U.S. Space Force leaders mentor newest Guardians

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Seraiah Wolf
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs

U.S. Space Force leadership mentored Guardians stationed here, through a video call April 5.

Both enlisted and officers, students and instructors were able to receive mentorship from Maj. Gen. Leah Lauderback, director of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, U.S. Space Force, and Chief Master Sgt. Roger Towberman, Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force.

“It is hard to express how it feels being a part of something new and unique like this,” said Tech Sgt. Josef Haltom, 315th Training Squadron instructor. “I feel incredibly honored and a little baffled to have been one of the eleven in my former Air Force Specialty Code selected.”

Despite being located at the Pentagon, Lauderback and Towberman were able to answer questions and welcome the Guardians to the newest branch of the military.

“This was a great experience that I truly appreciated,” said 2nd Lt. Shawn Grinnell, 315th TRS student. “I hope to meet Maj. Gen. Lauderback and Chief Towberman in person in the future, but the virtual audience with them was a great alternative.”

Having just been established in December of 2019, the Space Force is the newest branch of the Armed Services.

“It is important to remember that each and every Guardian is on the ground floor of this service,” said Maj. Jacqueline Hull, 315th TRS instructor. “The Space Force is intentionally lean and agile, and you really get the sense of how impactful each individual can be.”

Both Lauderback and Towberman attended ISR training at Goodfellow when first starting their careers.

Goodfellow began training intelligence professionals in 1958. The base expanded that mission to include its sister services in 1966. Goodfellow continues that tradition to this day with the addition of the Space Force. Fifty-five years later, Goodfellow provides training to all 6 branches of the military.

“We’re charged to instill the warfighting ethos as it applies to space as a warfighting domain,” said Hull. “For ISR professionals, that starts at Goodfellow.”