JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – The director of the Air National Guard made his message clear while visiting Hawaii Air National Guard Airmen Feb. 8 — members at every step of the chain are to be heard, valued and empowered to lead.
“In an uncertain world, it doesn’t necessarily matter what rank you have, but what skills you bring in order to be a leader,” said Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh. “Because you might just be the right person at the right time to make great things happen.”
Conversations with Airmen were anything but ‘small talk’ during the general’s first visit with Hawaii Guardsmen since being appointed as director. He and additional staff from the National Guard Bureau, including Chief Master Sgt. Maurice L. Williams, ANG command chief, made every spare moment count, getting to know what drives the ANG’s mission in the Pacific and how to modernize the force.
Hawaii Air National Guard leaders greeted Loh at the Hawaii ANG’s dining facility in an opportunity to speak about their units’ roles, achievements, challenges and growth trajectory. Loh assured the commanders he wanted to know what was on their minds and offered counsel about raising readiness.
As commanders discussed their goals, Williams held an intimate mentoring session with a small group of enlisted personnel. Staff Sgt. Bonnie Bagnaro, from the 201st Air Operations Group, said she walked away feeling inspired to tap into additional virtual resources, such as the chief’s ’13 Ways To Lead Podcast’ to learn more about viewpoints from other leaders.
Lunch discussions were followed up by a town hall presentation, giving a broader opportunity for members to ask NGB leaders questions.
Loh also offered fundamental questions to help warfighters navigate critical decision making:
How can I better sustain these high levels of readiness?
How can I make sure that we have the right people in the right time, the right place, and with the right training to make a difference?
How can I empower leadership at the lowest level?
After the town hall session, the NGB visitors viewed more of the Hawaii ANG’s operational units. A final stop at the F-22 Raptor maintenance facility allowed Loh to engage with Airmen who carry out the mission at the tactical level.
Master Sgt. Garrett Cristobal, a 154th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, showcased a handcrafted maintenance storage unit customized so crew members can save time and resources when conducting overseas contingency operations.
Loh praised Cristobal’s innovative work and encouraged the crowd of peers to feel emboldened to try new processes and ideas and continue seeking ways to help modernize the Air Force.
“If you look back at everything we do, it’s all about readiness,” Loh emphasized. “It’s all about preparing for that federal mission. I have to be ready today, just as you have all lived, and you have demonstrated it in so many ways. Through COVID, Jan. 6, tsunamis, typhoons, and even volcanos. In your training plans, we are counting on you to have that readiness understood with your families and your employers, knowing that you’re always ready to respond in the National Guard.”