School Commandant visits Charlotte Published Feb. 5, 2011 By Master Sgt. Steve Wilkins 145th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Charlotte, N.C. -- Much of Charlotte Air National Guard's enlisted force got some valuable pointers from a distinguished enlisted leader who visited the 145th Airlift Wing in November. Paul H. Lankford Enlisted Professional Military Education Center Commandant, Chief Master Sgt. Deborah F. Davidson stopped in to wish "Bon Voyage" to Chief Master Sgt. Mike Annas. Annas, the Wing's Senior Enlisted Advisor is planning to retire from the Guard in January, winding up a career spanning five decades, during which he often collaborated with Davidson. Davidson joined the Air Force, specializing in meteorology, in 1979. After 31 years in weather, personnel and education and training career fields, she is responsible for the operation and administration of the Airman Leadership School, Noncommissioned Officers Academy and the satellite broadcast versions of those courses. She took an opportunity during Charlotte's Sunday morning drill to address members of the NCO Academy Graduates Association, Chapter 7 during their monthly meeting. Panamanian by heritage and having grown up primarily in Fort Riley, Kansas, Davidson spoke about how challenges growing up in a single-parent household and with a different native language than the home country helped her develop communication skills that have benefitted her entire career. She added that communication is essential to growth, human relations and working with others. During her talk Davidson urged all to take advantage of opportunities to learn. Driving home the message that communication is essential, she emphasized that we all need to continually improve our communication skills, adding that communication is germane to understanding others and becoming great leaders. She talked about how leaders need to be and have great followers. She spoke directly to Air Guard leaders General Iwan Clontz and Col. Tony McMillan in the audience, to assure them Chapter 7 President Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Amburn is a great leader and follower. Davidson declared McMillan and Clontz have many great followers in their midst, who would be leaders. She stated that over the years she has known Amburn, who just accepted a national post with the NCOA Graduates Association and others from the Carolina Air Guard. She urged Wing leadership to take advantage of the vast enlisted leadership across the base. Davidson urged all enlisted folks to take advantage of Military PME and attend the NCO Academy. The Paul H. Lankford Enlisted Professional Military Education Center is a component of Mcghee-Tyson ANG Base, Tenn. The base has been offering professional military training in the spirit of one Air Force to Guard, Reserve, active duty and Coast Guard troops for 42 years.