New Operations Group commander stresses mission first, people always

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Kerry Bartlett
  • 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Minneapolis, St. Paul International Airport Air Reserve Station --  Saying, "I want to earn the trust of the people in the Operations Group and the Airlift Wing to be a successful leader," Lt. Col. Ronald Wilt took command of the 934th Operations Group March 15.
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long with that responsibility, he brings new ideas along with questions for the group.
"I am very impressed with the quality of the people and strength of the units," he said. "For the first 100 days, I plan no changes. Instead, I will listen and learn without questioning thoughts or judgment."
The new commander expects to ask a lot of questions and wants to learn the way the 934th Airlift Wing does business. 

"Expect me to ask questions as I go around to each of the units to visit and learn," he said. "My questions are not intended to identify wrong ways of doing business. On the contrary, there are many ways to do business." 

"I want to understand your processes. I want to understand your talents, and I want to understand your passions," he added.
He requests members of the 934th OG set their priorities in this order: family, civilian job, reserve. 

"We must balance several things in our lives, which means we must set priorities," he said. "The asset that truly appreciates within any organization is people. Systems become outdated, buildings deteriorate and machinery wears, but people can grow and develop." 

The colonel is no stranger to running things. His previous assignment was Deputy Commander, 302nd Operations Group at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
Furthermore, he is a C-130 command pilot with more than 7,500 flying hours on various models, and has served as an instructor pilot, flight examiner, ground safety officer and director of training at the squadron level during his career. 

"Our job is to support the wing mission. I want to learn how we do business and understand how it is different from previous commands," he said. "I want to understand the interaction between groups and overcome barriers."
"There is an unwritten motto that I will try to follow as commander. It is, 'Mission first, people always.' I will not forget that," the colonel said. 

A 1980 Air Force Academy graduate, Lt. Col. Wilt will be promoted to colonel April 1.