CMSgt Joshua E. Woodard
For Chief Master Sergeant Joshua Woodard, it is more important to set shorter and perhaps more achievable goals “that don’t linger for 10 years” says Woodard “so I tell younger Airmen that building short term goals will make you feel like you are moving forward.”
It was 2004 when Woodard enlisted in the Air Force “because I was 17 years old and really needed something that allowed me to pay the bills” Woodard shares. After basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, his next stop would be Sheppard AFB, Texas where he would complete his Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC/R) apprentice course before being sent to Misawa Air Base in Japan.
Chief Woodard grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He has served at various locations as a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) technician, also served as the White House Military Office’s Superintendent. Chief Woodard has expeditionary deployment experience in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, SPARTAN SHIELD and ENDURING FREEDOM. Prior to his current position, Woodard was the Senior Enlisted Leader for a DATA MASKED organization.
In his current position Woodard is the Senior Enlisted Leader of the 5th Civil Engineering Squadron at Minot AFB. In this role he is the advisor to the Commander on topics relating to training, safety, readiness, morale, welfare, and quality of life issues affecting a total of 584 military and civilian personnel.
Woodards journey to Chief Master Sergeant included setting a goal to make it to E6. But along the way “people saw something in me, I guess. The encouraged me to keep working hard and assured me that if I did, good things would happen. Before I knew it I made Senior (Master Sergeant) and now I am an E8. The advice of just keep doing what you are doing kind of worked out I guess” says Woodard.
In his every day Woodard guides and mentors personnel within seven flights, which operate and maintain 2,600 facilities, supporting a 12,000-member base populace, 27 B-52s, 8 UH-1Ns and 150 ICBM sites. Finally, his duties include oversight and critical thinking while advancing a $20 million operating budget and a $253 million construction program, training and equipping Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force, a highly mobile, rapidly deployable civil engineering unit responsible for building and maintaining airbases, providing emergency response, and explosive ordnance disposal in support of Air Force operations worldwide. Prime BEEF teams are deployed to support various operations, including disaster relief, contingency operations, and combat operations.
Although Woodard cannot necessarily point to a particular time in his life when he made the decision to work towards Chief Master Sergeant, he does know that his son, Jacob, who enlisted in the Air Force and is now stationed in Columbus, Mississippi, had a large part in where Woodard is today. “I wanted to keep working hard and let him see how that would pay off” shares Woodard “hoping that he, too, would emulate me and also work hard.” Woodard points out that yes, he probably influenced his son into making the decision to join the Air Force “but my wife, Casandra is also in the Air Force and she is a Senior Master Sergeant.” The Woodards met in Wichita Falls, Texas.
What are the common personality traits of a Chief Master Sergeant? “Being the one that takes the bullets for the team- look at fellow chiefs, still look up to them. The AF said that I am what they want in a Chief, but to be honest, I don’t necessarily see myself as a Chief quite yet. I also know that it’s important to respect the stripe” answers Woodard.
The Woodards will be leaving Minot after 3 years this summer as MSgt Casandra Woodard has accepted a position in Colorado Springs. “I will be taking over the CE unit down there, which gives me an opportunity to get back into CE again.” In looking back at their experience in Minot CMSgt Woodard says it felt good for things to slow down a bit. “Having been stationed in some larger cities, this (Minot) has been a good switch. Woodard says he has appreciated the quality of the personnel in Minot. “We have some real rock starts here”
When he looks back at Minot, what will CMSgt Woodard appreciate most? “I think we’ve got the right leaders here. They care about the Airmen. We need to give those Airmen something to do when they are off duty. We also want to give leadership opportunities to our Airmen. A lot of people say today’s Airmen are different, but I think it’s more that they are hungry for information to make a logical judgement. I think it’s good that we are allowing them to lead at younger ages. It’s a bit different than when we started. We were charged to listen and execute.”
For CMSgt Joshua Woodard, there are no immediate plans for retirement. “Who knows when I will be done. My wife (MSgt Casandra Woodard) has at least 6 more years. Who knows what happens after that. I guess I really don’t see an end in sight.”
The Woodards have 3 children, Jacob who is 20, Jacelyn who is 13 and Jordan who is 7.
