Late For Changeover

S4E05 Air Force SMSgt (Ret) Juan Lopez

Joining me today is Air Force SMSgt (Ret) Juan Lopez.  Juan grew up in California both in Los Angeles and later Vacaville.  He attended Vacaville High School and graduated in 1999.  He joined the Air Force in 2000 and went to Basic Training in 2001.  His AFSC was 1C6 and he attended tech school at Vandenberg AFB, CA.  Juan’s first assignment was to 11 SWS (ALERT) at Schriever AFB, CO.  In 2002, he was reassigned to 2 SWS at Buckley AFB, CO.  After that tour, his next assignment was to work HEO with 460th Det 1 back at Schriever AFB in 2006.  Three years later, Juan was chosen to be an instructor with the 533rd Training Squadron back at Vandenberg AFB.  In 2013 he was assigned to 13 SWS at Clear AFB, AK for a one year remote tour.  He was then assigned back to Buckley with the 2 SWS to work the SBIRS Block 10 program.  In 2017, he was promoted to MSgt and then converted to the Reserves through Palace Front.  He was assigned to 4 SWS at Buckley as an Active Guard/Reservist.  Later, he was moved to the 710th Operations Group and was promoted to SMSgt in 2019.  Juan retired on 1 Nov 2021.

Marines at Mar-A-Lago and $1.5 Trillion Later… (Apr 17 24)

This week on Late For Changeover, we unpack inflatable space stations (yes, that’s a thing now), which means Max Space is officially trying to turn low-Earth orbit into a high-end bounce house. If you came for the best space podcasts weirdness, congrats—you found it. Meanwhile, back on the ground, Arlington’s iconic horse-drawn caissons are delayed, probably because fixing dignity with bureaucracy is harder than launching a SpaceX rocket on time.

The F-35 program is bleeding money like it’s trying to win a Pentagon-themed game of Monopoly—now projected to cost over $1.5 trillion (with a “T”). Beards are making a comeback thanks to a medical waiver boom in the Air Force and Space Force, so somewhere out there, a bearded Guardian is silently fist-pumping. We also ask the burning question: what exactly were the Marines doing at Mar-A-Lago? Plus, we mark the 82nd anniversary of the Doolittle Raid, a gutsy reminder that throwing punches from the sky is an American tradition. As always, it’s your no-holds-barred space force podcast for vets, weirdos, and the tactically curious.

To support Mrs. Texas, Krendra Harralson, and the incredible work of Love Without Boundaries, visit: lovewithoutboundaries.com

S4E04 Army SFC (Ret) Krendra Harralson

Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Army SFC (Ret) Krendra Harralson.  Krendra grew up in Tacoma, WA and attended Lincoln High School.  As a Sophomore, she joined the school’s JROTC program.  During her Junior year, she signed a contract with the WA National Guard at 17, and attended Army Basic Training at Ft. Jackson, SC during the summer before her Senior year in High School.  After graduating in 1998, she completed her AIT at Ft. Sam Houston, TX as a 92B Medic.
Her first assignment was with the WA NG Aviation unit as a Traditional Guardsman until Aug 2000.  Then she enlisted in the Active Duty Army and was assigned to Wiesbaden, Germany with the 557th Ground Ambulance Company in 2003.  Her next assignment was to the 4th Engineer Battalion at Ft. Carson, CO.  In 2009 her unit was deployed to Taji, Iraq.  During that deployment, her unit was relocated to Kandahar, Afghanistan where she was battlefield promoted to SSG in 2010.  A year later, SSG Harralson was assigned to the 555th Engineer Brigade at Ft. lewis, WA.  Her last assignment was to Ft. Sam Houston, TX in 2016 and she retired in 2018.
After retiring, Krendra competed in the Ms. Veteran America through the non-profit Final Salute Inc.  Later, she received the appointed title of Mrs. Texas 2024 and will be competing for Mrs. USA at Omaha, NE in Aug 2024.  To find out more about Krendra’s journey and how you can help, please visit the links below:

Final Salute Inc.  https://www.finalsaluteinc.org/Home.html
Love Without Boundaries. https://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093336497504
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/krendra_harralson/

S4E03 Army SFC (Ret) Keith Francis

The Veterans of Foreign Wars organization is an unrivaled source of past and living  military history.  I had the honor of visiting VFW Post 101 in Colorado Springs, CO, where I met Army SFC (Ret) Keith Francis.  Keith grew up in Alexandria, LA.  In 1974, he attended Grambling State University.  After getting a little burned out on school, he talked to an Army recruiter and swore in at the Shreveport, LA MEPS in 1976.  He attended Basic at Ft. Jackson, SC and was branched into the Air Defense.  After completing AIT at Ft. Bliss, TX he was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division at Giebelstadt, Germany.
His following assignments included the 7ID at Ft. Ord, CA, the 2ID at Uijeongbu, South Korea, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Ft. Campbell, KY, the 25th ID at Schofield Barracks, HI, and the 4ID at Ft. Carson, CO.  Keith retired from active duty in 1996.

Lee Surrenders, Navy Fires, and Bidding Wars Begin (Apr 10 24)

This week on Late For Changeover, NASA taps three companies to design lunar rovers for the Artemis program—because apparently, moon golf carts are the next frontier. If you're into space podcasts that mix interplanetary ambition with snark, we’ve got you covered. Meanwhile, the Air Force wants to hit "skip intro" on seven state governors to shuttle Guard units into the Space Force, which sounds exactly like the plot of a low-budget military satire (but it’s real).

Over in the Navy, the only South American command just got ghosted by its own leadership, and we revisit the OG surrender of General Lee to General Grant—because if you’re gonna talk about losing, at least let it be historical. To top it off, we throw down in our highly scientific “military movie props auction” game, where patriotic memorabilia meets unhinged bidding strategies. It’s News for Vets, orbiting space nerds, and war movie addicts—all in one glorious, sarcastic package.

Woodrow Declares War, VA Declares Confusion (Apr 2 24)

This week, former Air Force Senior Airman Josh Rzepecki drops by to talk orbital logistics, military housing madness, and the VA’s latest orthopedic oopsies. We’re diving into Northrop Grumman’s shiny new orbital refueling port (space gas station, anyone?), plus how on-orbit service satellites and space junk removal are shaping the future of space traffic control—because even space podcasts have to talk trash sometimes.

Back on Earth, we unpack why military families at Edwards AFB are living in RVs like it's the 1970s again, and how Sailors are officially allowed to set up camp in RV parks full-time. Meanwhile, the VA can't seem to keep track of hip replacements, which feels about right. We also rewind to 1917, when Woodrow Wilson declared war on Germany and accidentally started the first group text nobody could leave. It’s all here—your favorite space force podcast for veterans, orbital mechanics, and pure enlisted energy.

S4E02 Air Force (Ret) Ana Mondragon

Today I speak with Air Force Retired Major Ana Mondragon.  
Maj Mondragon grew up in San Angelo, TX, and attended San Angelo Central High School where she graduated in 1995.  She joined the Air Force in August 1995 under an Open Administration contract.  Upon completing basic training, she attended tech school at Kessler AFB in Biloxi, MS.  Her first assignment was to Reese AFB, in Lubbock, TX.  
In 1997, she was assigned to a Joint Support Squadron at Stuttgart, Germany.  She came back to the States in 2000 when she was assigned to the 55th Space Weather Squadron at Falcon AFB, CO.  As a SrA, she left active duty and joined the AF Reserves.  Shortly thereafter she transitioned to the Air Reserve Technician program as a GS 7 with the 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson AFB, CO.  
After being promoted to Master Sergeant, she was hired in 2006 as an AGR in the 310th Space Wing with the 19th Space Operations Squadron.  She was later selected to the Deserving Airman Commissioning Program and was commissioned in 2010.  In 2017 she took a position with the 8th Space Warning Squadron at Buckley AFB, CO.  In 2020, she was hired into the 42nd Combat Training Squadron and was promoted to Major.  Maj Mondragon retired in 2024.

General Petty’s War Stories & Tactical Brain Dumps (Mar 27 24)

This week, we’re joined by Brigadier General (Ret.) Chris Petty—Army Aviator, NATO Commander, National Guard lifer, and a man who’s probably forgotten more about warfare than most of us ever learned. From flying over Iraq to commanding in Bosnia, Gen. Petty brings decades of insight, dark humor, and a tactical brain that could outmaneuver a GPS. We also dig into his site BattleDigest.com and his book “12 Battles Every American Should Know,” because knowing your history should involve more cannons and fewer textbooks.

Then we go bayonet-deep into the Battle of Shiloh, a Civil War meat grinder that makes modern warfare look like laser tag. This episode’s light on space podcasts talk but heavy on News for Vets, battlefield insights, and military grit. So whether you're here for a space force podcast or just like your war stories with a side of sarcasm, you're in the right AO.

Marching, Launching, and... Pooping on Beaches? (Mar 20 24)

This week, we raise a Guinness to the ‘Fighting 69th,’ who just marched down NYC for the 173rd year in a row because apparently, they don’t believe in sitting St. Patrick’s Day out. Meanwhile, SpaceX news hits hard with Starship’s third test flight—spoiler: it actually lifted off this time, proving Elon’s big rocket isn’t just for show.

But it’s not all parades and payloads. A new Blue Star Families survey shows a lot of folks are rethinking the military life—because deployments, PCS roulette, and TRICARE headaches don’t exactly scream “five-star Yelp review.” Oh, and California beach camping? Now banned overnight thanks to an excess of... human waste. Yes, really. It’s another day in the life of your favorite off-duty space force podcast, where we break down News for Vets, moonshots, and military absurdity with a wink and a war cry.

Talon Takes Flight, and a D-Day “I Do” (Mar 13 24)

This week on Late For Changeover, we’re flying high and digging deep—literally and figuratively. We break down the ORBITS Act (yes, Congress finally remembered space exists), and Stratolaunch’s hypersonic Talon does its first powered flight. It’s a big flex in the space flight podcast world and a reminder that Mach-whatever is back on the menu. So if you like your space podcasts with a side of supersonic chaos, pull up a seat.

Meanwhile, over in the real world, 1,000 U.S. troops are setting up shop off Gaza for temporary port ops, proving once again we can deploy a floating logistics hub faster than the DMV can schedule an appointment. Also: a WWII vet is tying the knot on the beaches of Normandy like it’s 1944 and love just landed on Omaha. We wrap by saluting the day George Patton leveled up to Lieutenant General in 1943—because no one ever accused that guy of subtlety. It’s News for Vets, hypersonic nerds, and anyone who thinks logistics is sexy.