ALS flight chief wins USAFE's top award three years running

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Eydie Sakura
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) --  The recent three-time winner of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Airman Leadership School flight chief of the year award resides at the Bitburg Annex Pitsenbarger Airman Leadership School here.

Senior Master Sgt. Annette Henderson, 52nd Mission Support Squadron ALS flight chief, says the reasons for winning the award year after year stem from her colleagues and their team efforts.

“To be truly honest about winning, I’d have to say it wasn’t me who won the award, but my team and staff,” Sergeant Henderson said. “I wholeheartedly believe my staff is what makes me look so good on a daily basis.”

Sergeant Henderson’s responsibilities include leading, educating and supervising more than 450 students each year in all aspects of professional military education. She instructs lessons and counsels students on course requirements, performance expectations and Air Force standards.

“I’m well versed in drill and ceremonies, so I spend a lot of time training students on guidon, drill, reveille and retreat procedures,” Sergeant Henderson said. “Then I might go into a classroom to teach a lesson for one of my instructors, or evaluate one of my instructors, which I do on a quarterly basis.”

When evaluating her staff, Sergeant Henderson said she allows her instructors to function at their fullest potential, by engaging them in their work and not micromanaging.

“She is a tremendous leader, who can also be a friend when you need it,” said Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Garcia, 52nd MSS ALS instructor. “With the high ops tempo at the 52nd Fighter Wing, we need mission-ready NCOs out there leading the troops. ALS does that, and we give these new NCOs the tools necessary to be effective supervisors. USAFE can see that due to our performances in and out of the classroom.”

Striving for quality work in and out of the classroom is a passion for Sergeant Henderson. The three-time winner believes in making things better than how she found them; she is continually striving to make things better for her students, her staff and the Pitsenbarger ALS program.

“Anyone who knows me knows I have a saying, ‘Attitude is everything,’ and with the right attitude, we can move mountains,” Sergeant Henderson said. “I know no one person is a success without those who surround them, and I chose to surround myself with great people.”