PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The Airpower Leadership Academy on Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, provides an academic environment fused with positive guidance, mentorship and passion. The academy is led by an experienced group of Senior Noncommissioned Officers.
“The ALA first started in Korea and has been spreading across the Air Force over the past few years,” said Senior Master Sgt. Bryan Munday, 561st Network Operations Squadron superintendent of operations.
Munday said Chief Master Sgt. Emilio Avila, 561st NOS command chief, reached out to his squadron and informed him about the ALA.
“From there we formed a team of Senior NCOs and created our own Academy here at Peterson AFB,” said Munday.
13 NCOs attended the ALA course: 10 from the 561st NOS, two from the 21st Space Wing, and one from North American Aerospace Defense Command United States Northern Command.
Throughout the 10 week course NCOs observed and discussed their understanding of the five pillars of the ALA: Relationships, Expectations, Academics, Character, and Health.
These five pillars, REACH, have been developed by the ALA to express the perspective that one has to REACH in order to be a successful leader.
Each class member was asked to share their leadership philosophy during a panel meeting at the Mission Support Group building on Peterson AFB, April 10, 2019.
For this meeting Senior Master Sgt. Richshawnda Artis, 561st NOS flight chief, integrations, worked with Chief Master Sgt. Rebecca Batemen, 21st Mission Support Group superintendent, to get a list of chief master sergeants that would be open to being interviewed by the ALA class.
“The class had to use what they had taken from the course to interview the chiefs,” said Artis. “It helped them form their own leadership philosophies.”
During the most recent ALA class some of the NCOs shared their different leadership ideas.
“I will promote and foster a culture of growth, and support vertically and horizontally within my scope of leadership through empowerment and empathy,” said Staff Sgt. Christopher McIntyre, 561st NOS host based security system supervisor. “I will empower my Airmen to own and innovate processes and procedures even when they have to make the hard call when there is no reward for their actions.”
Senior Airman Vernon Hairston, 21st Force Support Squadron food service apprentice, said his leadership style is best summed up as being able to adapt to any situation to get the job done.
“It’s important as a leader that you know your people and for them to be able to look to you to lead when needed,” said Hairston. “You must be able to get your troops to accept your leadership style and work effectively with you.”
The ALA class will graduate April 24, 2019.