20 AF/TF-214 commander speaks to Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Malcolm Mayfield
  • 90th Missile Wing
The new 20th Air Force and Task Force 214 commander has recently completed visits to several of the installations under his command, with his latest trip being to the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., Dec. 9.

Maj. Gen. Tony Cotton has so far visited Kirtland, Malmstrom and F.E. Warren AFB and has plans for traveling to Minot AFB in the near future.

While at F.E. Warren, Cotton introduced himself to the members of the Mighty Ninety by sharing details of his childhood and current family life. 

"I treasure family and the reason I tell you that is because you should too. Loved ones should be very important in your lives because our ops tempo is one that is very demanding," he said. "And guess what, one day we all take the uniform off."

Cotton explained his vision for the ICBM nuclear enterprise and urged Airmen to continuously improve their processes and procedures, in order to maintain a safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrence mission.

To this end, Cotton developed a system labeled 'The Four Cs,' which focus on the areas of combat capability in the nuclear enterprise and include compliance, competence, composure and commitment.

"Compliance leads to competence, but commitment ties everything together. I see before me Airmen who are committed to providing safe, secure and effective combat capabilities for our nuclear deterrence mission."

Cotton explained the fourth C, composure, is essential for Airmen to adapt to some of the challenges of ICBM operations while being professional and credible.

Though Cotton emphasized a need for committed Airmen, he also spoke on his desire to see innovation.

"I am all about compliance, but I'm also about innovations I know each and every one of you has," Cotton said. "Some may say, 'Sir, it is so convoluted to try and change anything.' Well, I need to know that too."

Cotton also said he plans to learn from the past and move forward.
"We need to look at the changes we've made and determine if those changes help us achieve our mission. I'm very invested in constantly improving our combat capability with all of your input."

He is in the process of developing a list of priorities for the Airmen of 20th AF and TF 214, he said.

"I am going to deliver my priorities to all of you. They are going to be enduring priorities. We might have excursions, where we have to deal with certain issues, but our priorities are going to be straight and narrow," he said. "Every action each of you does is essential to the combat capability we provide to the United States and our allies, and your continued determination and hard work contributes to our unwavering mission."