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Show A ,j. 31 331 HillAFB Friendliness impresses new vice commander weather outlook y www.airfietd-ops- . hill.af.miloswweathef 88 High 65 Low Partly to mostly cloudy with afternoon mountain thunderstorms is by Bill Orrtdorff HiXop Tunes editor Ugden Air Logistics Center's new vice commander returns to Hill AFB after six years and is excited about hi new job and the many opportunities he'll have to interact w ith Team Hill members. "1 prefer to be out with all the workers, offering praise and listening to their concerns," said Brig. Gen. (select) Ed Mahan, who plans to visit work centers at least once a week. True to his word, in his first three weeks on the job lie's already visited several areas including 75th Air Base Wing units, the Commodities Directorate, Utah Test and Training Range, base legal office and Logistics Management Directorate. His philosophy is that people in customer service positions shouldn't treat the senior staff any differently than they would treat a young airman or new lieutenant. "If they treat me well, I would hope they treat everybody the same way," he added. And so far, he's been impressed with the friendliness and customer service he's seen here and the desire of workers to "do things that others won't do.' In addition, he's noticed people have done a tremendous job supporting the war fighter. During his visits to the work centers, the key messages he'll pass on are the importance of teamwork, thinking outside the box, and ensuring the work people do adds value to the mission. Mahan said he didn't truly appreciate the importance of teamwork until several years ago when he began working with diverse organic and contractor work forces. "Most people don't realize the importance of team work until they have larger roles and responsibilities, but the bottom line is teamwork is vital to accomplishing the mission," Mahan said. "Whether it's between headquarters and us, or contractors, 87' High 64s Low Partly to mostly cloudy with afternoon thunderstorms 88 High 63 Low Partly cloudy civilians and military people working together, if we don't all work together as a team, we won't survive." Thinking outside the box is another point he'll stress to Team Hill people. "It is absolutely critical for everybody in the military - whether it's people who are new to our Air Force like the young airmen or officers or those who have been around a little longer - it's time to start thinking out of the box," Mahan said. Although it's important to start looking at new ways to do business, he acknowledges that it is easier said than done. "Change is very difficult," the colonel added. "Changing to improve or streamline processes is going to be the biggest challenge we have." Value added is another key message the vice commander will emphasize. "As we continue to have shrinking budgets every year and money becomes tighter and tighter in the Department of Defense and ultimately in the Air Force, I think we need to always take a step back and ensure what we're doing is value added," he said. "Does it improve what we're doing? If it isn't value added, then people should focus their efforts on something else." In his 26 years in the Air Force, Mahan has found that most people will do a good job if given the oppor-tunit"Senior leaders are key in providing that opportunity," Mahan said. "As you move up in responsibility, you need to clear the obstacles so your peo- y. 88 High 64 Low '.' I ' 5-da- . f 7 v ni:i a iiir"f- f - trf 1 V L I f if Photo by Gary Boyle Col. Ed Mahan, Ogden ALC vice commander, talks with Landing Gear Division employees during one of his weekly tours of the base. Mahan, who will pin on brigadier general rank later this year, Is a former commander of the 649th Combat Logistics Support Squadron at Hill. pie can attain whatever the mission goals are. I believe in letting people do their jobs and being there to support them, if they need my help." This is Mahan's second tour at Hill. He served as commander of the 649th Combat Logistics Support 1994, a time he conSquadron from July siders as one of his career highlights. Having enrolled in ROTC classes in college, Mahan didn't receive his ROTC commission. Instead, he started his working career as a union employee and marketing representative and didn't really think about military service. Yet the sense of team value and service appealed to him. "After I worked in industry for awhile, I went home and told my wife 'I think I want to join the Air Force,'" he recalled. "I'm sure that spark was kindled by my college ROTC experience." At the time, Mahan planned to join the Air Force on a "trial basis," and subsequently received a commission through OTS in 1975. If the Air Force wasn't what he expected, he planned to separate after serving four years. He never had to make that decision since his Air Force experience was indeed what he had expected. However, at one point in his career, Mahan considered leaving the Air Force, but a friend who owns an employment agency convinced him otherwise. His friend asked him to think about whether he enjoyed what he was doing and if he was providing for his family. "I said 'of course I like what I do- - if I didn't I wouldn't do this.' And he said 'Ok, that's good, and are you providing for your family?' I said, 'I've got five kids I'm not making enough money.' He said 'I didn't ask you if you're making enough money, I asked you, are you providing for your family.' I said 'Well, of course I'm providing for my family or I wouldn't be doing this.'" His friend's advice was since he answered "yes" 1993-Augu- st post-colle- to both questions there were positive things going on in his personal and professional life and he should his decision to separate from the Air Force. "Throughout my career I went back to those questions because they kind of give you a common purpose - the service, patriotism, travel opportunities and Air Force as a way of life all became relevant," Mahan said. "When I talk to the young folks today who are thinking about getting out, I tell them to think about the two things my friend asked me years ago." Mahan will pin on his new general officer rank by January, which surpasses the goal he had of making colonel and retiring in 30 years. And he didn't reach this milestone on his own. "Having a successful and fulfilling career isn't something you do alone," Mahan said., "My family has been absolutely critical every step of the way and I owe them all my gratitude." He also credits the outstanding people he's worked with over the last 26 years. The people I've worked with helped me do a good job and made me look good because they did their jobs so well," he said. "When you put the whole package together and look at what's happened, I tell everybody that sends me congratulatory notes that part of this promotion belongs to each of them." Originally hailing from Massachusetts, Mahan grew up in New England. He met his wife, Maureen, who lived in the "next town over" when they attended the same college. The couple has been married for 28 12 years and have five children: Kristen, who married to a pilot and lives at Whiteman AFB, Mo.; Ted, who recently completed four years in the Air Force and now lives with his wife in Chicago; is B-- 2 Brian, an aspiring actor in Los Angeles; Mar y, a col- lege graduate who lives with them here; and Kelly, a senior at Sacred Heart University in Musical magic Partly cloudy Photos by Staff Sgt. Matt Lohr and Airman 1st Class Cory McCutchln crowd of more than 3,500 attended the Aug. 22 perforA mance, of Tops in Blue, held for the first time, in Weber State University's Dee Events Center. Maj. Warren Keithiey, below left, 75th Security 89 High 63 Low Partly cloudy with chance of afternoon thunderstorms vr fe.V Search for airman ends a 3 LJ Xs j jntr'B'-miii'- i , FJELSON AFB, Alaska (AFPN) An extensive three-da- y land and air search for Tech. Sgt. Steven Hockers was called off Aug. 23 after no leads to his whereabouts where found. - 4 umw l JL-rrr I wctm limw Forces Squadron commander, was "hooped" Into participat ing in one of the numbers. Theme for the variety show, which features the best in Air Force talent, was "The Magic of Music." , Hockers, noncommissioned of hydrant ora- officer-in-charg- e tions for the 354th Fighter Wing been Supply Squadron here, has ' missing since Aug. 17. More than 100 people searched 800 square miles east of the base vehihere using cles, Civil Air Patrol aircraft, helicopters from the Air National Guard 210th Rescue Squadron, and Alaska StateTroopers' wildeall-terra- in $ r search and rescue dogs. Hockers left his home Aug. 17 on an vehicle after a having disagreement with his wife. His wife reported him missing Aug. 18 when he had not returned. 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