Superintendent talks Academy Essentials Published Aug. 14, 2015 By Ray Bowden U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson, the superintendent of the Air Force Academy, hosted two all-calls for Academy staff members to discuss the institution's six strategic goals, August 10 in Arnold Hall. Those goals as set forth in "The United States Air Force Academy Strategic Plan 2015" are: focus institutional efforts on character and leadership development; produce highly educated and trained Air Force officers; strengthen the Academy's communications and reputation; enhance faculty, staff and cadet diversity; develop and motivate the workforce; and build and maintain strategic partnerships. Johnson said the strategic goals provide Academy staff members and cadets with a template to help them better focus on leadership and character development. "These goals are the Academy Essentials that guide us as we integrate as a team," she said. "We need to know what works and what doesn't work as we strive to fulfill our mission of producing highly educated and trained officers. This is about making sure we're all on the same page." The superintendent said that for the Academy to remain a great institution, its staff needs to focus on respect and commitment, innovation and integration, refine its processes and improve communication. "Respect and commitment starts with our core values and holding ourselves and those we lead accountable to standards," Johnson said. "Respect and commitment contains honest feedback, a respect for diversity and achieving excellence in all we do." Johnson said innovation and team integration starts when staff members and cadets refuse to settle for less. "We can't rest on our laurels and assume our processes or any plan we used last year is good enough," she said. "Innovation and integration across all of our mission elements at the Academy requires unity of effort." The Academy's seven mission elements are the Athletics Department, Cadet Wing, Dean of Faculty, Air Force Academy Headquarters' staff, Air Force Academy Preparatory School, 10th Air Base Wing and 306th Flying Training Group. The superintendent said open communication across these mission elements is vital to refining the Academy's processes. "We can't keep information to ourselves and expect to improve," she said. "We have to be transparent. We have to use our chain of command and stop and think before we make decisions." Johnson said the Academy could not survive as an institution without the efforts of its staff. "Our narrative is the great work you do here," Johnson said. "We tend to focus on cadets and sometimes forget what our other great mission elements bring to the plate. Whether enlisted, officer or a civilian Airman, you do great things for the Academy and for the Air Force on a daily basis. You have earned respect in the halls of the Pentagon." Visit www.usafa.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100322-020.pdf to see the strategic plan.