U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- It’s hard to feel disconnected when your senior enlisted leader gives you his phone number, but Chief Master Sgt. Robert Boyer did just that at his first official all-call as command chief here Feb. 7.
Boyer’s all-call featured a Q-and-A session with Airmen in the audience and recognized several Airmen for their work. He also discussed his top priorities as the relatively new top enlisted official here.
One priority is helping Airmen here be fully aware of their contribution to the Academy’s mission of developing leaders of character.
“I know you matter and Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson, our superintendent, knows you matter,” Boyer said. “It’s like a flight-line analogy of launching aircraft. I want you to know that you have a part to play in launching new officers into our Air Force.”
Boyer also discussed his stance on diversity, inclusion and respect.
“Everyone is gravely important and deserves to be treated with respect,” he said. “You are integral to our process of developing leaders of character. We’re all on this production line and we each have a fit. I want you to want to be here.”
Another priority is building relationships, Boyer said.
“We need to continue to build relationships across the Academy and the community, seek innovative solutions to address the needs of our personnel, and develop opportunities for enlisted Airmen to continue contributing to our mission,” he said.
Several Airmen asked Boyer questions concerning the quality of the base’s exercise facilities, adjusting the business hours of High Country Inn dining facility, and quality of life improvements for the enlisted support staff.
“We received great questions ranging from top Air Force issues to local concerns,” the chief said after the event. “I really appreciated the input. It gave me a good sense of what’s on our Airmen’s minds and items to focus on.”
Boyer said duties for enlisted Airmen are expanding across the Academy.
“I see great potential for enlisted teachers, not only here at the Academy, but throughout the Air Force,” he said. “The enlisted community is vastly more educated than when I entered the Air Force more than 29 years ago.”
Boyer said enlisted Airmen may one day consider teaching on the Academy faculty and earning a bachelor’s degree through Air University.
“I’d like to see further opportunities for our enlisted force to be in a position to utilize their education while still serving,” he said. “The Air Force invests heavily in education, and finding ways to take advantage of that capability not only serves our Airmen, but our Air Force and institution at-large.”
The chief also talked about the Federal hiring freeze, changes to the Air Force’s tattoo policy, and the Academy’s new branding initiative and newly-launched Academy Connection, designed to bridge communication gaps across the Academy.
“One of my favorite quotes I share with audiences is by President Theodore Roosevelt,” Boyer said. ‘“Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.’ I’ve tried my best to take this to heart throughout my career. This philosophy is how I plan to lead.”
Enlisted Airmen here can expect Boyer to host another all-call later this year, he said.