Those “retired generals” are expecting a big payday when they move over to the “private sector.”
From mid-82 through 83, I worked at what was then known as the Air Defense Board. One thing I recall are the pictures of previous CO's at the Board. Upon retirement, the previous 6 "Presidents of the Board" landed jobs at Raytheon.
They'd all come out to "monitor" current testing activities, it was more like a HS reunion.
I enjoyed my time there, in the first job where I had implied power from day one. I was assigned as the Operations Officer by the current President. He was my Battalion Commander my last two years in Germany, I was primarily his S-4. It didn't take long for me to prove my competence to the personnel working there.
More importantly, I met my future bride when she started working in my section.
Drone warfare is the next level of combat, it's amazing to me that the Pentagon hasn't figured that out yet.