19th CONS planning summit drives innovation, empowers Airmen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jayden Ford
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. – The 19th Contracting Squadron hosted its third annual strategic planning summit on Oct. 26, as part of an ongoing effort within the unit to allow Airmen at all levels to drive innovation and be empowered, decision-making leaders.

The summit afforded contracting Airmen the opportunity to evaluate goals they set last year, measure their success, and lay the foundation for future goals – keeping the squadron on a continuous trend of improvement. 

The event kicked off with a mission brief from Col. Andrew Roddan, 19th Operations Group commander, showcasing the capabilities and varied, global mission sets of the C-130 and the 19th OG. The brief helped 19th CONS personnel connect their mission support efforts to the tactical airlift mission of Herk Nation.     

During the planning summit, Airmen from the squadron were given four main lines of effort to accelerate change over the next year. They originated from ideas offered in pre-summit ‘homework’ where input was solicited from all members. Members then split into groups to brainstorm and produce plans for effective and efficient ways that the squadron could achieve each goal.

“The four lines of effort align with the kind of Airmen we are driving to become: Well-Trained Airmen, Innovative Airmen, Digital Airmen and Connected Airmen,” said Lt. Col. Steve Grow, 19th CONS commander. “These four categories help us see how we need to get better at both our mission and our unit culture. Each squadron member, not just the leadership team, has an active role in identifying focus areas, setting the plan for the line of effort, and leading positive change each day in the unit. It is a year-long journey of execution for FY22 for us to work towards improving 19th CONS as a team.” 

These summits have directly accelerated change within the unit and get after Air Force Chief of Staff Charles Q. Brown, Jr.’s action orders from all levels.

“This event speaks directly to General Brown’s action orders,” said Master Sgt. Kevin Thomas, 19th CONS acquisitions flight superintendent. “We are striving to retain quality talent by fostering an environment of inclusion and empowering Airmen to make these decisions for the entire year.” 

In addition to developing Airmen, the summit also sought to improve processes within the squadron, aimed at eliminating bureaucracy that comes with certain tasks.

“We dove deep into our systems and procedures to try and innovate how we do things in the unit,” Thomas said. “This helps us see how we need to get better, both from a mission and culture perspective; and how we can look out for each other, develop each other and be better at our mission to help the whole base.”

At the heart of the summit was a push to transform 19th CONS Airmen into innovative forward-thinkers who feel empowered to maintain the squadron’s upward trend toward excellence.

“Innovation is more than a buzzword—it goes beyond just creative thinking and lofty expectations,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr. “It is evolutionary or revolutionary changes to existing processes, capabilities, and mindsets. To succeed, we must properly identify problems, empower decentralized solutions by individuals and teams, and infuse an ethos of innovation at all levels. Innovation depends on both creative individuals and supportive organizations to turn concepts into reality.”

19th CONS planning summit drives innovation, empowers Airmen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jayden Ford
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. – The 19th Contracting Squadron hosted its third annual strategic planning summit on Oct. 26, as part of an ongoing effort within the unit to allow Airmen at all levels to drive innovation and be empowered, decision-making leaders.

The summit afforded contracting Airmen the opportunity to evaluate goals they set last year, measure their success, and lay the foundation for future goals – keeping the squadron on a continuous trend of improvement. 

The event kicked off with a mission brief from Col. Andrew Roddan, 19th Operations Group commander, showcasing the capabilities and varied, global mission sets of the C-130 and the 19th OG. The brief helped 19th CONS personnel connect their mission support efforts to the tactical airlift mission of Herk Nation.     

During the planning summit, Airmen from the squadron were given four main lines of effort to accelerate change over the next year. They originated from ideas offered in pre-summit ‘homework’ where input was solicited from all members. Members then split into groups to brainstorm and produce plans for effective and efficient ways that the squadron could achieve each goal.

“The four lines of effort align with the kind of Airmen we are driving to become: Well-Trained Airmen, Innovative Airmen, Digital Airmen and Connected Airmen,” said Lt. Col. Steve Grow, 19th CONS commander. “These four categories help us see how we need to get better at both our mission and our unit culture. Each squadron member, not just the leadership team, has an active role in identifying focus areas, setting the plan for the line of effort, and leading positive change each day in the unit. It is a year-long journey of execution for FY22 for us to work towards improving 19th CONS as a team.” 

These summits have directly accelerated change within the unit and get after Air Force Chief of Staff Charles Q. Brown, Jr.’s action orders from all levels.

“This event speaks directly to General Brown’s action orders,” said Master Sgt. Kevin Thomas, 19th CONS acquisitions flight superintendent. “We are striving to retain quality talent by fostering an environment of inclusion and empowering Airmen to make these decisions for the entire year.” 

In addition to developing Airmen, the summit also sought to improve processes within the squadron, aimed at eliminating bureaucracy that comes with certain tasks.

“We dove deep into our systems and procedures to try and innovate how we do things in the unit,” Thomas said. “This helps us see how we need to get better, both from a mission and culture perspective; and how we can look out for each other, develop each other and be better at our mission to help the whole base.”

At the heart of the summit was a push to transform 19th CONS Airmen into innovative forward-thinkers who feel empowered to maintain the squadron’s upward trend toward excellence.

“Innovation is more than a buzzword—it goes beyond just creative thinking and lofty expectations,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr. “It is evolutionary or revolutionary changes to existing processes, capabilities, and mindsets. To succeed, we must properly identify problems, empower decentralized solutions by individuals and teams, and infuse an ethos of innovation at all levels. Innovation depends on both creative individuals and supportive organizations to turn concepts into reality.”