CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Col. Tony D. Bauernfeind, 27th Special Operations Wing commander, has changed Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., through his use of access, not power.
"He has continuously implemented change to further solidify Cannon as a premier Air Force installation,” said Lt. Gen. Brad Heithold, commander Air Force Special Operations Command.
“Not for personal recognition, but for quality of life improvement of his team."
Bauernfeind will relinquish command of the 27th SOW on Feb. 17 during a ceremony at Cannon. Reflecting on his command, it was not about power, but rather the strength of his character.
“I strongly dislike that word, ‘power,’” said Bauernfeind when asked what being a powerful wing commander meant to him. “I don’t have power. I have access; access to decision-makers and resources. That access can impact thousands of my teammate’s lives; that is enough to make sure my focus is exactly right.”
His focus was simple: Sustaining top-notch combat mission readiness and execution, improving installation excellence, and enhancing Airmen and family support.
For Air Commandos stationed here, his name is one that everyone recognized as their appointed leader.
“He really turned Cannon from a base people feared being assigned to, to a base now recognized of having a distinct mission that impacts world events,” said Chief Master Sgt. Randy Scanlan, 27th SOW command chief. “When I wake up in the morning and turn on the news, I know there is a good chance that our base is involved someway, somewhere.”
But Bauernfeind is more to Cannon and its family atmosphere than just the wing commander. He is the face that welcomes the 27th SOW’s newest members upon arrival, a proud presenter at recognition ceremonies and a staple at quality of life meetings.
“I am very proud to be on the same team as each and every one of you,” Bauernfeind said to a room full of newly arrived Air Commandos and spouses. “You are now part of the most relevant wing in the Air Force.”
Having commanded Special Operations Forces at the squadron, group and wing levels, Bauernfeind has the career and life experiences to mold future leaders of the Air Force in a way many people do not get the chance to see. Officer and senior non-commissioned officer performance reviews are just one way Bauernfeind lends his expertise to teammates.
At a recent performance review, the highest ranking members of the base provided their recommendations for top performing officers and SNCOs within the wing for consideration. Bauernfeind sat and absorbed all of the information on impressive numbers and endless endorsements. It was obvious to everyone in the room that he took his role as mediator very seriously, only offering guidance and input when a lesson could be learned by all.
These leaders gathered with the intent of leveraging their collective experience to help develop the team’s top-performing officers and SNCOs, and to discuss those who had made the hard choice to enter the civilian sector. While the focus of the review was developing military careers, the wing commander reminded his team of the value behind an honorable career, regardless of its length.
“Anyone who gives a single day of voluntary service toward active duty is still doing more than 99 percent of the American population in service of their nation,” Bauernfeind said. “It is a choice we as military members make and need to recognize our troops for making it. We need to broaden these Air Commandos’ careers by providing them the depth and leadership skills they will require while serving, or we need to see them off with the honor they deserve.”
Despite the fact that he is the “man-in-charge,” Bauernfeind remains self-motivated and grounded by keeping his Airmen and families in mind.
“Airmen of today are inherently better, faster and more capable than the Air Force has ever seen before,” he emphasized. “By genuinely showing your people that you care and truly emphasizing the importance of their quality of life, they will keep on executing the mission each and every day. As a wing commander, that is something that speaks volumes to me: The countless Airmen on my team who are the embodiment of the Air Force core values and Air Force Special Operations Command priorities.”
“Each day brings a small victory,” he continued. “Those small victories keep you coming back for the next. The Airmen of today are ensuring that the Air Force exists in the future, and they are fighting for the ideals and betterment of our mission.”
Having the power to enforce change is an effective leadership attribute. Having the character to inspire change is something different entirely.
Bauernfeind, who many consider a man of great character, has inspired an epidemic of pride here at Cannon, using his “power” to enable mission success, improve our quality of life and bring out the best in all of us.