Fifth CMSAF visits Peterson

Published March 31, 2009
By Tech. Sgt. Ray Bowden
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON, Colo. -- Approximately 200 Airmen battled high winds, widening snow drifts and increasingly foul weather to attend former Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Robert Gaylor's presentation at the base auditorium March 26.

Chief Gaylor's speech, titled "High Tech versus High Touch," focused on staying current with modern technology while at the same time not allowing modern advances to interfere with face-to-face communication.

"My message is relatively simple - it's about balance," the chief said. "High- tech is here to stay, but we still need to communicate with each other regardless of the technology we're surrounded by. There's nothing better than face-to-face communication to get your message across."

Chief Gaylor defined "High Touch" as "something that happens between people" and as "human experience and interaction."

"Chief Gaylor's message is very common-sense," said Staff Sgt. Jesus Lopez, 21st Aerospace Medical Squadron. "We can all learn from the chief's message; in my mind it's like the Bible in that it never changes."

Chief Gaylor served as the Fifth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from 1977 through July 31, 1979 and since retiring has traveled extensively, visiting roughly 40 Air Force installations annually.

"When people ask me why I travel so much I tell them because there is no finer organization to be a part of," he said.

In an interview before the presentation, Chief Gaylor discussed Global Reach and the Air Expeditionary Force concept.

"An Airman coming in today should accept the fact that we are truly a mobile force, that they're going to deploy and be sent wherever they're needed," he said. "I talk with Airmen just completing basic training and they're telling me that they are actually anticipating deploying and going where the action is. They're geared up to go and they're probably disappointed if they don't get to go."

Chief Gaylor commented on the recent death of Paul Airey, the first Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force.

"I meet him in 1967 but I got to know the man starting in about 1975 as a brother," he said. Someone smarter than me once said "What we do for ourselves dies with us, what we do for others will live forever. Paul has done so much for others that his legacy ill be around forever.

In an e-mail sent to Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Omdal, 21st Space Wing command chief, Chief Gaylor said he "truly enjoyed the activities at Peterson" and that he was thankful for the opportunity to meet "hundreds of Space Command's sharp Airmen."