5 questions with NATO’s enlisted leader in Norfolk ahead of NATO … – Virginian-Pilot

NORFOLK

The Norfolk NATO Festival parade on Saturday is the only one of its type in the United States, and will pay tribute to the 28 nations that make up the military alliance.

One of the voices heard over loudspeakers at the parade will belong to Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. Jack Johnson Jr., who will help explain to spectators the floats representing each country.

Johnson is the senior enlisted leader at NATOs Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, which is NATOs only headquarters in North America.

Johnsons grandparents and parents lived in Norfolk, and he remembers walking the citys streets as a child before his father was assigned to Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, where he also would be assigned later in his own career.

He considers Hampton Roads his home even after being stationed around the world. He said being chosen to serve as a master of ceremonies to talk about a city he loves as part of an international organization is an honor that would have made his grandparents proud.

The following are excerpts from an interview with Johnson that have been edited for length and clarity.

Q. Youre an emcee at Saturdays NATO Festival Parade. What does that entail?

A. This is a big honor. Two years ago I was the grand marshal. I mustve done something right because Im going to get the opportunity to emcee. So Ill narrate. As our floats and folks are coming across, I get a chance to kind of explain to the audience the significance ... of the floats and those that are passing before us.

Q. Many people are unfamiliar with NATOs Allied Command Transformation. What does the command do?

A. As everyone is fixed on today and all the global challenges that we have, youve got to have an organization out there who is looking at the challenges of tomorrow, and thats what we do. ... We work with local NATO agencies around the world. We work with not just the 28 nations that are a part of NATO, but we work with probably another 20-plus in addition to that of partner nations, non-governmental organizations, governmental organizations, industry, academia, centers of excellence, training. Quite frankly, we take the best and the brightest minds and the best that there is to offer and we take that and look at how do we ensure we have the capability and the ability to meet tomorrows challenges.

Q. Whats the most challenging aspect of working with 28 member nations?

A. I dont know if I would say I really have that many challenges because our job here as strategic thinkers and critical thinkers is to always keep our minds open to everything I mean to absolutely everything. So if you come in with a narrow focus on what you believe is the right direction, then its not consistent with what we call transformation future operations because every thought matters.

Q. Whats the most enjoyable part of working with people from so many countries and cultures in Norfolk at NATO?

A. I absolutely love Hampton Roads, the Peninsula and the surrounding area, and its very easy for us to take certain things for granted. And then someone else from a different nation comes in and youre looking at your own community through the eyes of others and their eyes are bright, their eyes are big, and they talk about how great the communities are, how good the schools are, they talk about the different volunteer opportunities they have. ... I love to listen to them as they talk about the region that I love through their lenses.

Q. What do you wish more people in Hampton Roads knew about NATOs presence here?

A. Amongst the more than 2,000 staff members and to include their families, that theyre a part of our community. They are your neighbors, they are your volunteers, they are in your schools. They are contributing immensely to the Hampton Roads area, not just economically, but theyre broadening their understanding of the world.

See the rest here:
5 questions with NATO's enlisted leader in Norfolk ahead of NATO ... - Virginian-Pilot