Enlisted leaders gain from summit outcome

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Lee Roberts
  • Air Force News Agency
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFPN) --  The Air Force's first Senior Enlisted Leader Summit culminated at the Gunter Annex July 27.

More than 360 professional military education commandants, career field managers, chief master sergeants, and other key senior enlisted leaders from the Air Force active duty, Reserve and Air National Guard, spent the week addressing current force issues and networking with senior leadership.

The time was definitely right to bring all enlisted leaders together, said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley.

"We have many issues that have been brought up in this summit," Chief McKinley said. "We will go back and refine those a little bit and determine what we need to work."

From his perspective, Chief McKinley said he is convinced the summit was long overdue, and ultimately a huge success that will benefit enlisted leaders. 

"We're moving down the road to all chiefs working together as one common group to take care of Air Force priorities and taking care of Airmen," he said.

The Air Force Senior NCO Academy hosted the summit, which kicked off July 22 with athletic conditioning and physical training, where participants ran 1.5 miles in formation to send a message to the rest of the Air Force that fitness is a leadership priority.

Participants also attended two enlisted heritage events.

Senior enlisted leaders helped dedicate a convoy gun truck at the Enlisted Heritage Hall July 23. They also celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Air Force and 40th anniversary of the Office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force during the Senior Enlisted Leader Summit Heritage Dinner July 26 at Embassy Suites in Montgomery, Ala.

Each day in the Senior NCO Academy Auditorium, enlisted leaders were briefed on various subjects including training, Airmen in the fight, leading in combat, quality of life, professional military education, medical issues and strategic communication. They also interacted with panels of general officers and former chief master sergeants of the Air Force.

"I love that the chiefs represent enlisted leadership," said Chief Master Sgt. Pablo Valverde, the command chief for the 944th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. "(This summit) reinforces the leadership role we have and how we should lead people." 

Many briefings were eye-opening, especially the focus on the war on terrorism, Chief Valverde said.

"I'm going back to my base to reiterate the war effort and how we're supposed to lead and support them and, as leaders, we're supposed to prepare Airmen, train them, lead them, and prepare them physically and mentally for the war effort."

Interacting with other senior leaders was the key to the summit being a success, said Chief Master Sgt. Nancy Taulbee, the career field manager for personnelists at the Pentagon.

"I think the most important thing has been the fact that, once again, we've just reaffirmed that we're all chiefs. We're all on the same team. We're all trying to do the right thing and take care of our Airmen," Chief Taulbee said. "And this (summit) just totally reinforces that; it just kind of re-blues you." 

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