LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Col. Kory Auch recently assumed command of the 633rd Air Base Wing, ushering in the next chapter in the evolution of Joint Base Langley-Eustis.
Leaders, such as wing commanders, establish trust with their followers by establishing priorities early, communicating them genuinely, and making conscious efforts to understand the needs of their people. In his new role, Colonel Auch plans to promote an environment of excellence centered on the mission and people who accomplish it.
The colonel said his main priority as the 633 ABW commander is to focus on the wing's two-fold mission: to deliver well-prepared Airmen and Soldiers to combatant commands in the area of responsibility, and to provide unparalleled installation support to the units that call JBLE home.
"Focusing on the mission will get you through," Colonel Auch said. "The importance of accomplishing our missions extends far beyond the borders of this base, and the fact that the success of so many is dependent on us is very motivating. Effort counts, but results matter; JBLE missions are too important for us to fail."
The colonel noted the widening scope of missions represented across JBLE, including installation support, fighter operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, training and doctrine, transportation and port operations. This diversity of responsibility makes JBLE an even more important cog in the military's warfighting machine.
"Leading this joint base is about the advancement of our combined capabilities. We fight joint and we deliver our mission in a joint environment," Colonel Auch said. "It's what we do to mature the joint fight, home and abroad. I'm fortunate to come into a new organization that is off to such a great start."
The wing commander thanked his vice commander, U.S. Army Col. Reggie Austin, for providing him the advice and help needed to advance this joint venture.
"He wears a uniform with a different service tape than mine, but he is as committed to this joint base as anyone. I haven't found a single person yet that hasn't thought the world of him," Colonel Auch said. "He's very good at what he does, and he's been an invaluable player in getting it done here since the beginning."
While Colonel Auch maintained that accomplishing the mission is paramount to the success of the installation, he lauded the people as JBLE's most important asset.
"We have to get the mission done, but you don't do that without having great people," he said. "The Soldiers, Airmen, civilians and contractors in the 633 ABW are very impressive and are making it happen every day on JBLE."
Colonel Auch said he looks forward to getting around to meet many people and will let them know the importance of how what they are doing, fits into the bigger picture of mission accomplishment.
"I like to use the example that each task represents a pixel, and when you step back and see all the pixels that represent what our military does, it makes for an awesome picture. My job is to make sure people understand how valuable their pixel is to that picture, or should I say to our mission," he explained.
Colonel Auch stands alongside his people to accomplish the critical missions of JBLE, but his family is the unit that helps him get the job done.
"My wife and children have been an outstanding Air Force family, picking up and following me wherever the job takes us," he said. "People say my job is hard, but I wouldn't last a day doing the work she does being a full-time mom and keeping the home fires burning. I wouldn't be able to do this without them."