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ANG Command Chief addresses New York technical sergeants

  • Published
  • By Timothy Jones
  • Eastern Air Defense Sector

ROME, NY -- Air National Guard Command Chief Master Sgt. Maurice L. Williams discussed service, leadership, the future Air Force, and the need to accelerate change or lose in remarks to more than 80 New York Air National Guard technical sergeants on June 25.

Williams, the ANG CCM since October 2020, addressed the group for more than 30 minutes as part of the Technical Sergeants Involved in Mentoring Enlisted Airmen (TIME) course.

“Right now, in your career, you’re in the most powerful position you can be in,” Williams said. “You have a connection to senior NCOs because you are one tier down and, as first-line supervisors, you have a connection with those below you.”

Williams encouraged the sergeants to engage their Airmen on a personal level. “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care,” Williams said.

The Chief stressed three keys to being a successful leader.

First, Airmen have to invest in themselves through education, training, and experience. “If you don’t invest in yourself, you don’t have anything to offer anyone else,” Williams said.

Second, Airmen need to monitor their circle of friends and acquaintances.

“If you’re the smartest person in your circle, then you better get another circle,” Williams told the group, stressing the need for accountability partners.

The third key is embracing life’s journey. “We all make a plan, but things don’t always go as planned, '' Williams said. Airmen must be able to accept challenges and learn and grow from them.

Williams strongly encouraged the group to read and absorb the Air Force’s Accelerate Change or Lose (ACOL) paper, published in August 2020. The document lays out the challenges posed by peer competitors and outlines how an Air Force that empowers Airmen at all levels can overcome those threats.

The course drew New York Air National Guardsmen from the state’s five wings and the Eastern Air Defense Sector for three-and-a-half days of lectures, small-group discussions, and round table question-and-answer sessions on leadership, professional management, and mentorship. Topics covered in-depth included transformational leadership, how to work with millennials, resiliency, and diversity and inclusion.

Held at Griffiss Institute’s Innovare Advancement Center at Rome’s Griffiss International Airport, TIME was organized by New York State Command Chief Master Sgt. Denny Richardson and Chief Master Sgt. Michael Will, the Command Chief at the 174th Attack Wing in Syracuse.

The course focused on technical sergeants – the enlisted “middle management” rank Airmen hold before they become senior noncommissioned officers. It’s the career point where professional development can have the most impact, Will said.

“Our technical sergeants are tasked with being technical experts,” Will added, “but they must also develop as supervisors, leaders and mentors. This workshop assists in that development and provides new tools to help them become successful Air National Guard leaders.”

The lessons, and the speakers, made an impact on the group.

“I learned valuable lessons about being a mentor that I can take back to my Airmen, so they can apply them in their professional and personal endeavors,” said Tech. Sgt. Courtney Quinn, a 109th Airlift Wing aviation resource manager. “The course also helped me reflect on the communication skills I need as an NCO and showed me where I can improve.”

Tech. Sgt. Andrew Follman, a 107th Attack Wing intelligence analyst, praised TIME’s emphasis on leadership skills.

“Most military members aspire to be the next great leader, but are not given the tools to get there,” Follman said. “This course provided those tools and the lessons came from past leaders and current leaders that military members look up to. It’s not something that’s available on a daily basis.”

In addition to Williams, Airmen heard from Maj. Gen. Timothy J. LaBarge, the New York Air National Guard Commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Denny Richardson, the New York Air National Guard Command Chief.