Fairchild command chief shares leadership philosophy

Chief Master Sgt. Christian Pugh, 92nd Air Refueling Wing command chief, talks with Airmen about his five keys to leadership at the education center at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., Feb. 18, 2015. The keys he discussed were learn everything, step outside your comfort zone, insert yourself in all situations, challenge processes and take advantage of risks. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Samantha Krolikowski)

Fairchild command chief shares leadership philosophy

Airmen listen as Chief Master Sgt. Christian Pugh, 92nd Air Refueling Wing command chief talks about his five keys to leadership at the education center at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., February 18, 2015. Pugh encouraged Airmen to be familiar with Air Force instructions not only on the functional side, but also on the professional side. He also explained why it is important to be involved in a professional organization. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Samantha Krolikowski)

Fairchild command chief shares leadership philosophy

Published March 3, 2015
By Staff Sgt. Samantha Krolikowski
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Roughly 70 Airmen attended a mentorship briefing at the Education Center, Feb. 18 here. Chief Master Sgt. Christian Pugh, 92nd Air Refueling Wing command chief, talked about his five keys to leadership.

The first key to leadership, Pugh said, is to learn everything you can. Know your people, what their weaknesses are and where they need to improve. Know where you need to insert yourself in order to help an individual grow or to solve a problem.

"As Airmen we need to be willing to learn and try things on our own and to know Air Force instructions which can make us able to take care of each other," said Pugh.

The second key to leadership, Pugh said, is to step outside your comfort zone.

"It's important for an Airman to go outside their comfort zone and seek out ways to expand their aperture," the chief said. "It's important to look at things with a different perspective and how things link together to get the mission done. Each organization provides something different; and without all of them, the mission could fail."

The command chief's third key to leadership is to insert yourself in different situations.

NCOs, must make sure they are correcting Airmen and letting them know how to go in the right direction, Pugh said.

The fourth key Pugh mentioned was that leaders should challenge processes. Airmen can do this by thinking outside the box and not settling for how it's always been done, but rather finding innovative ways to complete a task.

In order to properly challenge a process, the individual has to come up with a solution that will fit the task at hand, Pugh said.

The fifth key Pugh briefed is taking advantage of risk. As Airmen, he said, we have to manage and mitigate the risks we take in order to focus on the mission. One way to mitigate a risk is to make sure there's a solid principle in the plan and someone who can accept the risk.

"We need to effectively execute our mission and help our Airmen develop," Pugh said. "We need to look at every process and see if it hits the mark or is needed."

Pugh hoped his five keys to leadership could help guide an Airmen throughout his or her Air Force career.

"Chief Pugh delineated the difference and importance between leadership keys and attributes," said Staff Sgt. Jacob Aufderheide, 93rd Air Refueling Squadron NCO in charge tactics and weapons.