One Guardian: From green to black

Space Force Major Lee Schroeder wasn’t always into Space. He started his military career as a 94E, that’s Army for Radio Equipment Repairer. Like many young enlistees, Schroeder’s desire for adventure and a long family history of military service inspired him to enlist in the Army in 2003 foregoing the typical college grind.?

The last twenty years haven’t been a disappointment.?

Between assignments and deployments, moving from the Army to the Space Force, Schroeder’s military service has taken him across the globe and back again.?

During his first deployment to Iraq, Schroeder was inspired to pursue a commission after seeing in action what good leadership could look like. Upon returning from 16-months downrange, feeling empowered, he applied for Officer Candidate school in 2007 and earned his commission in 2009.?

Schroeder’s foray into space began in 2014 when his application to cross train as an Army Space Operations Officer was accepted and he transferred to what was then Peterson Air Force Base.??Schroeder served his first assignment as a space officer as a commercial imagery team leader. Two years later, he was selected for command of Joint Tactical Ground Station-Japan.?

If Schroeder has learned anything over the course of his career, it’s the value of mentorship. The ability to assess one’s experiences and learn from not only the triumph of success but through the humility of failure is vital to evolving as a leader, as a follower and as a teammate – all are roles service members are charged with.?

It was his mentors who encouraged Schroeder to transfer to the Air Force to be a part of the Space Team. However, his newly formed plans changed with the establishment of the Space Force – a new military branch of service dedicated to the “world’s new war-fighting domain.”

After a nearly three-year delay, Schroeder officially made the transfer from green to black in summer 2022. He hasn’t looked back since.?

?Schroeder is proud to be part of the first wave of Guardians shaping the United States’ newest military service and he is grateful for what the Army gave him.?

“The Army and my mentors in the Army, gave me the skills I needed and prepared me to help usher in the warfighting mindset the Space Force is embracing,” said Schroeder. “I am a coach, a teacher, and a mentor. These are all things I learned from my NCOs, peers, subordinates, and leaders alike. The Army gave me individual skills and a tool kit I will rely on as the Space Force grows and its own unique culture begins to emerge”.?

As a Guardian, Schroeder sprinted off the blocks. No stranger to taking charge in the absence of orders, he quickly found himself leading one of the Deputy Commanding Generals– Operations’ Mission Area Teams. As he puts it, “he was running with scissors” and relying on his teammates. Exercising initiative and building an unstoppable band of experts led Schroeder and his team to being recognized as HQ SpOC’s Team of the Year in 2022.?

Right now, that’s what the Space Force is: rapidly evolving to meet an equally dynamic demand signal and excelling at it. For Schroeder, this is part of the allure of being a member of such a new and unique service.?

“We are focused on a domain which is still being developed at a rapid pace. If we were unable to execute our mission, there would be global wide-reaching effects,” Schroeder said. “Not only do we need to have mastery over our own capabilities from cradle to grave. We need to understand how they complete the full spectrum and range of a much larger arsenal of skills. At the same time, we must be our own advocates. We are a lean force but are expected to carry the weight?similar to?the other services and organizations we support. It’s a charge I am prepared for. Nearly 20 years in the Army and a handful of great mentors made sure of it.”