19th Air Force command team visit Columbus people, take closer look at mission

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Phillip A. Stewart, 19th Air Force commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Justin G. Apticar, 19th Air Force command chief, visited here, Feb. 6 - 8, 2023.

During the command team’s time, they toured the base, had a breakfast with Airmen, NCOs, and senior NCOs, before hosting a wing all call.

At the all call, both members of the command team spoke about their leadership styles and expressed their expectations.

“I can sum up my entire leadership style in one word, respect,” said Stewart.

Stewart honed in on three important points he wanted to make sure the Airmen understood and remembered.

“Respect yourself and respect others,” said Stewart. “Secondly, enforce the standards, there is a respectful way of doing that. Lastly, accomplish the mission. No one does that better than you."

“There is a reason why over 50 nations send their people to train here,” he said. “It’s because we do it the best in the world. You do it the best in the world.”

Both during the call and during his breakfast Apticar utilized his time to enlighten Airmen on what his responsibilities are as a command chief, while also sharing what his expectations are for all Airmen.

“As a command chief, all the words in the AFI are summed-up by being the central force for the commander,” said Apticar. “Command chiefs are the key enlisted advocate advisor on operational effectiveness, and the organizations training and equipping of enlisted Airmen.”

Both leaders spent time with the leaders and Airmen across the base, getting a better understanding of the mission and hearing their experiences first-hand.