23rd AMU superintendent embodies culture of excellence

by Airman 1st Class Sahara L. Fales
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

5/13/2014 - MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The superintendent for the 23rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit was recently awarded the Lieutenant General Leo Marquez award for superior service in maintenance at Minot Air Force Base, April 8, 2014.

Senior Master Sgt. Michael B. Moser competed against Airmen from each major command. Earning this Air Force-level award was a surprising win for the Tucson, Ariz., native, he said.

"I covered all aspects of training for 580 Airmen, noncommissioned officers and senior noncommissioned officers under seven different career fields," Moser said.

To achieve success, Moser sought guidance from role models in ranks above him early in his career. He based his mentoring style and leadership techniques off what he learned.

"I've always found someone a couple moves ahead of me and looked at what I could do to make myself better," Moser said.

Although his management skills contributed to winning the award, the key to success was the Airmen that work under him, he said.

"To see an award like this given to me is really an award for the men and women of this unit," Moser said. "I know the effort they put out is world class."

The Airmen in his squadron are the ones who "perform miracles on a daily basis," he said. Their dedication to the mission and diligent work ethic reflected his leadership strengths and overall management skills.

"Keeping planes in the air, delivering weapons, supporting the continuous bomber presence, and deployments, are just a few of the tasks that the Airmen accomplish year-round," Moser said. "The respect and dedication I have to the men and women of this unit is so great."

Moser was able to lead his Airmen through 194 evaluations with a 93 percent pass rate in addition to leading 126 Airmen to produce 57 out of 58 sorties at 10 percent above standard.

"I don't know how they do it," said Moser. "They are the toughest young men and women in the world."

He was also able to execute the 5th Bomb Wing 2013 flying hour program with 1,042 flights and 5,624 flying hours.

"Sergeant Moser has the respect of the unit, not only amongst the Airmen who work for him, but the peers that work alongside him," said Senior Master Sgt. Bradley Sufka, 69th AMU aircraft section superintendent. "He truly walks the walk and talks the talk."