Leading by Serving: My First 100 Days as the Senior Enlisted Leader of Space Operations Command

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Caleb LLoyd
PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. --  SpOC Teammates,

In the grand scheme of our command's mission, my first 100 days as the Senior Enlisted Leader might appear as a mere blip on the radar.  Nonetheless, these early days have held significant importance. They've been about refining the trajectory for our collective journey to Protect America and our Allies in, from, and to space…Now and into the future.

In September, I had the privilege of attending the 2023 Air, Space & Cyber Conference hosted by the Air & Space Forces Association. During this event, Air Force Secretary Kendall reminded us of the Great Power Competition we find ourselves in with our most significant pacing challenge in recent history, China, who continues to aggressively innovate and modernize its military aimed directly at countering our capabilities and military advantage in all domains. As Secretary Kendall underscored, time is an asset “we can’t afford to cede” to our adversaries. This mindset is driving a holistic look at our department’s posture and is driving many of our actions within Space Operations Command to ensure we are ready for any crisis we may face. I have spent the last 100 days observing and immersing myself in the myriad of mission areas executed by our Command to fully appreciate our pain points and build relationships to help advocate for and solve our most pressing challenges.  The one common theme I continue to observe is that despite the growing pains that come with activating a new Service, our people continue to lean forward, think creatively, and boldly solve seemingly impossible problems. Throughout my initial 100 days, I've been fortunate to observe these remarkable qualities being put into action.

**Understanding the threat we face**

On 11 August, the 75th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron (ISRS) was activated as a unit under Space Delta 7, focusing on target analysis, target development and target engagement.  What's particularly noteworthy is that we're not only establishing the sole targeting squadron within the U.S. Space Force but also pioneering a transformation in how targeting is approached across the joint community.  Understanding the significance of targeting is pivotal in comprehending the threats that we face. Targeting allows us to identify and analyze adversaries' assets, objectives, and activities in the space domains. It provides us with invaluable insights into potential threats, enabling us to develop effective strategies to protect our interests and those of our Allies. By innovating our targeting practices, we're enhancing our ability to stay ahead of emerging challenges and ensuring the security of our nation and its Allies.  Additionally, on 4 October the 76th ISRS was activated, serving as the Space Force’s multi-source intelligence exploitation unit that provides time-dominant exploitation in support of space superiority for our tactical intelligence support units, the IC, and combatant commands worldwide.   I want to emphasize that this is not just an administrative change; it is a significant step in our warfighting capabilities.  The newly minted units of Space Delta 7 have initiated groundbreaking efforts, leading the charge in eliminating adversary kill webs throughout space operations.  I challenge you to remain vigilant and proactive, for our actions today will shape our defense and security of tomorrow.

**Activating two Integrated Mission Deltas**

On 12 October, we established IMDs for the Electromagnetic Warfare and the Positioning, Navigation, and Timing mission areas.  Our very own Space Operations Command Guardians and Airmen are revolutionizing how our Service enhances our readiness for a future fight!  What does this mean exactly?  Until recently, space, cyber, and intelligence operators were situated within the purview of Space Operations Command, while sustainers, engineers, and program managers primarily operated under Space Systems Command.  This division created seams between operators, developers, and sustainers making the generation of readiness harder, and lacking a single commander responsible for these vital functions.  However, with the standup of the IMDs, we now have a new way of generating combat-ready forces for the Joint Force while reducing seams and improving accountability and responsibility.  Now, it's our responsibility to seize this opportunity for greater collaboration and synergy.

**Inter-Service Transfers**

Since last year our command has on-boarded  over 600 Guardians who began their careers in Services other than the Air Force.  As one might expect, this transition presents its unique set of challenges.  Fortunately, I have had the privilege of witnessing a highly motivated group of Guardians dedicated to facilitating this transition – they are known as the One Guardian Team.  For those of you who may not be familiar with the One Guardian Team, let me take a moment to explain their admirable mission.  The One Guardian Team, previously known as the IST Tiger Team, is charged with helping to identify and reduce barriers for non-AF ISTs, or AF ISTs with limited space background, to fully integrate and succeed as Guardians.  This team leverages best practices from other Services and backgrounds.  If you find yourself fitting this description, I wholeheartedly encourage you to consider becoming a part of this team. Your participation can play a significant role in shaping and nurturing the distinctive Guardian culture, ensuring that our new colleagues fully integrate and thrive in their new roles.

**Our Airmen integrating into the mission**

Our Space Base Deltas are our power projection platforms. Much like the Air Force's reliance on JP-8 to fuel our nation's warfighting aircraft, we depend equally on the invaluable support and contributions of our dedicated Airmen within our SBDs, powering our base’s infrastructure and caring for our Guardians.  Currently, there are no support career fields in the Space Force.  Therefore, we rely on our Air Force Airmen to enable our operations through admin, medical, civil engineering, legal, logistics, and security forces to name a few.  These critical enabling functions ensure our no-fail missions are always ready and our Guardians are focused on their assigned missions. Continuing to develop this vital integration is a top priority and I look forward to continued engagements on this front.

As we move forward, I will continue to share more stories and successes of our collective mission. We often get so mired in our day-to-day efforts, that we forget to take step back and appreciate the progress that we’ve made. While we still have much to accomplish, I am incredibly proud of how far we’ve come in just a few short years, and I am confident that we will continue to make rapid progress in all areas, ensuring we do not cede any ground to our adversaries.

Thank you for volunteering to wear our nation’s cloth and for serving during a time of Great Power Competition. Please continue to look out for each other, as it can’t be overstated that our greatest advantage over any foe is our people, and we need each one of you at your best.

I'm excited about the incredible journey that lies ahead. Until our paths cross again, keep delivering that combat power!

Via Vincimus!

- Chief Lloyd
 

 

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