Space Systems Command Speaks Out On #WhyIServe Day Published Sept. 5, 2024 By Linda Kane, SSC Public Affairs El Segundo, CA -- What’s your why? This was the simple ask from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in commemoration of #WhyIServeDay on August 21, 2024. Austin encouraged service members from all branches to articulate why they choose to serve in our nation’s military and share their reasons on social media. Space Systems Command (SSC) answered the call-in droves with a range of reasons that generated a fountain of pride and waves of inspiration among friends, families and communities. Why people serve is an enduring reason that spans careers and, often, generations. SSC fully supported Secretary Austin’s ask to share enduring passions and inspirations from the command’s workforce — to enable their voices to be heard. The value was especially important for the Space Force. Being just five years since stand-up, many still don’t understand the branch’s role and why the Space Force is necessary. The U.S. has been served by an all-volunteer military for more than 50 years. Today, some 1.5 million Americans serve. “That may sound like a lot, but compared to the total U.S. population, we make up less than .5 percent of the total population,” noted U.S. Air Force Capt, Brittany Curry, director of operations for SSC Public Affairs. “The team across SSC extends beyond the uniform with many teammates that serve in civilian capacities, many of whom have a history of service themselves or were a part of a military family.” The Space Force is the nation’s newest military branch, charged with securing our nation’s interests to, from and in space. With 8,000 active-duty service members and as many civilian members, it is also the nation’s smallest. “Unless you live near a base, there’s little opportunity for the general public to interact with service members in a personal way,” observed Curry. “But through social media campaigns like #WhyIServe, we can overcome that divide with personal stories showing the people behind our newest branch of service.” SSC personnel who participated in #WhyIServe served up an array of reasons, from patriotic to personal; from a passion for space to a passion for peace; to honor country, family and heritage; to preserve freedom and democracy; and more. We invite you to scroll through their words for up close and personal views from across the Command. I serve because the freedoms we enjoy are worth protecting. The privilege to have never practiced a bomb drill in school is the direct result of the tireless work of many great Americans before me. I serve to ensure the same level of security for my children. – Capt Brian Huntley I serve because I can give back to this incredible country which has given my family and me so much. – Col Joseph Tringe I serve because I believe in this country and our democratic experiment. I believe in the goodness of our ideals, and I see in my many assignments abroad just how many people would love to be Americans--We must be doing something right! – Thomas Keith I serve to make a difference for all of our warfighters. – Tan Nguyen I serve to honor my Father, who died in uniform; to honor my Mother, who supported me through every decision throughout my career; to honor my Ancestors who helped build this country; and, to maintain the freedoms enjoyed by my Family and community! – Dr. Edward Wilson I serve to protect my family, friends, and community by enabling the U.S. to provide stability for our Allies and deterrence against our adversaries. – Col Barnas I serve to contribute to our nation’s defense and success. As a child of immigrants from a third world country, I appreciate the opportunities the U.S. has given to me and my family. Service is a way for me to give back. – Alfred Fordan I serve because I am proud of all the great work the U.S. Military does around the world. – Will Burk I serve because, in the commercial/industrial world, my job is to make somebody else rich, but when I work for the Federal Government, I do not worry about making money for somebody else, I work only to serve my fellow citizens. - Tim Cassidy-Curtis I serve to build a more perfect Union. – James Haggerty Being a first-generation American with a family who escaped the horrors of communism in Hungary, I profoundly appreciate freedom and seek to serve in the military like my mother and Austro-Hungarian forebears. Guided by my grandparents' resilience when they arrived as refugees, I strive to repay my nation and honor my family through military service. – 2nd Lt Adam Baker I serve because the United States military is an unparalleled force for good in the world, and I want to be a part of that. – Maj Seth Martin I serve because I want to help preserve the freedoms we are privileged to enjoy in the U.S. for my children, grandchildren and their children, and to help support our allies/partners globally. – Deidra Eberhardt I serve because space offers a unique opportunity to achieve meaningful results for our nation and allies. –Leonard Bradley I serve for the greater good of like-minded nations who want to assure access to space for the greater good of humanity! We are stronger together! #Partner To Win! – Deanna Ryals I serve as my family’s representative to our nation, the military has done so much for my family! – Capt Andrew Nelson I joined for the adventure. I track current events on a daily basis and I find it fascinating how different parts of the world interact. – Capt Henry Cho “I serve to be part of a team whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts” - Aristotle” – Larry Brenden I serve to protect our nation’s interests and to honor the enduring legacy of our forebears. – Eric Catlett I serve to serve my teammates and strive for world class human capital management across Space Systems Command! –Ralph “ET” Taylor Because I love our country and all for which it stands! – Dawn Miller I serve because I want to make a difference and continue my family legacy. The people and things that I see on a daily basis push me to continue to go above and beyond in my daily job and outside of my job as well. – SrA Megan Sheilds I serve to give back to a country that provides freedom and opportunity to all its citizens. – Capt Saul Rappeport I serve as a long family tradition and to do my part to help ensure our country is always a light in the world of darkness. – Robert Tulley I serve as a civilian because of my love for this country. Working with my team is just icing on the cake! – Leah Zvorak I serve in the USSF to protect and defend our Nation. I feel like our collective contributions to critical space operations will shape the future of the joint force and ensure space superiority on day one. #Victory – Col Dorian Hatcher I serve now as a civilian Guardian and did serve as an active duty enlisted Marine forward observer, for one simple reason: to make mom proud. She’s always embodied self-sacrifice and perseverance, so it’s been a fitting life path. Love you, mom. – Edgar Nava May there be a day that Americans look up at the sky and never again have to fear terror from above. – Gerard Reyes I serve for my children, and for all children, to secure their future, provide stability, and give them opportunities for prosperity and happiness. I serve to model the character traits of true leadership, compassion, and the importance of placing worthy causes above our own self. – Col Brian Mihalko Being raised at Vandenberg as a military child I developed passions for Space and National Defense. I serve to fulfill those passions. – Jesse Washburn As an immigrant, I served to show my gratitude for the freedom and opportunities this nation and its citizens bestowed upon me. – Alula Berhane To ensure the U.S. and ALLIED warfighter on the front line can SUCCESSFULLY execute their mission and come home, alive, and in one piece. – Mark Honda I believe Sir Thomas Paine said it best…”I prefer peace, but if trouble must come, let it come in my time so that my children can live in peace” This is why I serve. – Maj Jose Paz I serve because I was a senior in high school during the 9/11 terror attacks without a solid career path. I decided to follow my passion of aerospace an enjoy helping others follow their dreams while protecting and serving our amazing country. – Lt Col Eric Basset I serve because I want to keep my country safe! It feels good to be able to contribute. – Rebecca Wahlronzan To protect freedom and democracy, which are the foundation of innovation and prosperity. – Sondra Quach I serve to support the many Americans around the world that have deployed to protect freedom. Those warfighters depend on Space and we need to give them the best Space capabilities possible. – Jan Voss In my 20’s I served because I wanted the training and the fellowship of the team. In my 30’s I served because I was beginning to understand the mission and for the Security that it brought not just to myself but to the Nation. In my 40’s I changed my focus and served my community and the young. In my 50’s I again served because there was an important mission that needed doing. In my 60’s I serve because I can help the young see where our Nation is being drawn and to guide events toward a tenable trajectory. In my life I serve because not everyone can, and it is the right thing to do. Life is not always about me and mine. I make small sacrifices so that fewer must make the great sacrifice. – Christopher Silvera I volunteered to serve the United States in order to pay my debt, in part, to those Americans who served before me, and to maintain the gift I was given as an American for those to come. – Brad Smith To paraphrase Gen. Douglas MacArthur: No one is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless they are vigilant in preserving that freedom. I am truly grateful for the freedoms in our country, and was honored to do my part in the military to help preserve them. – Laura Pope I serve because I love our incredible country, the freedoms we enjoy, and feel the call to protect and preserve it for our children and all those that aspire to join us in this wonderful experiment. – Col James Horne I serve to honor the principles upon which these United States of America were built and to help preserve our freedoms in any way I can; Live Free or Die. – Erica Ochoa I serve in order to give back to this great nation and the people in it who have done so much for me. – Maj Drew Donlin I serve because I love wearing the uniform and leading an amazing group of medics and being part of a bigger mission. I also love the camaraderie of the USAF and USSF! – Col Vina Howarth I serve because I want to carry the family legacy of serving the military. Moreover, I want to be a pioneer in USSF history with work SSC is doing. – Lt Col Donald Johnson I serve because I strive to honor the traditions and values of those who came before—continuing their legacy by advancing the mission of the Department of Defense. My service is driven by overwhelming desires to influence positive change and contributions in defense of this great Nation! – Dan Carino I serve to give back to America and its ideals for providing my immigrant family the ‘American Dream’. – Chris Chang I serve because it’s imperative that we preserve our freedoms that so many before us served and lost their lives to protect. – Laura Shindlebower I served 23 years in the Army, and serve in my 23rd year as a space defense contractor because our National Security and National Sovereignty are guaranteed by Service. It's not someone else's job, it's everyone's job. Service is the difference between democracy and freedom, and tyranny and chaos. – Bryan Boyce I serve because my Grandfather, a Navy Vet during WWII, always told me the best way to thank a Veteran was to become a Veteran! - SMSgt Leslie Gornier I serve to fight for FREEDOM and our American way of life! – Lt Col Julius Puentes As a third-generation Air Force member, I am deeply rooted in a tradition of service and dedicated to carrying on my family's legacy, preserving the ideals and values that make my country great. – Capt Kendra Kirkland I serve to deliver critical space capabilities – with accountability and efficient use of American tax dollars. – Col Gina Peterson As cheesy as it may seem, my entire family is full of military and first responders from law enforcement to medical responders. I never got to serve my country as much as I wanted to for multiple reasons. That said, I am very proud to serve as a civilian because it’s the closest I can get to serving my country and make my family proud. It is truly an honor for me and not just another job. – Steven Lanning Because if not me, then who? – Capt Karl Zaleski