Former CMSAF visits EC, inspires leaders

  • Published
  • By By 1st Lt. Alexis McGee
  • United States Air Force Expeditionary Center Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  

Former Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force, Robert Gaylor, visited Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Jan. 30, 2014, to speak at the United States Air Force Expeditionary Center annual awards dinner and meet with Airmen from the joint base.

 

Gaylor's visit included breakfast and lunch with JB MDL Airmen, an enlisted all call and a visit to the Airman Leadership School where staff sergeant selects train to learn the ins and outs of becoming a noncommissioned officer.

 

"As I moved up the ranks, I always tried to be fair, honest, consistent, a good listener, a good leader and make coming to work fun," said Gaylor to the ALS class of nearly 40 Airmen and one Sailor.

 

Gaylor highlighted good leadership during his visit emphasizing the importance of empowering people to make decisions.

 

During an enlisted all call attended by nearly 200 Airmen and civilians in the Joint Base Theater, Gaylor briefed the major changes he noticed in the Air Force since his retirement.

 

He said the four most prominent changes he's noticed all begin with the letter "T" and include: training, technology, tribe and trust. He noted that along with more training opportunities, the Air Force has made technological strides, begun to foster a better environment for families, or "tribes," as he referred to them, and has garnered a more trusting environment.

 

His speech brought to light common day technological and service advancements that make being away from home easier. These improvements were not afforded to service members in Gaylor's time, which is something many service members today may not think twice about.

 

"When I think about the possibility of being away from my family for a year and how hard that would be, I can be thankful for the programs the Air Force has to make sure my family has resources available to them and we at least have the capabilities of video chat, unlimited phone calls and email," said Tech. Sgt. Justin Ashjian, 87th Force Support Squadron family readiness noncommissioned officer. 

 

Gaylor shared anecdotes about his time in the Air Force during a period of little trust. He said that even as a master sergeant he had clothing inspections because the general philosophy among the ranks was that individuals could not be trusted.

 

He told the audience how lucky they were that they work in an environment now where there is trust and they can go to work and do their jobs without someone "breathing down their necks."

"Don't you ever ever ever do anything that would violate that trust, because when you do, you set the Air Force back," he said to the audience.

 

One of his biggest pieces of advice for the current and future leaders in the audience was to give their subordinates a feeling of ownership. On the slide behind him as he briefed the audience on giving ownership to their people was the phrase, "If a subordinate does not 'have their name on the corporate mailbox' their ongoing motivation will be less than desired." With that as his backdrop, he encouraged individuals to make their Airmen feel as though they have some ownership. He said they should feel that their office is "my office" since it gives them more pride in what they do.

 

Gaylor shared with the audience a story about a visit he made to Laredo, Texas, to give a speech at an event. After arriving early in the town, he stopped at a hamburger stand along the road to get a burger. As he sat by the stand eating his burger, a young child named Juan sprinted from the stand down the road carrying a bag of food. Juan returned just as quickly as he had left and Gaylor, impressed at the speed the child ran, asked him if he always ran that fast.

 

"Yes," Juan responded.

 

"Every time? There and back?" Gaylor asked.

 

"Yes," said Juan.

 

"Well why do you do that?" Gaylor asked.

 

"Because people like hot French fries," said Juan.

 

Gaylor used this anecdote as a parallel to service. He asked the audience whether they were "delivering hot fries" in all that they do. He encouraged audience members to take a look at their performance and evaluate if they are doing the best they can and "delivering hot fries."

 

"His message of taking ownership and pride in everything we do was inspirational," said Ashjian. "Sometimes we just need someone to reignite our fire and that is what his speech did."

Gaylor concluded his speech saying he doesn't travel to different bases giving speeches to get some sort of compensation. He said he does it for the feeling of appreciation he gets from individuals after his speeches when they come up and express their sincere appreciation for him speaking.

 

Gaylor concluded his visit to JB MDL with a speech at the USAF EC annual awards dinner.

Gaylor was the fifth chief master sergeant of the Air Force, serving from 1977-1979. He was the advisor to the Secretary of the Air Force John Stetson and Chiefs of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David C. Jones and Gen. Lew Allen Jr.