Command chief stresses teamwork, communication Published June 6, 2012 By Mike Joseph Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- The new 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio command chief master sergeant has set his sights on emphasizing to the enlisted corps the importance of teamwork, professional development and communication. Chief Master Sgt. Jose LugoSantiago, who became the 502nd ABW and JBSA senior enlisted leader in March, believes teamwork is a key component in a service member's quality of life and that professional development will play a major role in dealing with a constrained resource environment. "I would like to build an environment for teamwork," LugoSantiago said. "Teamwork is always crucial, but I want to create conditions that inspire teamwork. By inspiring teamwork, we can improve the quality of life for the Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines we have here in JBSA." LugoSantiago has a specific message for the enlisted corps. "I want people to embrace professional development because in the future we'll need what I call 'thinking machines,'" the chief, who has earned three associate degrees, a bachelor's degree and a master's degree, said. "We need to start thinking about what we do, what we should not do and how we can make it better. We're not going to have the resources we may have had in the past," he added. The JBSA senior enlisted leader is using technology to reach the enlisted corps. In addition to his Facebook page, LugoSantiago also has a blog to communicate and mentor. "Throughout history, noncommissioned officers have been passing knowledge to the next generation of NCOs by word of mouth," he said. "But now, as we become a smaller force and the space where we operate becomes larger, sometimes we don't have the ability to meet face-to-face. "Creating a blog helps me talk leadership topics directly with the youngest troop. They can give me instant feedback through Facebook or the blog. The leadership challenge will always be how to communicate. In this era, it is one of our biggest challenges as leaders. We have to evolve," he said. Arriving here from Joint Base Charleston, S.C., where he served as the 628th Air Base Wing and Charleston Joint Base command chief, LugoSantiago is already very familiar with joint basing. He plans to draw on that experience when necessary. "It gives me a starting point on where we can go on a problem or solution," he said. "And it gives me a frame of reference on how to work through some of the same issues. I can better appreciate the amazing talent in every single one of the services. This is such a great opportunity for our service members regardless of their branch." About his first two months in JBSA, LugoSantiago often recalls what the fifth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Robert D. Gaylor used to say, "Wow." "I find myself saying the same thing. It doesn't matter what branch our service members are in, they are doing amazing things here," he said. "The most amazing part is how we work together to make it even better. The only thing I can say is, 'Wow!'"