New AFSOC commander tours Cannon

27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

With less than a month on the job, Lt. Gen. Brad Heithold, the newly appointed Air Force Special Operations Command commander, made it a top priority to interact with Cannon’s Air Commandos.

Airmen of Cannon Air Force Base welcomed Heithold as he toured the base July 23-24 for the first time as commander. They proudly displayed all of the changes taking place and their positive impact on the AFSOC mission.

During multiple mentoring sessions with the men and women of Cannon, the general opened the room for discussion to truly get a sense of any individual issues and concerns. Through an open and transparent dialogue, it was evident that Heithold takes his new role as AFSOC commander very seriously.

“Nobody cares how much I know,” Heithold frankly stated. “What matters to them is how much I care. By being a servant leader, I am able to positively affect AFSOC airmen, which in turn positively affects the Air Force.”

Meeting with various groups from young Airmen to seasoned commanders and their spouses, Heithold reinforced the same message:

“Take care of your airmen so they can thrive,” he said. “The single most important element to success is learning how to get along with people. Unfortunately, some leaders don’t learn that until late in their careers.”

Having high expectations for AFSOC as a whole, Heithold was clear when it came to his strategies for success.

“If you want to go far, go together,” he continued. “I’m interested in going far, and the only way to do that is as a team.”

In addition to meeting with airmen, Heithold had the opportunity to see Team Cannon’s newest and most anticipated project; the upcoming completion of the privatized housing project. Members from the Balfour Beatty Community staff welcomed the commander as they provided him a tour and updates to their most prized development.

“The airmen are really going to love this,” Heithold stated enthusiastically. “What is happening here for our Air Commandos is really special.”

At the conclusion of his visit, Heithold left his mark at Cannon as someone who fiercely cares about the needs of his airmen and has great aspirations for the future of AFSOC.