U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center command team meet with 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing Airmen

  • Published
  • By Maj. George Tobias
  • U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center

The U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center command team met with the Airmen of the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing during a command visit, March 2 - 17.

The two-week visit allowed U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. John Gordy, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Kristopher Berg, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center command chief master sergeant, to see firsthand and speak to the Airmen of the 521st AMOW, and gain a better understanding of the importance of their mission.

“Logistics leads maneuver and the nation depends on the men and women within these air mobility squadrons to move combat capability – airpower, passengers, cargo, and patients – into the fight of today, and to figure out how we’re going to develop lethal mobility Airmen ready for the fight of tomorrow,” said Gordy. “Throughout my travels I saw example after example of Airmen who were innovating on a daily basis and focused on building readiness across the gamut of training and resiliency efforts. We can sometimes take the mobility mission for granted because we make it look so easy, but after standing on the flight line and watching Rapid Global Mobility executed firsthand, I can assure you it only looks easy because of the tireless efforts of the men and women of the 521st AMOW.”

The 521st AMOW consists of more than 2,100 personnel divided into two groups and 10 squadrons, with 22 locations located in 12 countries. The wing exists to provide the Global Air Mobility Support System with the reach, agility, and flexibility to respond quickly in support of evolving national security objectives. Each squadron serves as a critical node within the eastern en route system, providing Air Mobility Command and U.S. Transportation Command with flexible options for combatant commanders to meet warfighter objectives.

“We invited Gen Gordy and Chief Berg out to visit our squadrons for two simple reasons: to show them how the wing is crushing the mission each and every day, and to show off the talented Airmen – enlisted, officers, civilians, and local nationals – that make the mission happen,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Brad Spears, 521 AMOW commander.

During the trip, Gordy and Berg visited nine squadrons and had an opportunity to see how the Airmen within the wing provide command and control, aerial port, aircraft maintenance, expeditionary aircrew support, and aeromedical evacuation capabilities for air mobility missions in Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia.     

"It was great to have an opportunity to sit down and talk with [Gordy and Berg]," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Michael Hartson, 521st AMOW, chief of Wing personnel policy and programs. "They emphasized the importance of staying true to yourself as a leader and never passing up an opportunity to mentor up, down, and laterally across the chain of command. The U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center command team is focused on empowering with the resources we need to continue to be successful."

“Everywhere we went we met amazing Airmen that had a positive attitude about the job they were doing, and their contribution to the mission,” said Berg. “The power of that positivity leaves a lasting effect on everything it touches, and serves as a testament to the incredible leadership teams that are developing these world-class Airmen. There’s a bright future ahead for the Airmen of the 521st AMOW.”

The 521st AMOW is one of two air mobility operations wings in the U.S. Air Force and falls under the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, which has oversight for global en route support operations, and is the Air Force's Center of Excellence for advanced mobility and combat support training and education.