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Sixteenth Air Force Chief looks to grow multi-capable warfighters

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Roxanne Belovarac
  • 319 Reconnaissance Wing

Chief Master Sgt. Kenneth M. Bruce, Jr., Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) command chief visited Grand Forks Air Force Base on Dec. 7, 2021, to tour base facilities and various agencies around 319th Reconnaissance Wing and meet the Airmen and Guardians behind the uniform who keep the mission operating daily.

Headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Sixteenth Air Force is also known as the Air Force’s information warfare numbered Air Force which integrates ISR, cyber, electronic warfare and information operations.

During the visit Bruce spoke to what ultimately leads to the success of each mission and Air Force as a whole. 

“It’s not about the concepts of operations, equipment or resources that the Air and Space Forces have given to you,” said Bruce. “It is about the development of the individuals who are operating, supporting and creating these things.”

Bruce also emphasized the value of getting to know the person behind the uniform and learning who that person is as an individual before they can be taught how to be a great leader. 

One of the Air Force’s prime objectives is to develop leaders that allow Airmen and Guardians to grow into multi-capable warfighters who bring the future faster, and put us ahead of our adversaries.

"We always need to be thinking about the future, every individual needs to be ready for what’s to come," said Bruce. "We have to move faster in order to catch our adversaries and prepare to compete in a lethal modern Air Force."

Bruce expressed the importance of ensuring our Airmen and Guardians can do their jobs in an environment that values diverse perspectives and maximizes their potential to grow and serve the nation.

"If we empower our force to do what they need to do," said Bruce, "They will accelerate that change, our Airmen and Guardians are the change that will be impacting the Air Force’s future."