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Meet Lt. Col. George Granholm, 375th Operations Support Squadron commander

  • Published
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Lt. Col. George Granholm assumed command of the 375th Operations Support Squadron July 3.

The squadron supports the 375th Air Mobility Wing's C-21A operational support airlift and aeromedical evacuation missions by providing air traffic control, airfield management, aircrew training, life support, aircraft and aircrew scheduling, flight records management, transient alert and aerospace ground equipment support.

In addition, the squadron supports air refueling operations of the 126th Air Refueling Wing (Air National Guard), C-40 airlift of the 932nd Airlift Wing (Air Force Reserve) and joint airfield operations with MidAmerica Airport.

What led you to joining the Air Force?

I didn't consider a career in the Air Force until I was in high school. My guidance counselor gave me some information about the Air Force Academy. My father is a DoD civilian, and I also have an uncle who served in the Air Force for 24 years, so the military seemed like a good fit. Once I visited the Academy for the first time as part of a candidate orientation program, the deal was sealed.

What have been some of your favorite memories?

Without question my favorite Air Force memories are from the three years that my wife, Rena, and I spent on the Olmsted Scholar Program in Freiburg in Breisgau, Germany. The Olmsted Program gives officers from across the military services the opportunity to attain fluency in a foreign language and to engage in graduate study at an overseas university, thereby gaining the global perspective necessary for military leaders in today's national security environment. Rena and I attended language classes together, which was a pretty amazing opportunity considering all the time I spent away from home during previous assignments. The whole experience of being totally immersed in another language and culture was definitely the highlight of my Air Force career thus far.

What is your leadership philosophy?

I believe in the concept of servant leadership, which places primary value on a leader's ability to empower and inspire others through acts of service. A leader should do everything possible to meet the needs of the people in the organization, since they determine the organization's success or failure.

What can your troops expect from you?

They can expect that I will always act with integrity. I will strive to stay mission-focused while exercising care for our larger Air Force family. They can also expect me to get out of the office and walk around--frequently. It's essential that a commander takes time to get to know and listen to the concerns of each member of the squadron.

What do you want from your troops?

I want them to be proud of what they do, because what they do is important. The men and women of the OSS provide world-class operational support to the warfighter, without fail, every day of the year. People are depending on their ability to execute the mission, both at our home station and in the deployed environment.

Who is your hero and why?

The one person who most inspires me every day is my wife, Rena. She always takes time to help and care for others even when it is inconvenient or difficult for her to do so. Throughout my 15 years in the Air Force, her support has never wavered despite the demands of her career as a teacher and college professor. In my view, every military family member is a hero.