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Air Force chief of staff discusses leadership goals

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Matthew McGovern
  • Air Force News Agency
The Air Force chief of staff shared his vision concerning Air Force leadership and discussed his goals for the direction of the Air Force during the Air Force Sergeants Association's Professional Airmen's Conference Aug. 25 in San Antonio.

Gen. Norton A. Schwartz began his speech discussing the importance of noncommissioned officer leadership to a packed ballroom of Air Force Sergeants Association members.

"Regardless of our age, background, experience or level of education, each of us has a gut-level instinct about leadership and every one of us must be a leader," General Schwartz said. "Leadership is in each of us. It doesn't magically appear when we reach a certain point in our lives or in the chain of command. Regardless of rank and position on the team, we can inspire those around us to dream more, to learn more, to do more, to be more and to make a difference.

"The bottom line is that everyone is a leader," the general said. "Each from a unique perspective perhaps, but I'm talking about NCOs and everyone in our Air Force including their chief of staff."

General Schwartz commended the AFSA's conference theme -- Total Air Force, heritage, honor, valor and vision. He spoke of his confidence in the Air Force and his vision to overcome obstacles.

"I believe it's safe to say that everyone here has worked hard, and because of that work there is no doubt which nation possesses the finest Air Force," General Schwartz said. "But as we look at our Air Force today, we know very well that we have had some recent difficulties and the plain truth is there is work to be done. There are problems to fix, challenges to meet and trust to be restored."

The general then discussed objectives to remedy problems in today's Air Force.

"As chief, it's my goal to have our Air Force recapture top-to-bottom excellence in our nuclear mission, operations, material, weapons management and inspection," General Schwartz said. "Also, to restore credibility on Capitol Hill, reemphasize the compliance culture in the nuclear aircraft maintenance, missile maintenance, acquisition, in the medical disciplines and all of our disciplines across our Air Force."

After discussing his ambitions, the general reiterated his faith in the Air Force and offered Airmen words of encouragement.

"We can and we will do this together because we are not just Air Force blue, we are red, white and blue," he said. "We are Americans and we're going to prove that our team is worthy of the trust that the American people, the joint team, the Congress and most of all our Airmen and their families have placed on us."