Leadership Summit at Laughlin AFB strengthens leadership skills

U.S. Air Force Col. Jesse Caldwell, 47th Flying Training Wing (FTW) deputy commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Lester Largaespada, 47th FTW command chief, speak to attendees of the Leadership Summit at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 20, 2024. The leadership summit gave valuable opportunities for Airmen to work through situations they may encounter as they gain more responsibilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Larsen)

Leadership Summit at Laughlin AFB strengthens leadership skills

Airmen at the Leadership Summit discuss one of the leadership situations at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 20, 2024. Airmen broke into small groups in the summit to simulate leadership teams, gaining experience in how the different parts of the leadership triad interact. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Larsen)

Leadership Summit at Laughlin AFB strengthens leadership skills

Master Sgt. James Wolnik, 47th Force Support Squadron development advisor, speaks to attendees of the Leadership Summit about the various situations they will be discussing at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 20, 2024. The leadership summit gave valuable opportunities for Airmen to ask questions to leaders who have experience dealing in situations that brought up conundrums. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Larsen)

Leadership Summit at Laughlin AFB strengthens leadership skills across ranks

Published Nov. 26, 2024
By Staff Sgt. Nicholas Larsen
47th Flying Training Wing

LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --

Airmen, Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs), Senior NCOs, Company Grade Officers (CGOs) and civilians gathered for a dynamic Leadership Summit on Nov. 20, aimed at enhancing leadership competencies and fostering critical thinking.

Airmen broke into small groups to discuss and collaborate on different leadership scenarios throughout the day, taking the role of the leadership triad. The leadership triad consists of the unit commander, command chief, and first sergeant, who work together to make major decisions regarding personnel.

“It’s important for these leaders to learn this because they need to know that decisions aren’t made in a vacuum,” said Master Sgt. James Wolnik, 47th Force Support Squadron development advisor. “It's a team effort, enlisted personnel need to know what their role is as they progress in their careers, they will become advisors to the commander. Our CGOs will need to know at a young point in their career how crucial the relationship between our officer and enlisted corps is and how they will work together later in their career.”

Throughout the summit, participants in different groups presented solutions to leadership scenarios to facilitate discussion on leadership perspectives and how the different members of the leadership triad work together to determine personnel solutions highlighting on the importance of discipline and resiliency.

“I love the exercises,” said Tech Sgt. Christian Ramos, 47th Flying Training Wing honor guard program manager. “For me, it’s helping me think more critically and have confidence in myself to be able to do the right thing when something disciplinary comes up.”

The summit also served as an opportunity for base leadership to engage with Airmen and receive feedback. In that time, Airmen spoke to a panel of senior enlisted leaders, talking with them about their experiences and asking for advice in situations that may arise throughout their careers.

With this training, the future leaders of Laughlin can move forward in their careers with an enhanced knowledge of how officer and enlisted leadership work together.