USAFA's new command chief reports for duty

  • Published
  • By Ray Bowden
  • Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Chief Master Sgt. Maxwell Grindstaff is still busy processing into the Academy and organizing the home he shares with Millie, his wife of 25 years and best friend of 30 years -- but by all indications, he'd much rather be out and about, visiting Airmen and cadets.

The Academy's new command chief did just that while taking a Tuesday morning stroll across the terrazzo.

"I went up to a Basic Cadet Training flight and asked the flight leader to give me three cadets who were doing good things," Grindstaff said. "I asked the basic cadets to give the number of one relative I could call. I called their mothers today and they all cried."

One call to a cadet's mother stands out, he said.

"The cadet's mom was up in Montana," Grindstaff said. "I told her, 'I just want to say I've seen your son. He looks great, he's doing great and he's being taken care of,' and she cried."

Attending the recent Cadet Field Day, an annual Basic Cadet competition here, gave Grindstaff yet another chance to satisfy his extroverted impulses. At the event, the chief could be seen chatting with cadets, military trainers, Academy staff -- and even the phalanx of civilian and military reporters covering the competition.

"I just can't wait to hit the ground running, lock arms with the senior leaders here and meet as many Airmen and cadets as possible," he said. "The Academy is a high-functioning organization with an awesome responsibility. I'm going to start this process by getting out to the 10th Air Base Wing, the Cadet Wing, the 306th Flying Training Group and all the mission elements here."

High on the Grindstaff's list of "hot topics" is working hard to promote and solidify a team mentality here.

"The team-USAFA relationship is very special and I intend to do all I can to ensure relations here are as smooth and effective as possible," he said. "Every Airman -- whether a cadet, an officer, an NCO or a civilian -- has ownership of our mission and I want to make sure everyone is cognizant of the important role they have to play here when it comes to mission accomplishment. My main priority here is to do everything and anything I can to foster open relationships, be visible and be sensitive to working as a team."

Grindstaff has already met with Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson to discuss Academy vision and goals. He said he looks forward to establishing a relationship with his new boss and is prepared to "stick to her like Velcro."

"I expect our relationship will be the same as any senior enlisted leader or command chief at any level has with their commander -- to maintain good order and discipline and ensure the maintaining of standards," he said. "And obviously, when you've been doing this for 28 years, I think you gain some valuable expertise when it comes to a lot of areas, particularly the care and feeding of people, developing Airmen leaders, and just being able to give that different perspective to your senior leaders when it comes to all those important issues. I'm one of the old people in the room, so I believe General Johnson will trust my counsel when it comes to those issues."

Johnson said she's delighted to welcome Grindstaff and his wife Millie, to the Academy family. The two recently toured the 306th FTG and made separate tandem parachute jumps onto the Academy airfield.

"During the review process, it became abundantly clear that Max was the right enlisted leader for the Air Force's Academy," she said. "His reputation as a confident, compassionate and highly respected command chief precedes him across the Air Force and I know he'll be a tremendous mentor and steward of our Airmen and our Academy."

The importance of NCOs
Grindstaff said he's always happy when the staff sergeant selects list is published and hopes he has a chance to meet the 22 senior airmen here recently selected for promotion to staff sergeant.

"It's an exciting time for these senior airmen," he said. "Their selection for promotion validates what the Air Force thinks about their abilities to lead. They're going to become leaders with a larger role and that's important because you want to be able to hang your hat up at the end of the day and know that you've made as big a difference as possible. When more stripes are added to your sleeve, your span of control and supervision gets bigger."

Grindstaff remains undaunted by the fiscal and manpower challenges these NCO-selects will most likely face.

"Every era, every generation, faces its own unique challenges," he said. "It's a constant cycle but the things that keep Airmen enlisting are more intrinsic than extrinsic. It's not just the pay, it's not just the benefits and it's not just the promotions. It's the fellowship, the camaraderie and the patriotism. When I attend an official event and see the U.S. Flag and hear the National Anthem, I feel like I own a little piece of it. When you see that flag and you see it wave, there's something within you that stirs regardless of any bad weather on the horizon. If these new NCOs are here for all of those things, they'll find fulfillment and a sense of success regardless of any challenges."

Grindstaff grew up near Detroit and arrived at Basic Military Training in January 1987. His inspirations for enlisting may have been the military service of his father, a Vietnam veteran, and his grandfather, a World War II veteran, but a lifelong love of literature and history also played a pivotal role.

"I devoured stories of American history and heroic tales as a youth -- all those great stories of pioneers, explorers and military heroes," he said. "I wanted to have an adventure. There was a patriotic core in there as well, and I wanted to serve my country and be part of something bigger than myself."

Since then, the chief has had 13 assignments and traveled the world. He began his career as a security forces Airman but retrained to become a communications specialist in 2000.

Grindstaff and Millie have three adult daughters and one granddaughter.

"They were raised in an Air Force family," he said. "Family is very important to me. My deployments have made me appreciate the frailty of life, how lucky I am, and how much I miss my wife and kids when I'm gone. So I just really savor the day-to-day family stuff and all the moments I get with them."

The chief's hobbies include woodwork, travel, enhancing his cooking skills -- "mostly Mexican and Italian food," he said -- and of course, reading every chance he gets.

For all of this, Grindstaff said his most important duty is working to inspire Airmen and cadets here to be good leaders.

"We do deploy a lot and we sometimes lose team members, but with all those challenges, we still have to get the mission done so it's very important we have a cohesive team," he said. "Holding people to high standards, being a consistent leader, genuinely caring for and knowing your Airmen, is so important. Your Airmen will run to the sound of guns for you if they know you care. If they trust you, if they know you have their back, there's no obstacle you won't be able to overcome."