Your new command chief

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Brigitte N. Brantley-Sisk
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The new 23rd Wing command chief is looking forward to getting to know the Airmen here.

Although Chief Master Sgt. Frank Batten has been at Moody for less than a week, he's already busy getting to know everyone.

The chief has a maintenance background and comes here from serving as the 35th Operations Group superintendent at Misawa Air Base, Japan.

What do you expect of your Airmen?
I expect my Airmen to take pride in what they do and everything else will fall into place. I also expect each of them to be good Wingmen to each other.

I'm not a fan of people disregarding standards. Since I'm a maintainer by trade, I appreciate the ability to follow rules and go by the book. Not taking the initiative to follow even simple expectations such as uniform standards shows a lack of pride.

What are you looking forward to at Moody?
My favorite part about the Air Force is the people. I have the chance to get to know so many different individuals and I'm looking forward to that here. I met a few members from Moody while deployed to Afghanistan last year, so I got a bit of a head start.

One thing I'm not looking forward to is the humidity. I've been stationed in Arizona and Japan, so I'm used to the dry heat and snow. When I was unloading my car the day I got here, I mentioned the high humidity to Chief Master Sgt. Greg Brown. He said, "This is nothing- it's only February. Just wait."

What family members are living here with you?
My wife Vicki and 11-year-old daughter Kayla live here with me. I also have a 17-year-old daughter Elizabeth living in San Antonio with her mother. We don't have any pets yet but I don't know how long that'll last.

What's your leadership style?
I would say I'm engaged but hands-off at the same time. I know what's going on, but I'm not going to get into everyone's business. I trust they know how to do their work and how to get the end result we need. If I see someone going in a direction that might lead toward harm, then I'll step in.

Why did you join the Air Force?
My dad made a career out of the Air Force, so that's what I happened to know a lot about growing up. It was a lifestyle I knew and loved, so I joined. I ended up making a career out of it because I love serving my country. The camaraderie you see in the Air Force isn't something you'll observe in the public work force.

Do you have any final words?
My family and I really appreciate the warm Moody welcome we've received. We're impressed with the base and the contagious hospitality. We look forward to serving with all the Airmen here at Moody.