Why was Hayden in uniform for the AQ threat speech?

[spotbird]

NEW YORK -- In a rare public address CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden warned of new attacks by al-Qaida:


"Our analysts assess with high confidence that al-Qaida's central leadership is planning high-impact plots against the U.S. homeland."


Hayden's unusual public address was made at his request at the Council of Foreign Relations.


The newly minted CIA chief also took the unusual step of making his appearance in military uniform, though as CIA director he is not on active military assignment.

The text is from Newsmax, but that Hayden was in uniform is likely true anyway. It strikes me as so strange, what is the message?