Command chief reflects on 30-year career Published Oct. 5, 2006 By Tarsha Storey 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Chief Master Sgt. John Foran, 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces command chief master sergeant, reflected Monday on his 30-year career in the Air Force. His retirement ceremony was Thursday. Q: What career field where you in when you joined the Air Force? A: I came into the Air Force as a weapons mechanic. It was a good job. We loaded bombs, missiles and rockets and worked on F4Es. Q: What led you to the Air Force? A: I worked as a surveyor and loved it! I was very shy and I didn't have to work with many people. Then I worked as an installation contractor for a while, but I didn't like that. I went to work for a printing press. That was very interesting work. I kept riding by this sign everyday on the way to work -- it said join the Air Force and see the world. I went to see a recruiter just before Christmas just to say hi. The recruiter said here, take this test. He said he had just the job for me -- a weapons mechanic. He asked me when I wanted to come in. I told him I'd be back because I wanted to join in March. He told me to hold on a second, ran off and came back to say they had an opening on the 1st of March. Then he said if you sign up today, I'll give you a coupon for two pizzas. I said -- I'm in. What do I have to do? For someone who never thought he'd do more than four years, it's been a great 30 years. The pizzas were delicious. Q: Where has your career taken you? A: I started off at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., I decided not to re-enlist, but I planned to extend and finish my college and try to go to officer training school. I wanted to travel, get my commission, fly and eventually become a wing commander. Of course, that didn't happen. I got orders to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. I decided to re-enlist because I wanted to do one more assignment. I was given orders to Hill Air Force Base, Utah. We stayed at Hill for nine years and couldn't get an assignment -- no one could. Finally, an assignment became available to go to Egypt and work with their air force. I said, what a cool job. I got picked for it and got the opportunity to go work with the Egyptian Air Force for a year. I was then assigned to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. I came back and thought that would be my last assignment. Eight months later, Chief Master Sgt. John Moody told me I want you to move and take over the armament flight. I said I would stay two years and make a difference -- then I'll retire. About a year later, he came to me and said I need you to move again -- to the Inspector General's (office). I was promoted to chief master sergeant and went back to the weapons flight as the base weapons manager. Two weeks later, I had a new job down at one of the fighter squadrons. I stayed there for seven or eight months. Then I became the command chief -- which shocked me. My wing commander said I want you to put in a package (to apply for the command chief position). I did, and the rest is history. I was miserable for about seven months, but then I liked it because I started to see I could make a difference for the Airmen that worked with me. I think that was key and critical to why I enjoy it. Then I wanted to retire again. I wanted to PCS back to Seymour Johnson where I started or go to 9th Air Force at Shaw. Q: What had being the 9th AF command chief been like for you? A: Extremely fast. The two and a half years I've been here have gone by in a flash. I've been to the desert lots of times. Someone said this job has to be hard -- you're always moving. You're never sleeping at home. It's not. You see the look on the Airmen's faces. It gives you energy, excitement and purpose. There's been days where I'm extremely tired, but I wouldn't say it's hard. Hard isn't the word. It's been fun. Q: What are some of the changes you've noticed since you joined the AF? A: I love the new uniform. I think the biggest change, bar none, is technology. You know back in the olden days, we had two typewriters in the whole unit. Of course, no one knew how to use them except the people who had taken typing in school. Then we got the Zenith one hundred. Now we have today's computers. My blackberry has more power than those Zeniths. In the next ten years, I can't imagine where we'll be. Technology is moving so rapidly. It went from typewriters to pagers to cell phones. Now we have e-mail and blackberries. I think some of the technology has increased the stress on people. The demands on production have gone up. I think people and their issues have always stayed the same. Whether it is issues at work or relationships (at home). The one thing that concerns me is that we don't lose the people in the process as all the technology jumps. Q: Who has affected you throughout your career? A: Many people have impacted me immensely. As we move though this maze of life, we touch so many people. One of the most influential, amongst many, is Master Sgt. John J. Green (retired). I know he didn't even realize how much he was going to change my life. He made me move off the flightline and become an instructor. I had a paralyzing fear of standing in front of people. He told me I'd be fine. I told him I couldn't get in front of two people and speak. He told me again, I'd be fine. I had no idea I'd have to brief colonels. That set me on a course to be able to speak, to finish my speech classes and my college. I said thanks, but I thought he was persecuting me. I found out years ago, many people have thought the same about me. We have so many people in the Air Force that sell themselves short because they're so capable. You need to push your people to do great things. People like him pushed me to be what I am today. People like Lt. Gen. Gary North -- he is the single most capable leader I've ever met. He can make critical decisions; he can mentor and can be compassionate in the span of five minutes. I've never met a man who's so at ease with his ability to do all those things right there. He'll change from a leader to a mentor in a 'nanosecond.' He's more than just a leader, he's a teacher. People that do that set others up for success their entire career. Q: What kind of legacy do you want to leave? A: I think the same thing that so many people gave to me -- I hope there are people out there who I've either inspired or pushed or motivated them to that extra edge to do things they didn't think they could possibly do. I hope that I've inspired others to become leaders that will continue to keep us what I consider the greatest Air Force the world has ever known. Q: What advice would you give today's Airmen? A: I would tell them to support the mission with all their heart and do the best they can to improve themselves and make themselves better for that next step in life. There's always another step. Every one of us will get out of the Air Force someday. As we progress through life, we need to continue to improve ourselves. I would challenge them to make sure they're financially sound, educationally sound and to be ready for the next life challenge because life never stops. Q: What is the next step for you? A: I'm going back to Douglasville Ga. I will be building a house next to my father's, across the street from where I grew up. I lost my mother some years ago. I'm looking forward to spending time with my dad and my wife, Sandy. I'm going to enjoy some time off, have some fun and hopefully spend time with my son, John Jr. There are so many other things -- I'm going to finish my master's degree. If I decide to go back to work, I'm going to see what's out there.