Ah, you've had to brief generals, too!
My team is preparing a briefing for a senior Air Force general, tenatively scheduled for some time this month. As the junior officer's saying goes, "Rank times IQ equals a constant."
When preparing a briefing for company grade officers (O-1 to O-3), you go into great technical depth but typically of narrow width.
When preparing a briefing for field grade officers (O-4 to O-6), you go into less detail but greater width.
When preparing a briefing for flag grade officers (generals and admirals), you go into very little detail but very great width.
Yesterday, when we got together to plan the briefing, we started out with "Space is big and dark and cold." That was the right technical detail for a general.
You think I'm kidding?