Photo By Robert Hammer | Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Tanya Johnson, Defense Health Agency’s senior...... read more read more
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“Make your career, your career,” Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Tanya Johnson, Defense Health Agency’s senior enlisted leader, said to a roomful of airmen who were attending the Frontline Supervisors Course at Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Sept. 30.
Johnson participated in a panel of senior enlisted leaders and field-grade officers at the day-long course — attended by top enlisted personnel and officers — to provide leadership advice and answer questions. Course topics throughout the day included administrative writing, supervising civilians, manpower management, standards and discipline, building culture, caring for your people, and additional leadership skills.
Stressing the importance of making supervisors’ leadership journey their own, Johnson said, “If you focus on you, what you want out of your experience, you'll be OK … I'm human too, and we're all walking through this together.”
Training course ensures mission readiness of medical personnel
U.S. Air Force leadership emphasized training such as the Frontline Supervisors Course helps to address potential knowledge gaps across leaders in the military.
“We noticed for frontline supervisors, there were certain things that we expect people to know at a specific rank that a lot of times they didn’t know or had not had the training or exposure to,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Chelsie Evangelista, dental flight chief, Bolling Medical Squadron, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C.
Evangelista said ongoing training “isn’t just about checking a box — it’s about staying ready for whatever comes next. We must be able to rely on our frontline supervisors to make informed judgments, respond to crises under pressure, and carry out their objectives. You can’t expect anyone to do well if they don’t have solid foundational and continuous training that reinforces their capabilities and resilience.”
The day also included opportunities to learn from a variety of senior leaders who provided guidance and perspective into their journey at the helm of military health care.
“Our frontline supervisors occupy different lanes and accomplish our mission; it's important that we can have a united front and take pride in our roles as medics, making sure that people are upholding the standards, and then having the necessary tools to be successful,” said Evangelista. “We designed this course to be able to strengthen those capabilities for our frontline supervisors.”
Air Force Senior Airman Isamar Garcia, a mental health technician at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., said she participated in the course “to prep me for going into that staff sergeant position in the future, and then hopefully leading my flight.”
“Air Force culture is to lead by example, and I hope to follow that tradition,” said Garcia. “Starting as a young airman in leadership positions, we’re trying to raise ready and capable airmen. We're getting ready for the future.”
Continued knowledge sharing and education, Evangelista said, is critical to mission success.
“Mission begins with readiness, and readiness begins with us. Ongoing training isn’t just a professional responsibility; it’s a strategic imperative. The future of health care leadership hinges on our commitment to lifelong learning.”
Positivity and teamwork at the foundation of Johnson’s leadership
With more than 30 years of military service, Johnson provided anecdotes and leadership advice to those senior leaders and frontline supervisors in attendance.
“Today is a good day to have a good day — that’s how I want you to walk in the door every day,” she said to course participants.
She also emphasized the importance of not only having a team behind you, but one that you can trust. “Having that person who can tell you to take a knee or say those uncomfortable things to you when it begins to get a little too personal” is key to success, she added.
“Manage your expectations,” Johnson said. “Just because someone doesn’t do something one way doesn't mean it is wrong. It is just a different way.”
True leaders recognize that they, too, can continue learning, she stressed.
“Knowledge is another essential element to being an effective leader,” Johnson said. “I have a homework folder where if I hear something that I didn't understand what it was, or I don't know something about it — I will.”
Attitude can make or destroy a team’s morale, she added. “The tone of your flight and your organization is heavily dependent on your attitude. If you’re saying something against leadership or policy, that tone will be the tone of your flight or your department. If you're upbeat, you're positive — that’s how your team will behave.”
She stressed that U.S. Air Force medical personnel need these vital skills both in battle and in their dedication of warfighter care. “Air Force medicine exists to project the lethality of the United States Air Force … we must be able to shoot, move, communicate — then medicate.”
| Date Taken: | 11.17.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.17.2025 11:25 |
| Story ID: | 551325 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 46 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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