Space Education and Strategic Applications Journal • Vol . 2 , No . 1 • Fall 2020 / Winter 2021
Figure 1 . Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M . Barrett conducts her first Air Force TV interview with Airmen at the Pentagon , Arlington , VA on October 24 , 2019 . ( U . S . Air Force photo by Wayne Clark )
Despite Secretary Barrett ’ s recent resignation ( which preceded President Joe Biden ’ s inauguration ), the 25
th U . S . Air Force secretary ( and fourth female secretary ), was a much-anticipated keynote speaker at October ’ s inaugural
Space Education and Strategic Applications ( SESA ) conference . As a SESA conference organizer and editor-in-chief for the associated SESA journal , preparing for Mrs . Barrett ’ s keynote was nothing short of surreal . I was tasked to organize the date , time , duration of the keynote , and to develop 5 interview questions ( which , I readily admit , went through roughly 5 iterations ). Prior to drafting the questions , I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to communicate with and organize our virtual conference logistics with her Public Affairs Advisor and Director of Engagements ... from the Pentagon ... vis-à-vis emails and phone calls .
7 doi : 10.18278 / sesa . 2.1.2