My guest today for episode #8 is CMSgt Andy Shone. Chief Shone is the current Defender Chief at Kunsan Air Base. This podcast in itself is unique because it is the first time, I interviewed someone that I had not previously spent time with prior to the podcast. I was fortunate that there are plenty of Security Forces airmen on base that knew him and shared information about him with me prior to our podcast. One of his Tech Sergeants said, “Chief Shone is known for giving motivational speeches to get people fired up as if it was halftime at a football game.” Through the help of his Security Forces Airmen, Chief Shone and I were able to have a good conversation.

Chief Shone had a lot of experience and ideas to share. He is an avid reader and shares a couple of his favorite books. I asked him how he motivates airmen within the challenging career field of Security Forces. We talk about thinking critically and self-reflecting. One SNCO told me that Chief Shone is a great listener, so I asked him how he developed that skill and maintained it throughout the ranks while everyone is looking to him to provide answers. He shares a story about recognizing his facial expressions as a SNCO and realizing how his behaviors were making him unapproachable to his team. When I started this podcast, I wanted to focus on identifying leadership concepts and behaviors to adopt and become better from it. This 90-minute conversation hits what my vision was when I began.