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Meet the new Communications Group Commander

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Erica Holbert-Siebert
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- --  Col. Terrence Adams recently assumed command of the 375th Communications Group from the hands of Col. Michael Cote. Col. Adams arrived at Scott AFB from MacDill AFB where he was the Deputy Commander, Joint Communication Support Element (JCCSE). Col. Adams is a Tuskegee, Alabama native who looks forward to meeting each member in the Group and leading them to even greater heights by listening to their ideas and fostering bold innovation.

What led you to joining the Air Force?

I enlisted in the Army as a Food Service Specialist to take advantage of the education and financial benefits.  I signed up for two years earning only $600 in base pay.  I earned $17,000 as part of a two-year GI Bill program.   After separating from the Army, I returned to my hometown and enlisted in an Army Reserve unit as a dietitian.  This gave me the opportunity to focus on school, until I received active duty orders during Desert Storm.  When I came off active duty, I went back to school at Auburn University, Montgomery, Alabama and joined AFROTC at Alabama State University. I was commissioned two years later.

What is your favorite Air Force memory?

Collectively, it's been the process of meeting and mentoring Airmen. I learn so much from them. Additionally, it's planting a seed about education, investing, and goal planning that could potentially change an Airman's life.

What do you look forward to during your command?

Finding new and innovative ways to leverage communications and cyber tools to further enable rapid global mobility.

What is your favorite part of being a commander?

Command gives you the authority and the positional power to have a wider impact on Airmen, civilians, and their families.

What can the 375th Communications Group Airmen expect from you?

My leadership philosophy is a framework of the Five 'F's:  Focus, Families, Fit, Fun, and Faith.  Focusing on the mission is an important aspect to the success of the Communications Group. Taking care of the family enables Airmen to accomplish the mission. We must remain physically fit, we're going to have fun where we can, and we need to foster an environment where Airmen feel free to follow their faith or their ability to be resilient.

What do you want from your troops?

I want them to give 100% of their knowledge and skills. They may not have the skill set to meet all customer requests, "You can't get blood from a turnip," as my grandmother used to say, but they can achieve the possible by being resourceful and innovative Airmen. I want to create more agreements than expectations. It's important for Airmen to understand why they are doing a task, because that in itself can be a motivator.

What advice do you have for those under your leadership?

Invest what you can and work on your education. This message is for everyone, but especially our younger Airmen. You can live in a humble manner and save in order to reap the rewards later in life.  All that happens by having goals for the future and remaining disciplined about your financial decisions. The earlier you start, the better off you are. Another piece of advice is to be kind to everybody, which is how I live.

What is your leadership philosophy?

Every person's thoughts have some relevance. I believe in taking care of people, mentoring and paying it forward, having a strong work ethic, and continuing self-improvement. I also believe in encouraging mutual respect, and one way I like to do that is sharing Airmen's stories with all levels in the unit, and for leaders to in turn to share their stories with Airmen. This will reduce the standoffish gap between senior leaders and younger enlisted.

Who is a person you look up to?

It would be Lt. Gen. Ronnie Hawkins. He is a man I aspire to be. He's a man of honor and truth. He spent 37 years supporting and defending the red, white and blue. He would go out of his way to make sure everyone felt valued. He's a Christian, husband, father, leader, warrior, and mentor to the end, all of these roles he wears so well is why I look up to him.