giving? We may not have all the answers, but at least we have a process that tries to discover the new answers and puts in place the the right kinds of decisions. of course there's there's many things that I wish could have gone faster. That one of the examples I usually give is, you know, our performance reports are still basically Air Force performance reports. but I think that example ⁓ talks to the need to be deliberate as well. ⁓ a guardian identity is so important. It's so important that we have our own culture, that we have our own identity as a service, that it means something specific to be a guardian. And I think, you know A performance appraisal, a performance report is just a piece of paper, but it's it's so much more than that. It also says it's a documentation of how well you're doing your job based on values and things that we think are important. It's how you get feedback. Hey, you're not doing so well. I need you to do something better. ⁓ it's it it's your record that's gonna be evaluated for command positions and senior enlisted leader and and all of the important career functions that go on. So it's such an important document. that I felt like if we rush into this, we're basically going to take what other services have learned about performance reports and try to make them work for the Space Force, as opposed to really just slowing down and being deliberate about what does it mean to be a guardian and how do we want to use this performance report to establish the culture we need and build a guardian identity that's so critical to the service. And so it's slower than I want and I wished I would had been able to kind of finish it. I think we're on a good path. We're probably pretty close. ⁓ but that's an example where ⁓ slower than I wanted to go, but for all the right reasons, I think. And and I think in the end it'll be a better product because of that. You able to talk to guardians. So what's some comments that you what are some comments that you would provide to guardians? The overall impression and, you know, things that I get told are extremely positive because they're excited. They do understand, well, they're super, super smart and they are ready to get after whatever is thrown at them. I around for sure. When we go out, we don't talk. We listen. Right. Right. And and so she's saying what they tell us. The reason we know they're smart because they're the ones talking. Like so we don't go to the field and go, This is what you should do and here's how we should behave. Like we just get into listen mode and it's amazing what they tell us. Absolutely. I mean they are excited and they do recognize that this is, you know, kind of a once in a lifetime you are part of starting a new service. And your part is crucially important. I mean, and we need each and every one of them to make it all work. So I I mean, I think there's that recognition because it isn't, you know, just business as usual, or if something isn't going the way that it was intended on paper, we'll change it. And then they recognize that like, hey, someone's gonna listen and like we can change things because we are not so, you know, ingrained in doing something that cause we've always done it this way. We don't have that yet. We're like, we're, you know. There's gonna be mistakes along the way and let's just make it better with each and every change. So I think it's the excitement. when we go visit the field to figure out what's going on out there and stay in touch, you know, I when I grew up, I always remember being in the audience for the all hands, you know, where everybody comes together and the commander gets up on the stage and starts telling you, Here's all the things that are going on and and I and I remember thinking, Okay, you know, great. Yeah, all right, back to work, you know. And and I just I just never felt like me standing on a stage lecturing the troops was as as valuable to them as as as it could be. So what we always do is we get together in small groups where I think people are more likely to talk. So Jennifer sits down with spouses in in relatively small groups where she goes to the Reading Family Reading Center and they'll sit down in small groups and you get real good feedback. I would sit down with a small group of junior enlisted, a small group of CGOs, a small group of of squadron commanders, and then they're talking. And then they, you know, they're talking to each other and you're just listening. And I and I think that's been a way for us to s stay connected and figure out what the real issues are and the real challenges are. ⁓ and I I say this all the time. She's my best censor because they will guardians will tell her things that I know they would never tell me. They see the rank and they they just kind of go, ⁓ everything's perfect. Everything's fine. We're we're doing great, sir. You know, no, we don't need your help. And then you just as far as like what do they really feel? Like what's really going on? I'm like, okay, I can tell ya. They will. They'll they'll tell me what's going on. Team Saltzman. One chapter closing, another chapter just beginning. Congratulations to both of you on a very successful career. It's been an honor for me to know you both over this last thirty plus years. And to sit down and talk with you and have a candid conversation. You're not going to go far. Here's why. Because I want to present to you a token of our appreciation here at SFA, specifically in helping to stand up a conference solely dedicated to the service in the Space Force. So we expect to see you at the founders reception at the Space Power Conference, because what I want to present to you is, in fact, the founders flag. Here is the founder's flag. And so, sir, all that means. Is we need to see you at Space Power Conference this year and a way to stay engaged. So, sir, thanks again for everything you've done, for your friendship, mentorship, and we look forward to staying connected. We won't go far. Promise. And for everyone who wants to continue to learn more about what the Space Force is doing, please go over to USSFA.org and join the Space Force Association and become a member and stay engaged. Until next time, Semper Supra. Semper Supra.