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Key AF leaders address newest AFDW chiefs, selects

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Tammie Moore
  • Air Force District of Washington Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  The newest chief master sergeant selects and promotees from across the Air Force District of Washington attended the command's Chief Orientation Seminar at Joint Base Andrews, Md., March 2-6.

Key Air Force leaders including Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Cody and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Larry Spencer addressed the group reminding them of the increased responsibility they now have for their Airmen and the force.

"Realize you no longer have a first name," Cody said. "You are going to be standing in a room and somebody is going to say chief and all of you are going to turn around and look. They are going to say chief and you are going to answer. That is how they look at you now. They are going to expect you to lead the way, to take charge. They see everything you do and everywhere you are. They are paying attention."

Spencer addressed the future of the force, the Every Dollar Counts initiative, and leading the next generation of Airmen with the group. 

"Leadership is what you do, you are past the point of being the technician," he said. "You are clearly a leader now. The issue (you will face) is how do we get folks to follow us and do the things we need them to do? How do we lead and influence people? How do we get people to follow us?"

The course ended with a banquet honoring the new selects and promotees at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, D.C. The event's guest speaker was James A. Roy the 16th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. While in that role Roy's four focus areas included ensuring Airmen were ready for joint and coalition operations; deliberately developing Airmen through education, training and experience; and building a culture of resiliency within Airmen and their families.

"Be humble about the position you are about to step into," he said. "It is a very serious position and we are going to ask an awful lot of you."

Speaking from his experience as one of the former chief master sergeants of the Air Force, Roy told the newest chief master sergeant selects and promotees they must be bold leaders.

"It is about bold leadership," he said. "It is about standing up for what is right when it is not the most popular thing to do. It is about being out front face to face with those Airmen that you lead, and you can't do it from your desk."