New Operations Support Squadron commander Published May 6, 2015 By Senior Airman Joshua Eikren 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Lt. Col. Matthew Getty, 375th Operations Support Squadron Commander, assumed command March 27. Getty's leadership philosophy is one of consensus and credibility. "I believe credible Airmen, leading by consensus rather than mandate, are essential to a cohesive, motivated, and successful organization," said Getty. "My leadership team will work hard to earn credibility through proven competence, integrity, and relationships." Q: What led you to joining the Air Force? A: My grandfather was a Navy pilot who flew sub-hunting and rescue missions in the PBY Catalina over the North Atlantic during World War II. In addition, as a member of the WAVES, my grandmother (also a pilot) was a simulator instructor. Their love of flight and strong sense of duty to country inspired me to join Air Force ROTC at the University of Massachusetts. Q: What is your favorite Air Force memory? A: My promotion to lieutenant colonel was a very special moment for me because I held the ceremony in my home state of New Jersey with my family and friends in attendance. I, like many Airmen, rarely get to share my military life and accomplishments with my extended family and having the opportunity to do so was quite special. Q: What do you look to do for the 375th Operation Support Squadron Airmen? A: I will strive to make a positive impact on not just their Air Force careers, but also their lives. The very best leaders I have worked for have not only made me a better Air Force officer, they made me a better person. I also hope to inspire the Airmen of the OSS to accept and cultivate strength through diversity, promote inclusivity, and build a sense of family and community. I want them to be proud of their chosen profession and to demand excellence from all those who stand beside them. In return I hope to gain their trust and loyalty. If we can achieve these goals, we will create an environment that produces most disciplined, professional, and bold leaders in the Air Force. Q: What is your favorite part of being a commander? A: My daily engagement with an extremely diverse group of Airmen. The OSS contains Airmen from 13 different specialties; this diversity of mission is our greatest strength and is what makes my job so enjoyable. Q: What are your priorities as a commander? A: My priorities are Airmen, mission, and families. Taking care of Airmen is done, not just through words, but also through thoughts and actions. Mine is a full-spectrum philosophy with the goal of, not only developing exemplary followership traits, but also producing the next generation of professional, disciplined, and bold leaders. Q: What do you look to accomplish during your command? A: I plan on concentrating on putting "operations" back in the 375th Operations Support Squadron. Mission changes and budgetary constraints have had a large impact on the operational landscape of the 375th AMW over the past decade. During much of this period, there has been significant fluctuation to our operations tempo which has limited our ability to fine tune many of our processes and, most importantly, ensure world-class readiness. Today, I feel our ops tempo and mission-set has reached somewhat of an equilibrium, and the time is now right to implement lasting processes that will prepare OSS Airmen to accomplish their mission at home and abroad well into the future. The readiness of the OSS is intrinsically linked to flight ops. Each aircraft in the pattern and on the ramp has a trickle-down effect on nearly every Airmen in this squadron, and my goal is to increase our annual ops by at least 30 percent.