Photo By Staff Sgt. Michael Richmond | Col. Johnny Galbert, 90th Missile Wing commander, poses for a photo in front of...... read more read more
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F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- It’s the summer of 2000 and you just graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Arkansas. Thanks to your enrollment in the Reserve Officer Training Corps, you already knew where your path was headed after graduation: into the military.
You’re a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force now. You may think to yourself ‘I wrapped up school, no more studying for me!’ Think again, because not only do you have to study more thoroughly than ever before, you're also studying to be a missileer - the people you see in the movies who turn the key and launch nuclear missiles. So, not only do you study more, now you’re training to handle our nation's most powerful weapon.
After having completed Peacekeeper Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Operations Training in sunny southern California, fast forward a year and some change and you made it to your first duty assignment: F.E. Warren Air Force Base.
This isn’t the last time you’ll be stationed here. Some day, when you’re no longer a second lieutenant and make colonel, you’ll come back to F.E. Warren AFB. Not as a missileer, however - but its commander, overseeing 4,200 personnel and 150 Minuteman III ICBMs which are ready to launch if directed to by the President of the United States.
That’s the path Col. Johnny Galbert walked - now the 90th Missile Wing commander. To explore that journey, Staff Sgt. Michael Richmond sat down with him for a conversation about his journey – from where it began, to the lessons learned along the way.
What’s it like coming full circle - starting at F.E. Warren as a second lieutenant and now commanding the very base where your career began?: “It’s still kind of surreal. Just being in a place I’ve been multiple times, I still run into people who were here during my first tour, both on and off base. Some of them have followed my career and looked out for me, and now I get to do the same for them. So, it’s been pretty exciting. It’s been great.”
He also looked back on when it all began.
What do you remember most about your first tour at F.E. Warren?: “Definitely the mission. It was a tough grind back then - everyone wanted to be a weapon system expert. We had testing, lots of alerts, and I remember CFD (Cheyenne Frontier Days) pretty vividly. But more than anything, I remember the great culture in the 400th Missile Squadron, which was deactivated in 2005. That was the Peacekeeper unit. I still keep in touch with a lot of those folks, and everywhere I’ve gone since, I’ve looked for that same culture.”
Though now serving as the 90th Missile Wing commander, Galbert’s journey from missileer to senior leader was earned through years of persistence and growth.
What were some of the pivotal moments or assignments that helped shape your career?: “Getting off to a strong start as a missileer was key. I became the senior evaluator in the operations group - a position that no longer exists, but back then, it was considered the pinnacle. Squadron command at the 321st Missile Squadron was a major milestone too. That was my first real test in leading Airmen. Attending the U.S. Air Force Weapons School at Nellis was also huge. Until then, I’d focused solely on ICBMs and the nuclear mission, but Weapons School introduced me to the broader Air Force - other platforms, tactics, techniques, and procedures. It really opened up my perspective and shaped the rest of my career.”
The knowledge that Galbert picked up throughout his career aren’t the only things that played a pivotal role in his development as a leader and a person. It was the interactions he had with mentors and personal experiences that shaped his leadership style.
If 2nd Lt. Galbert were sitting here today, what would you tell him?: “I’d tell him: you don’t have to do it all alone. Surround yourself with good people and delegate. Early in my career, I tried to carry everything myself, and that can wear you down. Also, something I learned from Col. Robert “Shark” Garland at the Weapons School: “Service before self doesn’t mean every time.” You don’t always have to be the one volunteering for everything. While service is important, you can’t lose sight of your family. I missed a lot of important events early on in my career, and I’m better about that now - but I’d tell that young lieutenant to be intentional about family time. Make sure you take care of the people at home, too.”
Balance struck a chord, as Galbert tried to manage the mission and airmen.
What impact or legacy do you hope to leave at F.E. Warren?: “First and foremost, I want to leave a legacy of mission success. This mission is critical to our national defense. But on a more personal level, I hope our Airmen feel that wing leadership truly cared about them. My command chief (Chief Master Sgt. Cherise Mosley, 90 MW command chief) and I prioritized taking care of Airmen and their families because they are our most valuable resource. We’ve made a point to get out from behind our desks - to visit missile alert facilities, engage with squadrons, and build real connections. I hope that effort made a difference, and that people felt supported, heard, and inspired.”
As his time in command at F.E. Warren AFB comes to a close, Galbert was asked about the challenges he faced while in the hot seat.
What leadership lessons have you learned in command?: “Those first four months in command were incredibly tough. We had some tragic events on and off the base, and I remember looking in the mirror wondering, “Is it me? Am I doing something wrong?” It took a lot of reflection - and support from my spouse (Audrian) - to realize that, every single day great things are happening across the wing but every single day there’s going to be challenges and difficult situations. You can’t take it personally. That mindset helped me protect my own mental health and focus on what really matters: making sure our commanders and Airmen have the support they need to get through whatever they’re facing. And when something goes wrong, we don’t just move on - we investigate, debrief, and implement changes to make sure it doesn’t happen again. That’s how you lead through adversity.”
Galbert was also able to enjoy some wins during his time in command.
What accomplishments are you most proud of during your time as commander?: “There are quite a few, but first and foremost is the extraordinary effort from our team to keep the mission going. This weapon system is old - it takes a lot of time, energy, and dedication from our operators, maintainers, defenders, and everyone else who supports the missile complex. Without that above-and-beyond effort, we wouldn’t be able to sustain Minuteman III at the level we have. Other accomplishments include securing a Basic Allowance for Housing increase and targeted pay raises for Mighty Ninety Airmen - those things directly impacted our youngest Airmen and their families. And I’m proud of the way we’ve built stronger relationships with the local community - mayors, chambers of commerce, school districts, and organizations like the Adopt an Airman program. Also, it’s been really rewarding to see our First Friday events take off. When I got here, I pushed for those gatherings at the club, and now we regularly see over 75 people, including family members showing up, relaxing, connecting, and just enjoying the team atmosphere.”
As Galbert prepares to depart F.E. Warren AFB, he shared a final message with the FE Warren community.
Any final thoughts for the F.E. Warren community?: “Just this: You Matter…and this mission matters! It’s been the honor of my career to lead the men and women of the Mighty Ninety. I wish everyone the very best and thank you for allowing me to serve alongside you.”
“You matter…and this mission matters!” Those weren’t just Col. Galbert’s parting words - they were the way he led. From new missileer to seasoned colonel, the young lieutenant who once arrived at F.E. Warren, wide-eyed and ready to serve, is now its outgoing commander. For Col. Johnny Galbert, returning to where it all began wasn’t just a professional milestone - it was a personal honor. As he passes the torch, his legacy remains in the culture he helped shape, the Airmen he empowered, and the mission he never stopped believing in.
| Date Taken: | 06.05.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 06.06.2025 17:59 |
| Story ID: | 499915 |
| Location: | F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, WYOMING, US |
| Web Views: | 41 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, From Lieutenant to Wing Commander: Col. Galbert’s Full-Circle Journey, by SSgt Michael Richmond, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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