AFRL civilians gather to swear an oath of office as they transfer to the U.S. Space Force in a ceremony Nov. 10 at Kirtland AFB include Melody Martinez, left, Rachel Delaney, center, and Kyle Gleichmann, right, colleagues in the lab’s Space Solar Power Incremental Demonstrations and Research project. Courtesy/AFRL
AFRL civilians gather Nov. 10 to swear an oath of office as they transfer to the U.S. Space Force in a ceremony at Kirtland AFB including front row from left, Robbie Robertson, Barry Bunn, Quentin Dierks and Gary Ober. Courtesy/AFRL
AFRL News:
KIRTLAND AFB — Dozens of civil servants at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate, raised their hand and pledged the oath of office, to transfer under the U.S. Space Force, at a ceremony held Nov. 10 at Kirtland Air Force Base.
Col. Eric Felt, Director of the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate, presided over the ceremony, and asked participants to raise their right hand as he led the ceremonial oath of office, something he did for many active duty officers in February 2019.
“Today is an exciting day,” said Felt as he prepared to lead the oath. “You are the first group of civil servants to serve as Guardians, and I know you will continue to lead as we discover, develop and deliver cutting-edge technologies to our air and space forces.”
Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle, commander of the research laboratory, delivered virtual remarks to 577 civilians across the AFRL enterprise.
“The AFRL vision of ‘One Lab-Two Services’ is so important to our success, and I know you will continue to build synergy across the Air Force and Space Force in our science and technology investments,” Pringle said. “I appreciate everything you do, every day…keep up the great work!”
As the large group stood together, a sense of excitement was in the air, as senior civilians, and their more junior colleagues reaffirmed their commitment to our national defense.
In the group, Kyle Gleichmann, stood next to his colleagues from the Space Solar Power Incremental Demonstration and Research project, and rose his hand.
“I feel extremely honored to be able to reaffirm my oath of office and swear into the Space Force,” Gleichmann said. “I never thought during the course of my career that I would have the opportunity to be part of a new military service, especially since 1947 is the last time it happened with the creation of the Air Force.”
Being on the ground floor of a new service was especially poignant to Gleichmann.
“I look forward to the challenges and opportunities being a member of the Space Force entails and being able to contribute to the early chapters of its history,” he said. “When I retire, I will proudly tell my grandchildren, ‘I was there when it started’.”
Although the official personnel designation and affiliation have changed, the new “Guardians” will remain at AFRL at Kirtland AFB, continuing their research and development mission, and delivering state-of-the-art capabilities to U.S. warfighters – a critical component of operating as One Lab for Two Services.