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379th AEW Commander discusses priorities for Grand Slam Wing

  • Published
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
AL UDEID AIR BASE, QATAR --  This week the Grand Slam News Team sat down with the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, Brig. Gen. Darren Hartford, to discuss his goals and vision for the wing.

The interview can be summed up with three mission priorities for the wing: mission, Airmen, and partners.

Read below for the full transcript of the interview to learn more about these priorities, as well as the goals Harford has set out for the wing to continue to accomplish.

Tech. Sgt. Pedro: Sir, I just want to thank you for spending time with us today and being able to get these messages out to the Airmen, it's definitely important. 

Brig. Gen. Hartford: I thank you for being here; I thank you for what you folks do.

Tech. Sgt. Pedro: So, every commander comes into a new position with goals and priorities set for not only themselves but for the folks that they command, what are some of your goals and priorities for the folks here at the Grand Slam Wing?

Brig. Gen. Hartford: My priorities are the same of what they've been for the Grand Slam Wing for a while. Mission, Airmen and partners. Mission is enabling and executing decisive combat power. It's why we're here is why we ask folks to leave their families back home and come out here. It's what we do; it's what we get paid to do. It's what we'll continue to do. On Airmen, this addresses the people side. You know, it's making sure that our Airmen are ready, for any of the mission sets that come toward them. They're resilient, and that they know they have the responsibility to take care of duty and respect for their fellow Airman. So working forward, that's my priority: Mission, Airmen, and partners. And partner side is all about all the tenant units as well as our hosts. Developing an enduring presence here at Al Udeid. Mission, Airmen and partners.

Tech. Sgt. Pedro: So the Grand Slam Wing has a long storied history, a lot of great missions flown out of here; a lot of great people coming through this base. Supporting operations in three theaters at one point. With us supporting stability in Afghanistan right now, what were some of your thoughts when you were tasked with taking command of a mission and people down here?

Brig. Gen. Hartford: Excited. You know, when you take a look at how many mission sets on the support side is the biggest, or the largest or the busiest and on the mission side, how much support we give to the ATO(Air Tasking Order) every day. This is where the mission is being done right now, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as other operations that are going on. We still support it. So to be in the service during the time of conflict, you want to be where the mission is at. So getting here, I was very excited to get the opportunity to command again. I appreciate just working with some motivated Airmen, for getting the mission done.

Tech. Sgt. Pedro: Airmen are considered the backbone of what we do and our mission success, how critical, do you think they are to what we are doing down here and in what ways?

Brig. Gen. Hartford: I have said for a while, that people are the foundation of mission success. We get paid to do the mission, but it doesn't get done without people. So, it doesn't matter the Airmen or Soldier or Sailor here at Al Udeid, they're here to do a job. They're here to get the job done. Airmen are just, it's critical that we have them, that they're resilient. That they're knowledgeable about their job and what I've seen so far is just a great motivation they have to get the job done. It takes a team effort; we can't get to where we are trying to go if we leave Airmen behind. Or leave, you know, folks behind on getting the job done. It takes a whole team to make it happen.

Tech. Sgt. Pedro: Is there anything else you would like to add or say to the folks out there?

Brig. Gen. Hartford: I want to thank them. For the warm welcome I've had, I want to thank them for their service; I want to thank them for the great motivation I've seen, and the enthusiasm for getting that job done. I appreciate everything that they do.