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Mighty Ninety showcases mission to 20AF/CC

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Brandon Valle
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs

Maj. Gen. Anthony Cotton, 20th Air Force and Task Force 214 commander, his wife, Marsha Cotton and Chief Master Sgt. Matthew Wells, 20th AF and TF-214 command chief, visited the 90th Missile Wing April 28, to see the Mighty Ninety mission from the Airman perspective.

This is Cotton’s second time visiting the wing since assuming command in November.

“There is nothing more important than receiving ‘unvarnished’ feedback from Airmen in the field,” Cotton said.

As the 20th AF commander, Cotton is responsible for the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile force and ensuring that each of the three missile wings, along with the nuclear operations support wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, are performing their mission in a safe, secure and effective manner.

During his visit, Airmen briefed him on their jobs and how they contribute to the ICBM mission. Cotton spoke with several Airmen of all ranks and reinforced their importance to the entire Air Force.   

“It was an honor to get to hear the views of Gen. Cotton,” said Senior Airman Jason Cathey, 90th Security Forces Group administration executive. “He told us we were the most powerful part of the Air Force as Airmen. General Cotton wants us to lead not only by example, but by mentorship.”

Cotton sat down with Airmen for breakfast and with senior non-commissioned officers for lunch to get a full enlisted perspective. During each meal, different programs for the base and issues from around the wing were discussed.

One of the concerns was about how one percent of Airmen can negatively impact the rest. Cotton rebutted by saying that it was up to Airmen to work together and make the wing a solid team.

“We are all strategic Airmen within our enterprise,” Cotton said. “I need each of you to help the one-percent. Everyone should embrace the core values and represent the Air Force as professional Airmen.”

While Cotton met with the Airmen, his wife received a mission orientation and spoke with the spouses of the wing. She toured the dormitories and family quarters to learn about the available housing opportunities on base.

During a lunch with the key spouses, Marsha stressed the importance of the spouses for all Airmen.

“There isn’t a manual for being a spouse,” Marsha said. “It’s a hard job to be the support network, but it is up to us to do it. I appreciate your work and will do what I can to support your endeavors.”

During the Cottons’ visit they both took their time to understand each Airmen they spoke with and asked, “If you could change something, what would that be?”

Though the 20th AF headquarters is here and the Cottons live on base, their visit gave them the opportunity to look into the inner workings of team Mighty Ninety.