HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Senior leaders shared wisdom and advice during a company grade officer mentoring panel discussion at the conference center here March 29.
Leaders fielded questions from CGOs on topics such as professional military education and leadership styles.
Lt. Col. Kenneth Ferland, 66th Air Base Group deputy commander, who facilitated the discussion, asked senior leaders what advice they have for the young officers.
“Volunteer for things you care about,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Schmidt, program executive officer for Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence and Networks. “Be passionate about what you do. Do your best and put yourself out there and make it about the Air Force, and not necessarily about yourself; that’s a better formula.”
Scott Hardiman, deputy director for the Nuclear Command, Control and Communications Integration Directorate, encouraged Airmen to not “be caught up in the grade or the rank” and focus more on “the quality of service.”
“You are the true one-percenters in this country,” said Hardiman. “You are the ones who have chosen to serve your nation. You should take great satisfaction in what you are doing, enjoy what you are doing and be passionate about what you are doing. Understand that you are making a difference.”
An attendee asked the panel to discuss leadership.
“I don’t think you can be a good leader until you are a good follower,” said Col. Kristin Panzenhagen, chief of the Missile Defense and Missile Warning Systems Branch in PEO Digital. “It’s beneficial that we all start in that followership role to see what kind of leader you want to grow into.”
Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Bud Vazquez, president of the Paul Revere Chapter of the Air Force Association, which sponsored the panel discussion, encouraged CGOs to “treat people like you want to be treated.”
“Learn from the supervisors that you liked and learn from the supervisors you didn’t like,” said Vazquez. “You will see some people home in on mission while some are more people-focused. You have to have balance.”
Scott Owens, deputy director of C3I and Networks, said, “Leadership takes practice.”
“Whether you’re influencing or have a more directive-style of leadership, we all need opportunities to practice,” said Owens, a retired Air Force colonel.
Also participating was Col. Chad Ellsworth, 66th Air Base Group and installation commander.
“Going into a leadership position does not make you a leader,” said Ellsworth. “Understand your mission. Understand how your people are tied to that mission. Understand what motivates those people to make that mission happen.”
Each of the senior leader panel members encouraged the company grade officers to take advantage of professional military education.
“Some of the best years of my life were in those schools,” said Schmidt.
Airmen interested in finding a mentor or being a mentor have many opportunities available to them.