PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- When Chief Master Sgt. Vicki Robertson joined the 302nd Airlift Wing more than 20 years ago, her ultimate goal was to become the command chief, the senior enlisted member in the unit. Robertson achieved her goal earlier this year. Now that she has been in the position for several months and is adjusting to the new role and responsibilities, her focus remains on the enlisted men and women of the 302nd AW.
“I think of the priorities that I had envisioned in my head, first and foremost, is career development for the enlisted force,” said Robertson. “To make that successful there are those pieces that are probably going to have to be finessed here and there as to what is the most important forward moving piece at the time, whether it’s the awards and decs [decorations], mentoring or growing the force.”
Before she was selected for the position, she made the most of her time, observing other leaders and their leadership styles, figuring out her own. Then when her opportunity arrived, she knew from day one what kind of command chief she would be.
“When I joined this unit in ’95, I watched the other command chiefs. It was actually Chief Westerlund who truly inspired me to want this job, because I saw the good things he was doing. It didn’t matter what AFSC [Air Force Specialty Code] you were or where you were. He was reaching out and he was helping people. I wanted the ability to do that too.” said Robertson.
One of the ways Robertson reaches out to Airmen is by getting out of her office and interacting with them every Unit Training Assembly. The chief, along with Col. James DeVere, 302nd AW commander, make a point to visit the units and meet with Airmen every UTA, looking for honest feedback.
“You have to be there,” she says. “Specifically it’s those one-on-one conversations, not being afraid to walk up to an A1C [Airman First Class] and asking how their day was.”
The two senior leaders also have lunch at the dining facility during UTAs to interact with Airmen in a casual atmosphere where she says they “just find a table, sit down with a bunch of people and kind of make them talk to us.”
One of Robertson’s toughest hurdles is finding enough hours in the day to accomplish everything she has on her list. She cites “time management” as a major challenge. But if an Airman wants to talk, everything else is set aside.
“People come first so when somebody wants to come and talk, that comes first,” says Robertson.
And when Airmen do get the chance to talk to the chief, they soon realize how much experience and knowledge she has and what she has to offer in terms of their career.
“I’ve had five career fields, I’ve been in the Army Reserve also. I’ve done pretty much every status there is in the Reserve. When they hear the breadth of my career it always surprises them,” says Robertson.
Even though Robertson has achieved her ultimate goal with the 302nd AW, she continues to set new goals. She has her eye on what the future may hold in leadership opportunities at the Numbered Air Force or Major Command levels.
But for now, she is using her experience, knowledge, and position to help the enlisted ranks of the 302nd to achieve their own goals. Chief Robertson knows she is in the right place, in the right job, where she can do the most good for the Airmen of the 302nd.
“The reception that I received in the hangar, when we did the change of responsibility told me everything that I needed to know about coming into this position. That overwhelming applause and reception from people told me that this is where I should be. I’m excited to be here. I’m excited to have the opportunity that has been given to me, that I’ve been entrusted with,” said Robertson.
Editor’s note: Chief Master Sgt. Joe Westerlund served as the 302nd AW command chief from April 2009 to November 2010.