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April 8, 2016 COMMENTARY Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
2 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb
Be the ‘Wolf’, dive headfirst into job
by Col. when we fold in weekly intelligence our first-term Airmen center, or FTAC,
ROBERT NOVOTNY updates, which adds 10 more. graduates. After a few days of base
indoctrination and adjustment, the
48th Fighter Wing commander My second important meeting is the command chief and I eat lunch with
newcomers welcome, held Tuesday the FTACers to, again, “let them hear
There are three meetings I attend mornings. There are no slides. The it from the horse’s mouth.” I talk for
every week, and they’re the most im- command chief and I speak to all base about 10 minutes, and the remaining
portant meetings in my current job. newcomers for only 30 minutes. It’s 50-minute lunch is spent answering
important because everyone needs to questions and dispelling rumors. I
The first is wing stand-up held three “hear it from the horse’s mouth” about want them to know exactly how to
days a week where we cover the status how important the Liberty Wing is to make a good first impression and how
of our aircrew, pararescuemen, all 81 the national security of the United their individual actions impact the
combat aircraft, the airfield, commu- States and NATO. We don’t talk about wing’s mission.
nications and logistics. Our mission is DUIs, reflective belts or policy letters.
simple — deliver precise combat power We talk about the mission of the wing. During a recent FTAC lunch, a
from the air — and stand-up sets the young Airman asked me a well-meant
tone. This, my most important meet- The final important meeting is on
ing, lasts about 20 minutes, except Thursdays when I have lunch with See WOLF, Page 13
ACTION LINE Leadership lessons: Are you a team player?
56fw.pa@us.af.mil by Maj. signed my dream job at the Airborne Laser System Program
SCOTT SCHOFIELD Office. But again, I thought there was a problem. I was
The Commander’s Action Line assigned to a team doing tertiary research and develop-
is your direct line to me with ques- 319th Contracting Flight commander ment work that was only indirectly related to the overall
tions or suggestions about subjects program. I was frustrated and itching for an opportunity
of concern to the entire Luke Air I was a young second lieutenant and my supervisor to move down the hall and get my shot at the big time.
Force Base community. surprised me by asking, “Are you a team player?” on my Fortunately, my day came, and I joined the contracting
mid-term feedback. I was mad. team that managed the main contracts to design, build,
I appreciate your feedback. and test the airborne laser.
Your ideas and concerns help Things had come to a head between us after I had com-
build a stronger foundation on plained about being forced to “volunteer” at a unit fund- When I joined the team, I became one of many lieutenants
which we can successfully com- raiser in September -- by far contracting’s busiest month. and captains working in the various functional divisions.
plete our mission and take care of Really, the issue had been brewing for a while. She had My initial attempts to get personal recognition were unsuc-
our people. been pushing me to be more of a team player by helping out cessful and I eventually gave up trying.
my colleagues and taking on additional duties within the
To receive a response, leave Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus squadron. My viewpoint was that by showing up every day Fortunately, our program had entered an exciting time.
your name and telephone number. 56th FW commander and doing my job to the best of my abilities, I was helping We were marching through our flight test program en route
Action Lines of general interest are the team and was, therefore, already a team player. There to “shoot down” where we would use our massive flying
printed in the Thunderbolt. Remember, the quickest and was no need to do those other things that would just cut laser to shoot missiles out of the sky with a beam of light.
most efficient way to resolve a problem is to talk directly to into my free time. I immersed myself in the program and focused on being the
the responsible agency or through your chain of command. best contracting officer I could be and routinely went above
In my defense, my approach had worked up to that point. and beyond my primary duties to help the program in any
The Action Line isn’t just for complaints. Send along I had graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy, had won way I could. The hours were long and the stress was, at
your kudos when someone provides exceptional service, every possible award during Air and Space Basic Course times, almost unbearable, but I was having the time of my
goes out of their way to help or deserves a kind word. (the first officer professional military education course at life. For the first time in my career, it wasn’t about me. It
the time), had been stratified No. 1 out of the trainees in was about the team. It was about being part of something
PHONE NUMBERS our contracting squadron, and was on the cusp of winning bigger than me, and in this case, something historic. There
a squadron annual award. So I thought her marking down was nowhere else I’d have rather been.
Airman and Family Readiness Center ....................... 623-856-6550 my leadership skills because I didn’t “foster teamwork” and
Chapel ................................................................... 623-856-6211 then including that comment about me not being a team After we destroyed a boosting ballistic missile in 2010,
Child Care Center ...................................................623-856-6339 player was unfair, and I was fired up. the folks in our office were ecstatic. We had overcome
Community Center ............................................... 623-856-7152 tremendous adversity and had accomplished what many
Computer IT service desk .................................. DSN 945-2900 The problem was her comment was spot-on. considered to be impossible. We were on top of the world,
Eye Clinic ............................................................. 623-856-7965 My daily focus had been to do my best so I could win and it only got better a few months later when the Air Force
Fitness Center ....................................................... 623-856-6241 awards and earn stratifications in order to get the right Association awarded us the Theodore von Karman Award
Flight Medicine .................................................... 623-856-2273 assignments and advance my career. My supervisor was for the most outstanding contribution in the field of science
Fraud, waste and abuse hotline ............................ 623-856-6149 right. I wasn’t a team player, and as much as I was in and engineering. It was one of the proudest accomplish-
Hobby shop .......................................................... 623-856-6722 denial at the time, it was exactly what I needed to hear. ments of my life and I suspect one of the few that I’ll relay
+RXVLQJR൶FH It was, perhaps, the single most honest piece of feedback
Law enforcement desk ......................................... 623-856-5970 I have ever received. See /($'(56+,3, Page 13
Legal assistance .................................................... 623-856-6901 After I completed in-residence graduate school, I was as-
Library .................................................................. 623-856-7191
Marketing ............................................................. 623-856-3245 Luke Editorial Staff 7KH7KXQGHUEROWXVHVPDWHULDOIURPWKH$UPHG)RUFHV,QIRUPDWLRQ6HUYLFH$LU
Military Equal Opportunity ................................. 623-856-7711 )RUFH1HZV6HUYLFH$(7&1HZV6HUYLFHDQGRWKHUVRXUFHV$OODGYHUWLVLQJLVKDQGOHG
Military pay .......................................................... 623-856-7028 Commander.......................................................... Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus E\$HURWHFK1HZVDQG5HYLHZ7KH\FDQEHUHDFKHGE\FDOOLQJ
2൶FHRI6SHFLDO,QYHVWLJDWLRQ .............................623-856-6821 3XEOLF$ႇDLUVFKLHI ................................................. Lt. Col. Matt Hasson
Outdoor Recreation .............................................. 623-856-6267 3XEOLF$ႇDLUVGHSXW\FKLHI ........................................... .LOH\'RXJKHUW\ 7KH7KXQGHUEROWLVSXEOLVKHGE\$HURWHFK1HZVDQG5HYLHZDSULYDWH¿UPLQQR
Pass and registration ............................................. 623-856-4880 ,QWHUQDOLQIRUPDWLRQ............................................... 6WDႇ6JW6WDFL0LOOHU ZD\FRQQHFWHGZLWKWKH86$LU)RUFHXQGHUH[FOXVLYHZULWWHQFRQWUDFWZLWKWKHWK
Patient advocate ................................................... 623-856-8968 Editor ........................................................................... 'HERUDK/HXWKROG )LJKWHU:LQJ/XNH$LU)RUFH%DVH$UL]7KLVFLYLOLDQHQWHUSULVH$LU)RUFHQHZVSDSHU
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Security Forces ..................................................... 623-856-5970 7KXQGHUEROWDUHQRWQHFHVVDULO\WKHRႈFLDOYLHZVRIRUHQGRUVHGE\WKH86JRYHUQ
Straight Talk Line ................................................. 623-856-7064 Editorial Information PHQWWKH'HSDUWPHQWRI'HIHQVHRUWKH'HSDUWPHQWRIWKH$LU)RUFH
Sexual Assault Prevention/Response .................. 623-856-4878
Vehicle Maintenance ............................................ 623-935-6576 For past issues of the Thunderbolt, go to 7KHDSSHDUDQFHRIDGYHUWLVLQJLQWKLVSXEOLFDWLRQLQFOXGLQJLQVHUWVRUVXSSOHPHQWV
Veterinary services ............................................... 623-856-6354 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb/ and click on PDF edition GRHVQRWFRQVWLWXWHHQGRUVHPHQWRIWKHSURGXFWVRUVHUYLFHVDGYHUWLVHGE\WKH'2'
Wellness Center .................................................... 623-856-2273 7KHWK)LJKWHU:LQJ3XEOLF$ႇDLUV2ႈFHSUHSDUHVDOOHGLWRULDOFRQWHQWIRUWKH WKH'HSDUWPHQWRIWKH$LU)RUFHRU$HURWHFK1HZVDQG5HYLHZ
Youth Center ......................................................... 623-856-7470 7KXQGHUEROW7KHHGLWRUZLOOHGLWRUUHZULWHPDWHULDOIRUFODULW\EUHYLW\RUWRFRQIRUPZLWK
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