ABW commander shares vision for base

  • Published
  • By Samuel King Jr.
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  A month ago, Team Eglin welcomed the new 96th Air Base Wing commander to its family.

Col. Sal Nodjomian, a career civil engineer, arrived from his position as a Senior Military Assistant, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Installations, Environment and Logistics, Pentagon, Va. That position, and his 21 years in the Air Force, prepared him for the top job. His background and experience will be tested as the wing faces many challenges in the coming years. Still, he brings with him a strong sense of accomplishing the mission.

"In all but our name, we are a joint base," said the colonel. "We have literally thousands of Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines and their families on top of our Air Force population. My goal is to make Eglin the example for the Air Force to follow for sustained excellence at joint mission support. "

Even with the growing challenges of the Joint Strike Fighter, 7th Special Forces Group and constrained budgets, the colonel knows "empowering our people and providing them the freedom to operate, they'll develop an ingenious solution to almost any challenge."

The method Colonel Nodjomian's created to empower his people is as simple as A B C.

Attitude is his first concept and bedrock to his approach.

"It all starts with attitude," said the colonel. "Someone's attitude (good or bad) extends beyond one's self ... it spreads. A positive, excited attitude can spread throughout the workplace and before you know it, the unit is doing things you never thought possible."

Be brilliant at the basics is the second.

"Sometimes we take on so many extra tasks and we lose sight of our core mission," said the colonel. "I'm recommending a refined focus on our core tasks and ensuring we are doing those extremely well. If the activity doesn't add value to our overall mission, then we need to stop doing it."

Cooperation is the final concept.

"I'm a big proponent of the team concept," said the University of Delaware graduate. "Team excels much more than individual."

After a month of immersion, the new commander feels the people of Eglin and the surrounding communities seem to have already embraced his first "A" concept.

"The people, far and away, have impressed me the most," said the Maryland native. "Not just on base, but the embracing attitude of the local community is the best I've seen in my career."

Colonel Nodjomian's commitment to his people and taking care of others comes from strong family values. As the son of immigrant parents, he feels obligated to do the same for his family and the family that makes up Team Eglin. The colonel is proud to have "multiple families," ranging from his personal family to his Air Force, new wing and past civil engineering families.

"For me, it starts and ends with family," he said. "If you don't have a supportive family structure, it's very hard to succeed in today's military. The emphasis put on family is clearly one of my building blocks."

Besides family, Colonel Nodjomian credits mentorship as an important part of his success. He's convinced he is in his current position not only because of his education and training but because the trusted advice and counsel he received from mentors.

"When someone on active duty talks to friends or tells someone what they do, they generally don't say 'I work for the Air Force, they say 'I'm in the Air Force," he said. "That's a powerful phrase. There aren't too many careers where you can use that phrase. The word "in" is the essence of what we do and our commitment. You are either in or you are out."

Colonel Nodjomian is a strong proponent of the total Airman and places physical fitness as an essential element for success. His priorities are straightforward: put the people first and ensuring families are taken care of.

"If you've taken care of yourself, and taken care of your families' needs, then you're ready to fully engage in the mission," he said.

It's as simple as A B C.