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***image1***Chief Master Sgt. Jack Johnson, a native of Hampton, Va., recently reported from Kadena Air Base, Japan, to become the 3rd Air Force command chief master sergeant. He shared his thoughts about his inspiration, new position, leadership philosophy and the morale and welfare of Airmen.
Who or what inspired you to join the Air Force?
Sometimes you are given the opportunity to see life through the lenses of great teachers. My teachers were my parents, who taught me the value of service to our country. I was born into the Air Force 45 years ago and never departed. My father, a retired AF SNCO and later an AF civilian logistician, and mother, who served more than 27 years with the Department of the Air Force, both served as the best recruiters and examples of service an Airman could ask for. I would add that my brother, who returned from Afghanistan last year, is a strong AF SNCO who was also inspired by the examples of these two great Airmen. Service in my family doesn’t stop there: my wife, a retired AF master sergeant, and I have four children, three of whom are serving in the Air Force, in both the officer and enlisted corps today.
Was there a specific supervisor or mentor who helped you reach your goals?
There are far too many supervisors, mentors, wingmen, subordinates and team members to mention. Often, we feel that it is a superior who is exclusively responsible for an Airman’s success, and that is often the case. For me, I am a very strong proponent of building teams. Often my success in achieving a professional goal was attained because of the opportunity and privilege my superiors provided me and the success of the team of which I was a part, whether it was made up of enlisted Airmen, officers or our civilian partners.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Our Air Force is exceptionally busy prosecuting the priorities of our nation and Air Force. It isn’t often we see the words “time” and “spare” in the same sentence. Two very important things I enjoy are venturing out each weekend with my family and experiencing new things. These activities have been a ritual in my family from day one. We all have challenging weekdays, therefore expectations throughout the week are normally aimed towards work, school and community events. But when permissible, the weekends are periods where we get away. Secondly, I love to jog.
What skills do you bring that will help you as the 3rd AF command chief?
Professional competence! I am one of a few Airmen who have had the privilege to have served at the squadron, group, wing, numbered Air Force, center, agency, combatant command and Air Staff levels. In addition, I’ve been very fortunate to have been assigned to several joint tours, to have completed all levels of professional military education, including Senior Joint Enlisted PME, and to possess a
master’s degree. What does all that mean? The Air Force has provided me all the tools to successfully achieve the vision, goals and objectives, as directed by the commander, 3rd AF. Taking my experiences and education, coupled with the expectations of the commander, I hope to be a strong representative for our enlisted corps and a competent advisor to the commander.
What is your leadership philosophy?
Simply put, communicate, communicate, communicate! Now, more than ever before, communication is essential in successfully prosecuting the mission. The mission of 3rd AF is huge and reaches across an expansive geographic region. Effectively communicating, linking the teams so that every Airman knows where they fit into the big picture, and successfully prosecuting the
mission is the foundation to my leadership philosophy.
What are you looking forward to here at U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Ramstein?
Ramstein and USAFE are steeped in tradition, mission success and a wonderful location for Airmen and their families to all enjoy. I’m not only looking forward to being a part of a great team, but a family member in the Ramstein community!
What’s the most important responsibility of a command chief?
One of the most important responsibilities of a command chief is the ability to effectively communicate up and down the chain. Normally, the communication centers on setting our Airmen up for success by ensuring they are organized, trained and equipped to successfully prosecute the mission at hand. Of equal importance, those with families are a very important part of our Air Force team, therefore the command chief must be engaged in the community. The command chief must know the issues, perceptions and realities and be able to appropriately achieve a solution consistent with the expectations of our Air Force. In addition, the commander will look for unvarnished views on the readiness of the enlisted corps.
What are your views on welfare and morale?
Airmen of all ranks see welfare and morale through different eyes. Some see welfare and morale as more time off; meanwhile, others see it as an assignment to a warm, dry weather location in the South. I believe we are all different and measure welfare and morale by what we feel – whether tangibly or intangibly – is important to us. I cannot answer for our Airmen, because each Airman may have a different view, but I will say that Airmen have a greater voice than most believe. I am a very strong advocate of open communication with supervisors and the power of private organizations and community involvement. These forums make the greatest impact on the welfare and morale of our Airmen.
