HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- To say the top enlisted leader at Air Force Special Operations Command is passionate about his new position… well, that would be a huge understatement. There are rumors that he actually works 24/7.
“But, it doesn’t feel like work if you’re focusing on people,” said Chief Master Sgt. Gregory Smith, the new AFSOC command chief, who admitted that he does come into work on Saturdays and Sundays.
Smith understands what it’s like to live the AFSOC life. He’s deployed 12 times during his 26-year Air Force career and has had multiple assignments in special operations, including several at Hurlburt Field. And, he has encountered some challenges throughout his career. The most major was being diagnosed with a life-threatening disease during a stint in Pakistan.
“When I went through my two-year battle with leukemia, I learned the Air Force does an excellent job at rallying support in times of crisis,” he said. “Here I am 15 years later as a real-world example of resiliency.”
This experience has made the Preservation of the Force and Family initiative very personal for him. And as the command chief, Smith is responsible for AFSOC’s resiliency program. He also leads the education, training and readiness programs.
“Our operations tempo isn’t slowing down,” he said. “I get it. I’ve been there. During my time here, one of the things I hope to do is to at least add stability and predictability to the process.”
Smith also expressed that he wants to improve frontline leadership throughout the command.
“Supervisors need to understand that managing and leading are two very different things,” he said. “Managing is about ensuring the processes and requirements are completed. But, leadership is helping someone maximize their potential through the process.”
Supervisors also need to communicate effectively, he said.
Smith, who claims he’s an “Atari in an Xbox world,” said it’s the leader’s job to connect with Airmen.
“You need to be able to communicate in a medium in which your Airman understands,” Smith said, speaking to NCOs and other frontline leaders. “You need to find out what makes your Airman tick. You need to know your people and genuinely care about them. That’s the only way you’ll know when something is wrong and they need your help.”
During his last deployment, Smith said he purchased two Xbox’s and learned to play “Halo” with his unit.
“I was terrible at it, but I tried,” he said. “I knew video games would be a great way to connect with my team.”
Smith said he’s honored to be AFSOC’s command chief.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to advise commanders on the unbelievable sacrifices our Air Commandos make every day,” he said. “I will be taking care of our people. And, everything I do will be for the team.”