(C)MSgt Derek Geske

Written by Lt Col Jeffrey Beene

Leaders are not born; they are made with intense heat and pressure over time. They are forged through fires of professional and personal experiences that shape and mold them to perform as positions and responsibilities increase. The path is not easy, and there are few shortcuts without consequence; however, this necessary gauntlet primes the men and women who persevere to be charged with the effectiveness, safety, welfare, and development of others.

Chief Master Sergeants, the highest tier of our enlisted corps, possess substantial operational and occupational experience so they can exert necessary influence in leadership while also mentoring and developing both enlisted and officers alike. Many seek the grade; few will ever attain it. (C)MSgt Derek Geske is one of these few. I had the privilege to serve with him during my squadron command tour with Team Minot, and I can personally attest to his leadership caliber, his ability to communicate, take ownership, respect others, and give the necessary effort to execute the mission while also developing and caring for people under his charge.

Chief Geske’s path through the Air Force began like those of many others. Growing up in Phoenix, Arizona, after high school he felt he was going nowhere with his life, needing to get away from his home life. He had decided not to attend college, but with few other options, “on a whim, a spur of the moment,” he walked into a recruiting office and joined the Air Force. “I knew I needed to do something with my life to support myself,” Geske said, “and I didn’t have a plan.” Little did he know how quickly his newfound career would instill that sense of purpose and meaning he had been seeking.

He entered the Air Force 9 months prior to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Being stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan, at the time, Geske was “lucky enough” to be selected for a team of Defenders to stand up and protect Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. “It was high deployment operations and definitely what I wanted to do. It was something much more meaningful than any other type of work I could think of.” Within a year of finishing his technical training, then-Airman First Class Geske experienced what the Air Force really is, and he decided that this was the career meant for him.

While one’s progress can become more difficult, the experiences along the way prepare the journeyman for the trials and successes that lie ahead. In the 24 years since that decision, Geske’s path led him through missile security duties, law enforcement and military investigations, multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and finally to the place where only the best go. He and his wife, MSgt Savannah Geske, have two kids, and despite the challenge of dual military parenting he places a premium on family time. He is a Renaissance Man of leisure sports, being quite competitive in softball, golf, and bowling. He and his family are avid Tauros fans, regularly attending games at the Maysa Arena. He even proudly champions an impressive array of shoes that rivals a Foot Locker shelf. During our time serving together, I was constantly impressed with his ability to shift gears between duties, problem solving, people, family, activities, and interests, all of which he makes look easy. I promise you, reader, that this ability is not easy. It takes disciplined practice, intentional time management, and likely many mistakes to mature the ability to gearshift as he does.

Of countless lessons learned over two decades of service, he imparts three key facets of leadership that are incredibly important for the success of oneself and the team:

~Failure is okay. “Failures, first and foremost, are the keys to becoming better at what we do.”

~Control the controllable. “There are going to be thing that will happen that are just going to happen. If you dwell on undesirable outcomes, or you let that control your mindset or the situation, you continue to roll downhill and potentially waste opportunities in that moment in time.”

~Lead with passion and take care of your people. “If you do these things, your people will get the mission done and take care of you as a leader.”

Being the bridge that connects the force, ensuring unity in purpose and action, is one of the primary charges of senior non-commissioned officers. Chief Geske is passionate about both the mission and the people who perform it. What excites him most about promoting is being able to focus even more on people while trusting others to handle day-to-day tactical operations. “I am most looking forward to seeing people grow and feel rewarded at what we do and seeing them learn how important they are where they are at.” His path has forged him to form that bridge, and undoubtedly, he will continue to develop himself, his team, and the US Air Force in the years to come. Congratulations on your milestone promotion, I wish you well and I hope our paths cross again. Never stop bringing the thunder! BOOM!

*The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official guidance or position of the United States Government, the Department of Defense, the United States Air Force, or the United States Space Force.