1 00:00:01,140 --> 00:00:03,580 greetings , wolfpack Phil Hudson here 2 00:00:03,590 --> 00:00:05,646 coming to you from Osan Air Base and 3 00:00:05,646 --> 00:00:07,701 the offices of the command chief , I 4 00:00:07,701 --> 00:00:09,812 want to say congratulations to all of 5 00:00:09,812 --> 00:00:12,360 you . You got here , you're in the top 6 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:14,470 one of our enlisted for us , huge 7 00:00:14,470 --> 00:00:16,930 accomplishment and tonight it's about 8 00:00:16,930 --> 00:00:19,360 you . I wish I could be there with you 9 00:00:19,740 --> 00:00:21,560 but Covid keeps giving back 10 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:23,860 unfortunately as we have to push out 11 00:00:23,860 --> 00:00:27,070 here very soon for hawaii uh so I had 12 00:00:27,070 --> 00:00:29,292 to get up to Seoul to take care of some 13 00:00:29,292 --> 00:00:31,126 some pre departure measures so I 14 00:00:31,126 --> 00:00:33,348 couldn't be there with you tonight . So 15 00:00:33,348 --> 00:00:35,348 I hope to see you very soon upon my 16 00:00:35,348 --> 00:00:37,403 return . But tonight once again it's 17 00:00:37,403 --> 00:00:39,570 all about you . So let me just talk to 18 00:00:39,570 --> 00:00:41,626 you a couple of minutes about what's 19 00:00:41,626 --> 00:00:41,260 going on here and I know it's very 20 00:00:41,260 --> 00:00:43,670 exciting but I want you to know that 21 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:45,736 you've got to earn this stripe every 22 00:00:45,736 --> 00:00:48,150 day and I know right now you think what 23 00:00:48,150 --> 00:00:50,372 does that mean ? Right now you have the 24 00:00:50,372 --> 00:00:52,539 passion is really pushing you you know 25 00:00:52,539 --> 00:00:54,706 you're really motivated and I get it's 26 00:00:54,706 --> 00:00:56,650 like almost like coming in the air 27 00:00:56,650 --> 00:00:58,428 Force for the first time you've 28 00:00:58,428 --> 00:01:00,428 achieved the top level but enlisted 29 00:01:00,428 --> 00:01:02,483 ranks and that passion will push you 30 00:01:02,483 --> 00:01:04,539 for a little while but I'll tell you 31 00:01:04,539 --> 00:01:04,310 what folks are gonna start coming to 32 00:01:04,310 --> 00:01:06,930 you and the burden will be great . What 33 00:01:06,930 --> 00:01:09,097 I want you to do is begin to take care 34 00:01:09,097 --> 00:01:11,041 of yourself , focus on things that 35 00:01:11,041 --> 00:01:13,960 matter . Most continue to read stay up 36 00:01:13,960 --> 00:01:16,071 to date on the latest trends is going 37 00:01:16,071 --> 00:01:18,238 on in our Air Force and the department 38 00:01:18,238 --> 00:01:20,349 defense . But remember it's not about 39 00:01:20,349 --> 00:01:22,516 you anymore it's about the troops that 40 00:01:22,516 --> 00:01:24,516 you serve . I challenge you to read 41 00:01:24,516 --> 00:01:26,571 some books around servant leadership 42 00:01:26,571 --> 00:01:28,793 what it means to serve others . This is 43 00:01:28,793 --> 00:01:31,127 the source of being a sergeant in the U . 44 00:01:31,127 --> 00:01:33,238 S . Military and I think is the chief 45 00:01:33,238 --> 00:01:35,071 master sergeant . We should have 46 00:01:35,071 --> 00:01:36,904 mastered those levels of being a 47 00:01:36,904 --> 00:01:39,016 servant leader . So turn it every day 48 00:01:39,016 --> 00:01:41,238 every day you get up it's about earning 49 00:01:41,238 --> 00:01:43,404 that chief chevron based on the things 50 00:01:43,404 --> 00:01:45,571 that happened before you and the folks 51 00:01:45,571 --> 00:01:47,627 that are gonna come after you . So I 52 00:01:47,627 --> 00:01:49,738 was discussing here earlier before we 53 00:01:49,738 --> 00:01:51,849 kick this video of about a really old 54 00:01:51,849 --> 00:01:53,904 cartoon about Ralph Wolf and Sam Sam 55 00:01:53,904 --> 00:01:56,071 sheepdog . So if you haven't seen this 56 00:01:56,071 --> 00:01:58,293 is from the 1950s been replayed several 57 00:01:58,293 --> 00:02:00,293 generations even when I was a young 58 00:02:00,293 --> 00:02:02,550 person watching in the 70s . But these 59 00:02:02,550 --> 00:02:05,360 two cartoon figures really teach a lot 60 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:08,060 about lessons about passion versus 61 00:02:08,060 --> 00:02:11,160 emotion . So ralph Wolf goes to work 62 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:13,382 every day and tries to grab a sheep out 63 00:02:13,382 --> 00:02:15,549 of the flock . Obviously sam sheepdogs 64 00:02:15,549 --> 00:02:17,660 job is to keep the wolf from actually 65 00:02:17,660 --> 00:02:19,882 bringing a sheep home with him to eat . 66 00:02:19,882 --> 00:02:22,049 They go about their day , it's kind of 67 00:02:22,049 --> 00:02:24,216 comical at times , but there is a high 68 00:02:24,216 --> 00:02:26,540 level of competency between these two 69 00:02:26,540 --> 00:02:29,290 characters . Their passion is very high 70 00:02:29,290 --> 00:02:31,290 for what they do and they're really 71 00:02:31,290 --> 00:02:33,290 good at what they do in the end and 72 00:02:33,290 --> 00:02:35,568 I'll give this away as a spoiler alert . 73 00:02:35,568 --> 00:02:37,830 Sam sheepdog always wins out because 74 00:02:37,830 --> 00:02:39,941 Ralph wolf never gets to take a sheep 75 00:02:39,941 --> 00:02:42,163 home with him . However , at the end of 76 00:02:42,163 --> 00:02:44,386 the day , they go back to a tree that's 77 00:02:44,386 --> 00:02:46,240 designated on the side of it is 78 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:48,950 actually a timekeeper machine . They 79 00:02:48,950 --> 00:02:51,061 both clock out for the end of the day 80 00:02:51,061 --> 00:02:53,283 and they look at each other and they're 81 00:02:53,283 --> 00:02:53,110 like , hey , good to see you again , 82 00:02:53,110 --> 00:02:55,390 Ralph , and ralph responds with , great 83 00:02:55,390 --> 00:02:57,612 to see you again . Sam , they're like , 84 00:02:57,612 --> 00:02:59,834 see you in the morning , they're like , 85 00:02:59,834 --> 00:03:01,779 yep , same time , these two are co 86 00:03:01,779 --> 00:03:03,668 workers , their passions run high 87 00:03:03,668 --> 00:03:05,668 during the day , but they never let 88 00:03:05,668 --> 00:03:07,557 their raw emotions overtake their 89 00:03:07,557 --> 00:03:09,612 professionalism . So bring it strong 90 00:03:09,612 --> 00:03:11,723 everyday . New Chiefs , I want to see 91 00:03:11,723 --> 00:03:14,020 your passion , keep your emotions down . 92 00:03:14,150 --> 00:03:16,261 This isn't about you , it's about the 93 00:03:16,261 --> 00:03:18,483 folks , you serve , the leaders that we 94 00:03:18,483 --> 00:03:20,870 continue to operate with Celebrate 95 00:03:20,870 --> 00:03:23,490 tonight and congratulations again for 96 00:03:23,490 --> 00:03:27,430 achieving the top 1% . A wolf 97 00:03:27,430 --> 00:03:30,370 pack . Chief wolf coming at you from a 98 00:03:30,380 --> 00:03:33,080 pack of headquarters here in Hawaii . I 99 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:35,247 hate to have to follow my brother Phil 100 00:03:35,247 --> 00:03:37,920 Hudson . Great words , Phil , always 101 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:40,640 inspiring and always a good lesson to 102 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:43,470 take away . I am not the bad wolf in 103 00:03:43,470 --> 00:03:46,470 chief Hudson's story . Uh I hope to 104 00:03:46,470 --> 00:03:48,248 share with you just a couple of 105 00:03:48,248 --> 00:03:50,248 thoughts as you guys celebrate this 106 00:03:50,248 --> 00:03:52,470 great occasion on your selection to the 107 00:03:52,470 --> 00:03:54,692 rank of chief Master Sergeant . What an 108 00:03:54,692 --> 00:03:56,859 amazing accomplishment . You've worked 109 00:03:56,859 --> 00:03:59,760 very hard to get here . I understand as 110 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:03,200 well as chief Hudson about how hard it 111 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,330 is to make this happen and get to this 112 00:04:06,330 --> 00:04:09,910 point as you look back 113 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:12,810 on where you've come from , please 114 00:04:12,810 --> 00:04:15,710 concentrate on the future . This is now 115 00:04:15,710 --> 00:04:18,020 your Air Force . You're going to be the 116 00:04:18,020 --> 00:04:20,810 one that is making big decisions . 117 00:04:20,820 --> 00:04:22,764 You're gonna be leading . Our most 118 00:04:22,764 --> 00:04:24,960 important units are squadrons . You're 119 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:27,500 gonna be that person that our airmen 120 00:04:27,510 --> 00:04:30,020 leave and go home and they report to 121 00:04:30,020 --> 00:04:32,800 their spouse or or their significant 122 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,370 other or their friends . Hey the chief 123 00:04:35,370 --> 00:04:38,680 said this , you're that person . Now 124 00:04:39,030 --> 00:04:41,260 it's a huge responsibility but I know 125 00:04:41,260 --> 00:04:43,482 you can handle it . I know you're ready 126 00:04:43,482 --> 00:04:45,427 for it . Please make sure that you 127 00:04:45,427 --> 00:04:47,482 thank those family members and those 128 00:04:47,482 --> 00:04:49,538 mentors that helped you get to where 129 00:04:49,538 --> 00:04:51,704 you are . There are a huge part of all 130 00:04:51,704 --> 00:04:53,760 of our lives and I know that there's 131 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:55,930 people that definitely deserve your 132 00:04:55,930 --> 00:04:58,152 thanks for helping you get to where you 133 00:04:58,152 --> 00:05:00,208 are . I really wish I could be there 134 00:05:00,208 --> 00:05:02,374 with you all tonight . I'll definitely 135 00:05:02,374 --> 00:05:04,597 be visiting the pen as soon as possible 136 00:05:04,840 --> 00:05:07,062 to come spend some time with some of my 137 00:05:07,062 --> 00:05:09,062 favorite people on the planet , the 138 00:05:09,062 --> 00:05:12,950 people of the wolf pack . Thanks . Mhm . 139 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:15,950 Mhm . Oh 140 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:22,860 friday . 141 00:05:22,870 --> 00:05:26,060 Right . 142 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:34,640 I think the chief means to me , you 143 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:36,473 know somebody who is a leader of 144 00:05:36,473 --> 00:05:39,170 leaders , it's uh somebody that is a 145 00:05:39,180 --> 00:05:42,300 beacon and it's also somebody that has 146 00:05:42,300 --> 00:05:44,133 the power to make very difficult 147 00:05:44,133 --> 00:05:46,960 decisions but also has the knowledge 148 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:49,127 and understanding of people and people 149 00:05:49,127 --> 00:05:51,530 skills to you know look at the people 150 00:05:51,540 --> 00:05:53,651 that he works for , that work for him 151 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:56,262 to say , hey what what's going on ? How 152 00:05:56,262 --> 00:05:58,318 can I help you ? And you know try to 153 00:05:58,318 --> 00:06:00,262 lift those people up , try to lift 154 00:06:00,262 --> 00:06:02,373 everyone up around them and they they 155 00:06:02,373 --> 00:06:04,540 just go through it with such poise and 156 00:06:04,540 --> 00:06:06,596 such , you know , just knowledge and 157 00:06:06,596 --> 00:06:08,651 it's like , man I want to be at that 158 00:06:08,651 --> 00:06:10,873 level . So of course I start to emulate 159 00:06:10,873 --> 00:06:10,410 those people to me at the end of the 160 00:06:10,410 --> 00:06:12,632 day . You know , if somebody needs help 161 00:06:12,632 --> 00:06:14,521 and you can help , I think that's 162 00:06:14,521 --> 00:06:16,632 ultimately what achieve anybody , you 163 00:06:16,632 --> 00:06:18,854 know , Airmen Chief , whatever , that's 164 00:06:18,854 --> 00:06:20,854 what it's about , is just trying to 165 00:06:20,854 --> 00:06:20,230 help , trying to make everything better 166 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:22,822 and if you have a position in the power 167 00:06:22,822 --> 00:06:25,440 to do something you should . So to me , 168 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:27,690 a chief means experience that somebody 169 00:06:27,690 --> 00:06:30,070 who's been in a while , um they've been 170 00:06:30,070 --> 00:06:32,126 in many different squadrons , seen a 171 00:06:32,126 --> 00:06:34,348 lot of different leadership styles work 172 00:06:34,348 --> 00:06:36,440 for a lot of commanders and they are 173 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:39,140 the ones that have some of the history 174 00:06:39,150 --> 00:06:41,340 and they have that experience of 175 00:06:41,340 --> 00:06:43,284 dealing with airmen , dealing with 176 00:06:43,284 --> 00:06:45,507 problems managing the mission for a lot 177 00:06:45,507 --> 00:06:47,784 longer than I've been in the Air Force . 178 00:06:47,784 --> 00:06:50,007 So to me , the chief is the opposite of 179 00:06:50,007 --> 00:06:51,896 me . They understand the airman's 180 00:06:51,896 --> 00:06:53,896 perspective because they've been in 181 00:06:53,896 --> 00:06:56,062 Airman , I haven't and they've been in 182 00:06:56,062 --> 00:06:58,173 the Air Force a while and I haven't . 183 00:06:58,173 --> 00:07:00,340 And so for me , the chief is that rock 184 00:07:00,340 --> 00:07:02,562 that I can lean on um when I don't know 185 00:07:02,562 --> 00:07:04,618 how to approach the situation , I've 186 00:07:04,618 --> 00:07:06,729 had a ton , a handful of great Chiefs 187 00:07:06,729 --> 00:07:08,896 around that I've been able to watch of 188 00:07:08,896 --> 00:07:11,062 no Chief Sparks in my command chief at 189 00:07:11,062 --> 00:07:13,229 my first assignment at Dover Air Force 190 00:07:13,229 --> 00:07:15,451 Base , she was the first female commune 191 00:07:15,451 --> 00:07:17,673 chief I've seen in real life and got to 192 00:07:17,673 --> 00:07:21,500 see how she worked . Um as not only 193 00:07:21,510 --> 00:07:24,810 a female , but also as a non flyer at a 194 00:07:24,810 --> 00:07:26,977 flying machine and seeing her interact 195 00:07:26,977 --> 00:07:29,088 with all the based leadership . She's 196 00:07:29,088 --> 00:07:31,254 one of the most impressive well spoken 197 00:07:31,254 --> 00:07:33,421 people I've ever gotten to see in real 198 00:07:33,421 --> 00:07:35,950 life . And so um I absolutely would 199 00:07:35,950 --> 00:07:38,580 love to emulate her um the way that she 200 00:07:38,580 --> 00:07:42,020 cared about airman but also spoke , she 201 00:07:42,020 --> 00:07:44,076 was still educated about the mission 202 00:07:44,076 --> 00:07:46,242 and she understood she would go out to 203 00:07:46,242 --> 00:07:48,464 units and she could speak intelligently 204 00:07:48,464 --> 00:07:50,464 on what they were doing because she 205 00:07:50,464 --> 00:07:50,440 listened because every time she went 206 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:52,551 out she would listen to hear men talk 207 00:07:52,551 --> 00:07:54,662 about their jobs and you can just see 208 00:07:54,662 --> 00:07:56,551 how much she actually cared about 209 00:07:56,551 --> 00:07:58,773 people . Um but she was also incredibly 210 00:07:58,773 --> 00:08:00,607 honest , so I heard her speak up 211 00:08:00,607 --> 00:08:02,607 multiple times um from the airman's 212 00:08:02,607 --> 00:08:05,040 perspective in a way that was maybe a 213 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:07,040 surprise to some of the officers or 214 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:09,207 some of the other leaders , but um she 215 00:08:09,207 --> 00:08:11,429 had nothing to gain and nothing to lose 216 00:08:11,429 --> 00:08:13,651 and she was already a command chief and 217 00:08:13,651 --> 00:08:15,651 so she was able to be that voice of 218 00:08:15,651 --> 00:08:17,707 reason and that voice of honesty for 219 00:08:17,707 --> 00:08:19,929 the wing . So I look up her up to her a 220 00:08:19,929 --> 00:08:23,170 lot when I think about what it means to 221 00:08:23,170 --> 00:08:25,392 be a chief Master sergeant , I reminded 222 00:08:25,392 --> 00:08:27,559 first of what it means to be a N . C . 223 00:08:27,559 --> 00:08:29,810 O . And to me being an N . C . O . 224 00:08:29,810 --> 00:08:32,880 Means being alert . It's a negative 225 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:36,850 trends within your circle and 226 00:08:36,850 --> 00:08:39,072 we need to be able to assist our airmen 227 00:08:39,072 --> 00:08:41,250 with their physical financial , 228 00:08:41,250 --> 00:08:44,150 spiritual and morale needs . Chiefs 229 00:08:44,150 --> 00:08:46,740 have to do this too . But their circle 230 00:08:46,740 --> 00:08:49,120 of influence is growing Is went from 231 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:53,110 three two , maybe 300 or 3000 . And the 232 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:55,780 issues don't get any easier . Chiefs 233 00:08:55,790 --> 00:08:59,000 also have to receive strategic plans 234 00:08:59,230 --> 00:09:01,397 and present these plans as tasks to be 235 00:09:01,397 --> 00:09:03,800 completed at the junior enlisted court 236 00:09:03,860 --> 00:09:06,720 by the junior enlisted corps at both 237 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,560 the functional and operational levels . 238 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:12,384 One of the key things that I think 239 00:09:12,384 --> 00:09:14,760 every chief should be , it's honest , 240 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:18,960 if a chief can't be honest , what can 241 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:22,700 the chief b these decisions and these 242 00:09:22,700 --> 00:09:24,533 organizations that are made by a 243 00:09:24,533 --> 00:09:26,867 commander . They're not made by a chief . 244 00:09:26,867 --> 00:09:28,756 They're not not made by the first 245 00:09:28,756 --> 00:09:30,811 sergeant . They're made by the whole 246 00:09:30,811 --> 00:09:32,922 triad . And I think that's what a lot 247 00:09:32,922 --> 00:09:34,978 of women don't understand . I expect 248 00:09:34,978 --> 00:09:37,400 chiefs to go back for the enlisted 249 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:39,850 members when they're in those closed 250 00:09:39,850 --> 00:09:41,850 doors situations and they're making 251 00:09:41,850 --> 00:09:43,961 those decisions because if they can't 252 00:09:43,961 --> 00:09:46,140 who is , and that's why when they , 253 00:09:46,150 --> 00:09:48,428 when that door opens and they come out , 254 00:09:48,428 --> 00:09:51,190 they have to give it their buying . So 255 00:09:51,190 --> 00:09:53,980 I expect honesty . I expect them to say , 256 00:09:53,990 --> 00:09:56,250 hey , this is the direction we're going 257 00:09:56,250 --> 00:09:58,560 in . This is why and this is why you 258 00:09:58,560 --> 00:10:00,727 need to give your mind . This is why I 259 00:10:00,727 --> 00:10:02,893 need your by and that's why I need you 260 00:10:02,893 --> 00:10:05,350 to accomplish this task . Um yeah , 261 00:10:05,940 --> 00:10:09,350 what does achieve mean to me ? Um in my 262 00:10:09,350 --> 00:10:12,520 perspective , Chiefs are the epitome of 263 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:15,300 servant leadership and being promoted 264 00:10:15,300 --> 00:10:18,850 to chief is a pinnacle achievement that 265 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:21,860 only one of our enlisted force achieved . 266 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:25,780 To me , it means cheap mass earns 267 00:10:25,790 --> 00:10:29,360 our the absolute best that are 268 00:10:29,740 --> 00:10:32,210 unless divorce has to offer . While I 269 00:10:32,210 --> 00:10:34,099 was an instructor at the security 270 00:10:34,099 --> 00:10:36,321 forces schoolhouse , the chief actually 271 00:10:36,321 --> 00:10:38,790 helped me get my first medal as a tax 272 00:10:38,790 --> 00:10:41,520 argument . And about that same time , 273 00:10:41,870 --> 00:10:43,926 one of the airmen that I was leading 274 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:46,351 ended up saving another airman's life 275 00:10:46,351 --> 00:10:48,340 at the defect . And I wanted to 276 00:10:48,340 --> 00:10:50,820 recognize that airman and the chief 277 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:54,370 really supported my push to Get the air 278 00:10:54,370 --> 00:10:56,930 in the metal when they left text pool . 279 00:10:56,940 --> 00:10:59,910 So in about 12 weeks , uh , we were 280 00:10:59,910 --> 00:11:02,021 able to push an achievement medal for 281 00:11:02,021 --> 00:11:03,966 the airmen and at their graduation 282 00:11:03,966 --> 00:11:05,966 presented to them in front of their 283 00:11:05,966 --> 00:11:09,390 parents . It was amazing . So when I 284 00:11:09,390 --> 00:11:11,490 think about chief , I always think 285 00:11:11,490 --> 00:11:14,150 about somebody that I follow into a 286 00:11:14,150 --> 00:11:17,040 disaster or a war zone . And the reason 287 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,207 why I bring that up is because I think 288 00:11:19,207 --> 00:11:21,370 of three main attributes . That's 289 00:11:21,380 --> 00:11:24,960 empathy , accountability and just 290 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:28,780 leadership um empathy . Because he's 291 00:11:28,780 --> 00:11:30,947 the only one in the organization who's 292 00:11:30,947 --> 00:11:33,058 been through all the enlisted ranks . 293 00:11:33,058 --> 00:11:35,113 He's been the A . One C who's taking 294 00:11:35,113 --> 00:11:37,224 out the trash and swept up the bays . 295 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:39,296 He's been the staff sergeant who ran 296 00:11:39,296 --> 00:11:41,296 the cruise and he's been the master 297 00:11:41,296 --> 00:11:43,518 sergeant , A senior master sergeant who 298 00:11:43,518 --> 00:11:45,740 had to work weekends , push those 12 06 299 00:11:45,740 --> 00:11:49,600 and E . P . R . S . Oh accountability 300 00:11:49,610 --> 00:11:51,990 because he should have the strength to 301 00:11:51,990 --> 00:11:54,101 be accountable to his airmen where he 302 00:11:54,101 --> 00:11:55,990 could tell the commander that the 303 00:11:55,990 --> 00:11:58,600 decision that he's making might not be 304 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,500 the best decision . But he also holds 305 00:12:01,510 --> 00:12:04,710 all his subordinates accountable to 306 00:12:04,710 --> 00:12:07,140 their actions and also what his 307 00:12:07,140 --> 00:12:10,600 standards are . And lastly leadership 308 00:12:10,610 --> 00:12:12,950 and leadership because he is that 309 00:12:13,340 --> 00:12:17,130 pinnacle that the airmen uh N . 310 00:12:17,130 --> 00:12:19,297 C . O . S . And senior N . C . O . S . 311 00:12:19,297 --> 00:12:22,350 Are striving for . So he's that leader 312 00:12:22,350 --> 00:12:26,230 who has to make the decision . Uh Also 313 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:29,360 leadership . Uh You you have your 314 00:12:29,740 --> 00:12:32,330 subordinates who are the sneeze . He 315 00:12:32,330 --> 00:12:34,552 has to know , he has to take the advice 316 00:12:34,552 --> 00:12:37,100 of his knees to make a correct decision 317 00:12:37,110 --> 00:12:39,030 and a lot of time that's lost 318 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:41,460 throughout the ranks . Uh That's what 319 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:44,170 chief means to me . That's what I want 320 00:12:44,170 --> 00:12:48,140 to see in a person being held 321 00:12:48,150 --> 00:12:51,620 at that high of a of a rank in the Air 322 00:12:51,620 --> 00:12:54,040 force . So when I think of chief , 323 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:56,262 there's always one person that comes to 324 00:12:56,262 --> 00:12:59,980 mind and it was about two or three 325 00:12:59,980 --> 00:13:02,480 superintendents ago when I was working 326 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:04,480 at quality assurance . His name was 327 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:08,010 Chief Master sergeant fritz in . Um and 328 00:13:08,010 --> 00:13:10,210 I'll be real , not many people like 329 00:13:10,210 --> 00:13:13,210 them . He was an avionics troop . Um I 330 00:13:13,210 --> 00:13:16,730 am munitions . Um and during that time 331 00:13:16,740 --> 00:13:19,530 he wasn't my favorite chief . However , 332 00:13:19,540 --> 00:13:21,540 one of the biggest thing that stays 333 00:13:21,540 --> 00:13:23,151 with me is he kept everybody 334 00:13:23,151 --> 00:13:25,350 accountable not only to their actions 335 00:13:25,350 --> 00:13:27,460 but to their workload . Um 336 00:13:28,140 --> 00:13:31,840 He epitomized chief to me . He would 337 00:13:31,850 --> 00:13:35,010 stand up to a group commander and tell , 338 00:13:35,020 --> 00:13:37,600 tell him like that might not be the way 339 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:41,590 to go . And uh the and he would always 340 00:13:41,590 --> 00:13:45,560 advise the best way to go . I think 341 00:13:45,940 --> 00:13:47,884 he's probably one of the strongest 342 00:13:47,884 --> 00:13:49,884 leaders I've been around . He has a 343 00:13:49,884 --> 00:13:52,880 very strong personality . However , he 344 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:55,420 was always , he would always listen to 345 00:13:55,420 --> 00:13:58,510 his subject matter experts and he would 346 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:00,740 always try to find the best way , even 347 00:14:00,740 --> 00:14:02,851 if it wasn't your way , he would , he 348 00:14:02,851 --> 00:14:06,100 would know when to compromise . But he 349 00:14:06,100 --> 00:14:08,350 would always be the person . He would 350 00:14:08,350 --> 00:14:10,406 always be the leader who had to make 351 00:14:10,406 --> 00:14:12,183 the decision and would make the 352 00:14:12,183 --> 00:14:14,294 decisions . And I think that's why he 353 00:14:14,294 --> 00:14:17,570 is always a person . I think about when 354 00:14:17,570 --> 00:14:19,792 I think about a chief master sergeant . 355 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,980 Yeah , my first uhh 356 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:26,600 mentors . We're not my 357 00:14:27,260 --> 00:14:29,480 ex and my flight commanders , my 358 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:31,720 squadron commanders or my group 359 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:33,740 commanders as a young officer . My 360 00:14:33,740 --> 00:14:35,907 first mentor is my first role models . 361 00:14:35,907 --> 00:14:38,260 We're to the chiefs that I worked with . 362 00:14:38,740 --> 00:14:41,590 Uh two in particular . Chief Richard 363 00:14:41,590 --> 00:14:44,570 Stone , um who was the squatter chief 364 00:14:44,570 --> 00:14:47,120 for the aircraft squadron when I was a 365 00:14:47,130 --> 00:14:49,510 lowly assistant aircraft maintenance 366 00:14:49,510 --> 00:14:51,930 unit . Oh , I see . He really took me 367 00:14:51,930 --> 00:14:54,850 under his wings and Chief Stone was a 368 00:14:54,860 --> 00:14:58,200 no nonsense type chief who said very 369 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:02,190 little but uh , was , had , had 370 00:15:02,190 --> 00:15:05,120 the quiet determination and the , 371 00:15:05,130 --> 00:15:07,810 uh , was one who held up upheld 372 00:15:07,810 --> 00:15:11,760 standards and expected others to rise 373 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:13,927 to those standards , help them if they 374 00:15:13,927 --> 00:15:17,780 need it , but expected and trusted 375 00:15:17,790 --> 00:15:19,790 that folks would , would rise those 376 00:15:19,790 --> 00:15:22,012 standards very early on . He took me on 377 00:15:22,012 --> 00:15:24,123 his wing and I really appreciate that 378 00:15:24,123 --> 00:15:26,660 and I learned a ton from him . Second 379 00:15:26,670 --> 00:15:28,837 early influence in early mentor for me 380 00:15:28,837 --> 00:15:32,610 again as a second lieutenant was Chief 381 00:15:32,620 --> 00:15:35,430 Jim Dickson . He was the squatter chief 382 00:15:35,430 --> 00:15:38,980 for the maintenance squadron that I was 383 00:15:38,990 --> 00:15:41,960 part of for a time and as a 384 00:15:42,340 --> 00:15:44,740 uh , second lieutenant with way too 385 00:15:44,740 --> 00:15:47,060 much responsibility . Authority . Chief 386 00:15:47,070 --> 00:15:50,430 Dixon took me aside and told me I will 387 00:15:50,430 --> 00:15:52,780 not let you feel . And that meant a lot 388 00:15:52,780 --> 00:15:54,947 to me at the time and it's something I 389 00:15:54,947 --> 00:15:58,210 still carry with me today . Overall 390 00:15:58,740 --> 00:16:02,660 two things that I see as a 06 391 00:16:02,890 --> 00:16:05,230 and what I think of when I hear chief 392 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:09,000 is One unquestioned leader and two 393 00:16:09,010 --> 00:16:12,000 trusted advisors . So I've had several 394 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:14,056 chiefs that I've really looked up in 395 00:16:14,056 --> 00:16:15,980 terms of my career um that I've 396 00:16:15,990 --> 00:16:18,620 emulated myself after , but it's none 397 00:16:18,620 --> 00:16:21,700 more greater than Chief Master Sergeant , 398 00:16:21,700 --> 00:16:25,020 retired Kalief . All right , who's 399 00:16:25,030 --> 00:16:27,410 uh was the last Chief Master Sergeant 400 00:16:27,410 --> 00:16:29,521 of the Air Force ? I really looked up 401 00:16:29,521 --> 00:16:32,000 to him a lot because he really prided 402 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,167 himself on just staying true to who he 403 00:16:34,167 --> 00:16:36,333 really was , he was being himself . He 404 00:16:36,333 --> 00:16:38,444 wasn't trying to be something that he 405 00:16:38,444 --> 00:16:40,860 wasn't . And I saw that and that gave 406 00:16:40,860 --> 00:16:43,950 me the confidence to be that kid from 407 00:16:43,950 --> 00:16:46,660 the inner city who works his tail off , 408 00:16:46,670 --> 00:16:48,770 who has a passion for taking care of 409 00:16:48,780 --> 00:16:51,230 people . And that's really the baseline 410 00:16:51,230 --> 00:16:53,230 of what I've done as a Chief Master 411 00:16:53,230 --> 00:16:55,940 Sergeant , to try also to inspire 412 00:16:55,950 --> 00:16:58,006 others below me . Hopefully they see 413 00:16:58,006 --> 00:17:00,006 something in me and they want to be 414 00:17:00,006 --> 00:17:02,061 their self and they'll be able to go 415 00:17:02,061 --> 00:17:04,380 from there when I think that the Chief 416 00:17:04,380 --> 00:17:06,590 Master Sergeant , I think it's someone 417 00:17:06,590 --> 00:17:09,000 who is the voice of the people , they 418 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:11,320 bear the burden of taking care of 419 00:17:11,330 --> 00:17:14,110 people . They advise commanders in 420 00:17:14,110 --> 00:17:16,950 terms of recognizing , in terms of 421 00:17:16,950 --> 00:17:19,640 inspiring people in terms of motivating 422 00:17:19,650 --> 00:17:22,630 people and it is a very huge burden . 423 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:24,862 But we expect a lot out of Chief Master 424 00:17:24,862 --> 00:17:27,084 Sergeant . Why ? Because they're in the 425 00:17:27,084 --> 00:17:29,560 best position to really change lives . 426 00:17:30,140 --> 00:17:32,140 You're in a position now as a Chief 427 00:17:32,140 --> 00:17:34,084 Master Sergeant where you can just 428 00:17:34,084 --> 00:17:36,251 change lives with a quick phone call , 429 00:17:36,251 --> 00:17:38,140 you can see an airman who's going 430 00:17:38,140 --> 00:17:40,362 through a lot , you know , talk to them 431 00:17:40,362 --> 00:17:42,584 and be able to bring some positivity to 432 00:17:42,584 --> 00:17:44,740 their life and be able to ensure that 433 00:17:44,740 --> 00:17:46,950 they're good to go to get through that 434 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:50,780 day . And I tell you all of us has been 435 00:17:50,780 --> 00:17:53,390 in a position where we felt like we 436 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:55,400 didn't deserve to be a Chief Master 437 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:57,700 Sergeant . We felt like we was in a 438 00:17:57,700 --> 00:17:59,922 room full of these great leaders and we 439 00:17:59,922 --> 00:18:02,100 didn't belong there . And I tell you 440 00:18:02,110 --> 00:18:04,332 all of my new Chief Master Sergeant , I 441 00:18:04,332 --> 00:18:06,388 tell you you belong here because you 442 00:18:06,388 --> 00:18:08,610 have done a great job of taking care of 443 00:18:08,610 --> 00:18:10,777 everything . You have done a great job 444 00:18:10,777 --> 00:18:12,721 of advising commanders in terms of 445 00:18:12,721 --> 00:18:15,390 taking care of people and I want to 446 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:17,760 congratulate you all and good luck , 447 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:23,360 mm .