New 82nd Training Wing command chief: "I want to inspire Airmen"

  • Published
  • By Dan Hawkins
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  After you meet Chief Master Sgt. Eric Johnson, it only takes a couple of minutes for you to realize he loves being in the Air Force and can't wait to tackle his newest position.

Having just reported in as the 82nd Training Wing's new Command Chief, Johnson is eager to get out and start interacting with everyone associated with Team Sheppard.

With 25 years of service in the logistics and airfield operations career fields, he brings a big-picture perspective to the job of being the senior enlisted person on the installation.

Although Chief Johnson has been on the job for just a few days, he sat down with the 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs office to talk about his first impressions of Sheppard and what some of his top priorities are.

Question: What has been your impression of Sheppard in your first week on the ground?

Chief Johnson: "I step onto the base and it is in great shape. Great facilities, everything is kept really nice...but the thing that sticks out with me the most are the attitudes. The attitudes of our Airmen, the attitudes of our military training leaders, the attitudes of our instructors...everyone here is totally fired up about the mission, they want to be here, they want to do a good job. Coming from the operational Air Force, sometimes we would just marvel at the products that we would get with the Airmen coming out of technical training...I know why now after three days of being at Sheppard Air Force Base. It's because of the time, the effort and the passion that the instructors have, the military training leaders have, the commanders, first sergeants, group commanders, chiefs...they are all fired up about being here and they all do an outstanding job, each and every day."

Question: What is your background in the Air Force?

Chief Johnson: "I have a diverse background...I started off in logistics, I was a supply technician. I needed to cross-train...I did that and went over to the airfield operations world. Going from the logistics world to the maintenance world to the operations world was a little bit of a change for me, but a great change."

Question: Did you always want to become a command chief?

Chief Johnson: "Once I made chief, I got a chance to do a deployment or two as a chief master sergeant, as a group superintendent, I got a passion for helping Airmen. I never thought I would end up as a command chief, it just happened that way, just because some of the things I was doing to try and help Airman as a whole. Once you make Chief, I don't think you are anyone's chief in particular; I think you are everyone's chief."

Question: How does it feel to be back in a training environment as opposed to the operational world?

Chief Johnson: "It fires me up to be in an environment where we can mentor and shape the Airmen at the foundation level. What we do here...is a lot of times going to dictate if they are successful or not in their Air Force careers."

Question: What are your top priorities as the command chief for the 82nd Training Wing?

Chief Johnson: "My viewpoint is pretty much the same as General Fantini's. Mission, people and families. That's important because without the people and the families that support our Airmen, you can't have the mission; the mission is not going to be successful. Everyone's first priority has to be the mission, it's why we're here, its why we wear the uniform. At the same time, the development of our Airmen and taking care of those families plays a big role in making sure we get the mission done. It's a delicate balance...we're going to push the mission, do the mission, teach the mission. At the same time, we're going to take care of our people. We're going to do that by making sure everyone here at Team Sheppard has what it is they need to be successful. That might mean facilities, tools, or just motivation from myself or (General Fantini) to make sure that we are giving everyone the tools to be successful."

Question: If you had 20 seconds to pass along a message to our newest Airmen arriving at Sheppard for technical training, what would it be?

Chief Johnson: "I would tell them to put their best foot forward. In putting your best foot forward, study hard, learn everything you can, take nothing for granted. Learn everything because you never know when you're going to be called upon to use it."

Question: After your tour as the command chief at Sheppard is over, what do you want to be able to look back at and say you accomplished?

Chief Johnson: "I'm hoping to walk and to be able to say that I have inspired Airmen. Whether its permanent party Airmen, Airmen in Training, a first sergeant, a fellow chief...I want to inspire Airmen."