Wing priorities outlined in commander's first call

  • Published
  • By Amy Rollins
  • Skywrighter Staff
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Emphasizing themes of communication, relationships and teamwork, Col. Amanda W. Gladney conducted her first pair of commander's call sessions Tuesday morning at the Wright-Patterson Medical Center and in the afternoon at the base theater in Kittyhawk Center.

Colonel Gladney, commander of the 88th Air Base Wing here, assumed command of the base's host wing June 21.

Colonel Gladney began her first call by introducing three "commander's emphasis items" -- safety, suicide prevention and diversity. Airmen listened to her direct them to take personal responsibility both on- and off-duty, for their safety as well as the safety and wellness of other Airmen. She provided insight on approaching diversity as a "concept of embracing other people's ideas and what makes us special" and encouraged the audience to accept other views and opinions.

Most importantly speaking to each assembly of wing Airmen and civilian employees, the installation commander outlined her three wing priorities:
  • Mission operations. "Our mission is expeditionary and in garrison."
  • Focusing on our team and their families. This focus includes wellness, jobs, family and performance.
  • Communication. "We're ambassadors not only to the Air Force but to Ohio," she said.
Determining what Wright-Patt's strategic communications are outside of the base and "how to market what you do and who you are" is important., she said. What internal and external base customers are being told and how people at the base talk to each other and the quality of their relationships are crucial to building trust, confidence and camaraderie across the wing, too, she said.

"I've been in the seat over 90 days," Colonel Gladney also said. "It is amazing to work with who I work with across the base."

The wing commander also recognized agencies and individuals for their award-winning performance. The agencies included:
  • Civil Engineering was awarded Air Force Design Awards for design concepts on base.
  • The 711th Human Performance Wing Complex won the Honor Award for Concept Design.
  • The Alter Acquisition Management facility won a merit award for concept design.
  • The Information Technology Complex, phase 1, won the merit award for concept design.
  • Sarris Auditorium in the HQ building, received a citation award for interior design and the AFIT academic building won a citation award for facility design.
Civilian achievement awards included:
  • John Hass, Nicholas Phillips and Mark Myers for distinguished performance and leadership of the Installation Antiterrorism Team. Their expertise and consistently high level of performance in direct support of the Installation Antiterrorism Program resulted in Headquarters Air Force naming the 88th Air Base Wing's Antiterrorism Office the Best Antiterrorism Program in the U.S. Air Force.
  • The base lodging team won the 2010 AFMC Innkeeper Gold Key Award for best lodging facility in the Air Force. The award was accepted by Mary Drury.
The final recognition was given to Senior Master Sgt Garvis R. Leak for distinguished achievement while he deployed to Balad Air Base Iraq. Sergeant Leak was awarded the AF Commendation Medal (Fourth Oak Leaf Cluster) for Outstanding Achievement.

Those Airmen and base personnel who were involved in Colonel Gladney's change of command, the Dayton Air Show, Corona, Tattoo and the Air Force Marathon were remarked upon.

One of the first things Colonel Gladney noticed when she came was the high tempo, on top of the high-level events, and she thanked those who contributed for their hard work, long hours and dedication to pull these events off seamlessly.

Other topics covered by Colonel Gladney were moving forward as one team, with one mission; getting to know one another; and recognizing others' achievements. "We need to find ways to thank one another for the work that we do," she said.

She ended by pointing out that many people in the surrounding area are not as fortunate as base workers and encouraged everyone at Wright-Patt to get involved with the 2010 Miami Valley Combined Federal Campaign, which kicked off Oct. 6 at Wright State University's Nutter Center and runs through Nov. 17.