Chief Master Sgt. Katie McCool, the Pacific Air Forces command chief, used a Sept. 23 panel at the Air and Space Force Association’s Warfare Symposium to underscore how strong communities underpin readiness as the Air Force prepares for future operational demands.
Appearing on the “Defining Community: Building Connections That Matter” panel, McCool pointed to support networks at the unit level, connections among military families, and partnerships with local leaders as key ingredients for resilience and mission success across the force.
“Throughout my career, the strength of our military community, has been critical to my quality of service and quality of life,” McCool said. “We’re in this together, dedicated to our mission, our Airmen and their families. By building solid relationships at the unit level, making that community strong, we make sure everyone has what they need to succeed and be ready to step up when it matters.”
She described community not as a passive concept but as a deliberate, collective effort that gives Airmen and their families the resources and relationships necessary to thrive.
“For me, ‘community’ means an active and engaged network of interconnected support,” McCool explained. “Airmen supporting Airmen, families supporting families and both finding strength and connection within the local communities that surround our bases. It’s about building a resilient ecosystem where everyone has the resources and relationships they need to thrive, both personally and professionally.”
McCool linked that ecosystem directly to the confidence and sense of belonging that service members need to sustain high-tempo operations in a complex security environment. “PACAF is committed to fostering a culture of readiness supported by strong communities,” McCool said. “Because well-knit communities are foundational to our ability to connect, be resilient and succeed.”
She also stressed making pathways to engagement clear and accessible for Airmen and families, from on-base initiatives to outreach in surrounding towns and cities. “Providing Airmen and their family members with the tools for building communities is essential,” McCool said. “We want to make sure the opportunities are readily available.”
PACAF oversees Air Force operations across the Indo-Pacific, a vast region that relies on distributed forces, rapid mobility, and sustained partnerships—factors McCool suggested are strengthened by robust support networks at home station and abroad. The command chief, who has served three decades, said those networks help reinforce the mindset the service expects of its people.
“Our job as Airmen and warfighters is to stay focused on warrior ethos and be prepared for anything our nation asks of us,” McCool said. “Communities connect and prepare us. They’re vital to our warrior ethos and readiness.”
