Wounded warrior becomes senior enlisted leader Published June 12, 2012 By Senior Airman Susan L. Davis Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Public Affairs JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING, D.C. -- Chief Master Sgt. Richard Simonsen, joined by his service dog, Yoko, recently became JBAB's new senior enlisted leader. Simonsen is the primary adviser to the joint base commander and the Air Force element commander on matters affecting quality of life, welfare, morale, management and leadership of all enlisted Navy and Air Force members. Simonsen received Yoko from the Paws for Purple Hearts program after being exposed to several blast incidents while deployed. He was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in combat, including a traumatic brain injury. Simonsen said that Yoko has been a blessing in his life in many ways. "She helps me smile again, and she makes everyone around her smile too," he said. "I wasn't familiar with service dogs before. At first, I resisted the idea, probably out of pride. I wasn't sure what junior enlisted members would think, and I wasn't sure how compatible it would be with continued military service." After overcoming his fears and doubts about having a service dog, Simonsen said Yoko has become his unobtrusive companion, and that she helps keep him calm. Simonsen said that after he sustained his injuries in combat, his wife and four children handled the news very well, and credited the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program with reaching out and taking good care of his family. "Having a TBI makes doing easy tasks hard, and hard tasks seemingly impossible," said Simonsen. "Professionally, now, I have a passion to help highlight the invisible wounds of war. There are thousands of veterans who have sustained these types of injuries, and many think they're fighting that battle alone. The American people have a duty to help our wounded warriors. We owe them our thanks, but we owe them much more than that." Before his assignment to JBAB, Simonsen was the operations superintendent for the Air Force Public Affairs Agency Operating Location at the Pentagon. Growing up in San Francisco in the '70s with a blue-collar dad, a stay-at-home mom and a "very traditional upbringing," Simonsen described his as the typical American childhood. "My parents really stressed education and sacrificed a lot to help me get into a good school," Simonsen said. Simonsen enrolled in college ("an expensive proposition,"), and stumbled across the school's radio station, which piqued his interest. He studied mass communications while struggling to make ends meet, and, knowing he couldn't afford to work in unpaid internships, his mother suggested the Air Force. He completed a voice audition and accepted a guaranteed slot as an Air Force broadcaster, beginning his Air Force career in 1987 as a broadcast producer, working in various radio and television broadcasting and public affairs assignments around the world. Over the course of his career, he has spent a cumulative total of 18 years overseas, including tours to Spain, Italy, Germany, Japan, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. His goals have evolved significantly since first committing to the Air Force. Initially, Simonsen only set his sights on 20 years in the Air Force, becoming a master sergeant, and running a broadcasting detachment. "I never pictured myself where I am today," he said. "Once I accomplished that goal, it became a question of, 'What's next? I'm here, now what?'" Simonsen said that having a background in public affairs is likely to be a big plus for him coming into the SEL position, especially considering the high-profile nature of the National Capital Region. Brig. Gen. Les Kodlick, director of Air Force Public Affairs at the Pentagon, whom Simonsen worked with closely at his previous assignment, said Simonsen's public affairs background will aid him in communicating the commander's mission, vision and intent, and help the commander take care of the team. Kodlick promoted Simonsen to chief master sergeant in October 2009. Simonsen spoke of his early career and explained that at that time, he was very capable of successfully accomplishing every task he received. As he progressed in rank however, he said, it became more and more difficult to do all of the things he was asked to do. The lesson he learned from that experience was the value of prioritizing, he said. "It's better to do the most pressing tasks really well rather than doing all assigned tasks OK," he said. "I had to learn to tell people that their request wouldn't be met right away, or that it didn't meet the commander's intent, and turn it down. I just wish I hadn't been a senior master sergeant when I finally learned that." One thing Simonsen said he really enjoys doing is interacting with junior enlisted Airmen and noncommissioned officers. "Here at JBAB, there are a lot of opportunities to do that," he said. "I feel a great sense of responsibility for all the enlisted members on the installation, Airmen and Sailors." Simonsen offered a few tips for enlisted members looking to move up the ranks. "People often ask me what it takes to get promoted," he said. "My answer is, control what you can control. If you want to test well, study. If you want to improve yourself professionally, get involved with professional military education. The rest will happen on its own." The general said he believes the word "leader" describes Simonsen perfectly. "I always tell my chiefs that their job is CEO-civilians, enlisted and officers," said Kodlick. "He is someone who cares just as much about the people as he does the mission. That is a combination that spells success."