PACAF command chief reflects on 30-year career

by Tech. Sgt. Jerome Tayborn
PACAF Public Affairs

11/2/2012 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM  -- Pacific Air Forces' top enlisted Airman will end his military career effective Mar. 31, 2013, bringing to a close 30 years of faithful service.

Chief Master Sgt. Brooke McLean, PACAF command chief, will say farewell during a retirement ceremony at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Officer's Club Nov. 16. Retired Gen. Gary North, former PACAF commander, will preside over the ceremony.

Following is the transcript of an Oct. 29 interview with McLean. The chief served as the Command Chief for PACAF from October 2009 until November 2012.

1. What has been the highlight of your career? Well, it's hard to pick one. I've had many great assignments and tours -- three times in PACAF, three times in Air Force Special Operations Command, and three assignments in Europe -- those are highlights by themselves! I certainly will relish the memories of serving my final three years on active duty at PACAF. It's been an incredible time to be stationed in this region, and we've seen a dramatic shift in the power and balance of where we live. We have a great mission with strong leaders and a focus on where we need to be ... being part of a focused organization like that is a highlight in any career.

2. What will you miss most about the Air Force and the military? I will miss the camaraderie and cohesion of being in a very selective organization that serves our great nation and has relevance in the future of the world. Some may think that's a bit over the top, but really, that's what we do every day. We produce airpower that impacts the world, whether it's via kinetic firepower or humanitarian aid -- our Airman impact the world.

3. What are your plans for retirement? I'm going to Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and will work for the Air Force Enlisted Village. It's going to be a way to "give back" to the Air Force for everything I have received over the years. The Air Force Enlisted Village provides a home for hundreds of Air Force military retirees and spouses, some of which would have nowhere else to live if not for the AFEV. I really believe it's a natural extension of our Air Force Family, and I'm honored to be a part of it.

4. Tell us about the moment you found out you were going to make chief? What a relief! I was assigned to Headquarters PACAF and it was about two months after the attacks on 9/11. We had all been working hard, and the response in the command was critical to the nation's efforts and military responses. There were long periods of hectic work and some periods of anxious waiting as we dealt with the uncertainty of the time. The promotion was a grounding point for me, and I was humbled to be honored when so much was going on around us.

5. Why did you join the military/Air Force? I've told this story countless times over the years ... I joined because I didn't have anything else to do. I know that sounds weak but it's true. In high school, I was an athlete and after graduating, I tried college but wasn't mature enough at the time. I needed direction, and I needed to change the way I was living my life. So, a family friend recommended the Air Force and here I sit 30 years later. I'm smiling because, in hindsight, I know what a HUGE decision it was and I've been blessed to serve around the globe, complete my education, and be part of something much bigger than me.

6. What goals did you have when you joined the Air Force and how did it compare to everything you have achieved/experienced? My goals were meager. As I mentioned, I was looking to change the direction of my life and the Air Force seemed like a great way to do it. When I joined in 1983, the military wasn't exactly viewed as a big move or a prestigious path to take. Many people still looked down on military service. We were less than 10 years beyond Vietnam and a few years after the Desert One tragedy. Confidence in the military wasn't high and therefore many citizens didn't have high expectations of the people or capabilities. That has been one of the biggest changes I have seen and it's tough to compare that time to our force today. The reality is the military today doesn't compare to the military I joined nearly three decades ago. I'm not sure I would make it in today's Air Force!

7. What do you think the Air Force does great? What could it do better? We fly, fight, and win for our nation, and we do it better than anyone. It's not easy but we make it look easy. In fact, we make it look too easy and some don't appreciate the complexities of the global missions we execute. Additionally, the Air Force takes care of its people. It's not always perfect and as a large organization with over 332,000 people, we deal with many challenges, but we take care of our people and their families. We do it with quality work environments, excellent training, professional development opportunities, healthy living conditions, and outstanding support systems for our families. What could the Air Force do better? Communicate more with people and not rely on computers as much. We need to get out from behind the screen, put down our smart phones, pull-out our head phones, and communicate.

8. Who or what motivated you to go above and beyond during your career? I was motivated by "ownership" of the Air Force. I didn't expect anyone to do the mission for me and I didn't want to be the person on the sidelines when the action happened. I wanted to be the "go to" guy who would answer the call. I wanted to be like the biblical prophet Jeremiah and, when called upon, respond with a firm, "Here am I, send me." I have a great experience of when I answered the call, and ironically, it was during that phone call when I realized I had to take ownership of the deployment of some special operations helicopters. We needed airlift and I had the plans and abilities to execute the mission. When asked who was available to validate the movement of these critical assets, I literally looked around the office and knew it was me. Everyone else, my boss, my commander, was deployed and the answer had to be provided then or we risked a delay. So, I confirmed the airlift plan and took ownership of the Air Force.

9. What's been the highlight of your time at PACAF and why? There are too many answers to that question! In short, the highlight has been serving the people of this great command. Serving with the quality of Airmen we have in today's Air Force and in PACAF is humbling. I haven't specifically counted the days, but I'm relatively certain I spent over half of my time in the command traveling to visit Airmen at our bases or meeting with our partner nations. Being on the road is hard but it's where our Airmen are serving. I can't say I achieved all I wanted to do, but I can say I didn't leave anything on the table. I needed more hours in the day!

10. Any last words for PACAF Airmen? Run hard, make every day count, watch out for your wingman, call your family, and take pride in the fact that you're doing something most people aren't able or willing to do. You serve our Nation, and I'm proud of our team.