U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – A former chief grasp sergeant common on the Air Force Academy, retired from his place because the Cadet wing’s curriculum department supervisor, Feb. 28.
Bob Vasquez took on a number of roles on the Academy after retiring from energetic obligation in 2002 as a chief grasp sergeant, the providers top enlisted rank, together with directing the Center for Character and Leadership Development course and creating its Vector Program for freshmen, a seminar specializing in values, management development and self-reflection.
“My job is to develop leaders of character,” Vasquez stated, referring to the varsity’s Leader of Character framework, managed by the CCLD. “I taught the Air Force core values of integrity, service before self and excellence. The framework is about how we do that.”
Cadet 1st Class Sam Vance stated Vasquez helped him recuperate from tutorial probation and acknowledge his goal as a possible officer.
“Chief Vasquez taught me that people will not follow you if they don’t see you as a leader,” Vance stated. “To be a leader, you have to know your people’s aspirations and build relationships to help them attain their goals.”
Maj. Adam Dyke, CCLD help division chief and an Academy graduate, remembered Vasquez from his personal cadet days.
“Chief Vasquez always asked, ‘isn’t it a great day to be an American Warrior?’ with such enthusiasm that you knew he believed it with his whole heart and wanted you to believe it, too,” he stated. “It took time to understand and appreciate his belief and intent, but we were lucky to have him as an example so early in our careers.”
Even if cadets didn’t stumble upon Vasquez each day, he was a mainstay on campus, and so they all referred to as him “chief.” They knew he was behind the “Words of Wisdom” emails despatched to cadets day by day and made the rounds throughout campus chatting with cadets.
“[Cadets] are individuals who want to be treated as individuals and respected,” Vasquez stated. “Those 3 a.m. emails were my way of letting cadets know someone out there cares about them even in the middle of the night.”
Vasquez stated cadets impressed him to attach along with his Hispanic and Native American roots.
“It’s important to celebrate our differences, live and work in connection with each other and develop as leaders and followers,” he stated.
Vasquez stated he’ll spend extra time along with his household, additional develop his “Power-packed Leader Tips” podcast and “Heirpower” guide collection, sponsored by Air University, and stay in his volunteer place as the moral advisor to Cadet Squadron 40.
