SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Today we spotlight Senior Master Sgt. David Brown, 73rd Airlift Wing Operations Superintendent.
932 AW: In just a few words what is an NCO?
DB: I believe that and NCO is a mentor, a confidant and a leader of people.
932 AW: In your words, what are some responsibilities of an NCO?
DB: While supervising subordinates, I believe that an NCO sets the temperature for his/her subordinates. The NCO should be a mentor and a role model for his/her subordinates.
932 AW: What do you think it takes to become an NCO?
DB: I believe that you have to be willing to learn from your subordinates. I also think that you must have humility and be willing to admit when you have made a mistake. Lastly, you should have expectations of your airmen that you do have of yourself. In other words, “ don’t expect your subordinates to do something that you will not do yourself”.
932 AW: What changed from being an Airman to becoming an NCO?
DB: I had more responsibility and I realized that I had a ton of things that I needed to learn.
932 AW: What advice would you offer Airman?
DB: Remember that you are a part of something bigger than yourself. Don’t be afraid to admit that you’ve made a mistake, learning from our mistakes makes us better people. Lastly, take care of yourself: mentally, physically and spiritually.
932 AW: Do you have a mentor or anyone that helped you in career to becoming an NCO?
DB: Yes I do, Chief Kevin Pomeroy, took me under his wing when I first arrived to this 73rd and he always gave me advice on how to handle different situations. He also gave me the confidence to try new things.
932 AW: Anything you would like to add?
DB: I believe that a good leader cannot expect his/her people to do things that the leader cannot do. In other words, “don’t have people doing something that you wont do yourself”.
Thank you Senior Master. Sgt. Brown for sharing your knowledge and experience with us.