ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Chief Master Sgt. Justin Brundage, 97th Air Mobility Wing command chief, credits much of the strength and lethality of the U.S. Air Force to mentorship, courage, and teamwork. Through multiple deployments, leadership roles, and his experience as an international affairs Airman with the Royal Australian Air Force, Brundage learned the value of guidance and the profound impact a mentor can have on a career.
Chief Master Sgt. Justin Brundage, 97th Air Mobility Wing command chief, credits much of the strength and lethality of the U.S. Air Force to mentorship, courage, and teamwork. Through multiple deployments, leadership roles, and his experience as an international affairs Airman with the Royal Australian Air Force, Brundage learned the value of guidance and the profound impact a mentor can have on a career.
One of the first mentors to shape his journey was Chief Master Sgt. Lou Drummond, his first chief boom operator.
"He probably left the biggest lasting impression on me throughout my career," Brundage said. "Something that he taught me and my peers early on was courage. And I think courage is a really, really important element of what we do in the Air Force - doing the right thing despite the consequences and having the bravery to make hard decisions."
Mentorship, he believes, is about seeing potential in others that they may not yet recognize in themselves.
"Mentors have the time and experience to see things that you don't necessarily know about yourself," he said. "Over their career, they see hundreds - maybe thousands - of Airmen who have walked in your shoes, and they bring a completely different perspective."
Brundage’s career took a pivotal turn in 2013 when an opportunity arose for an international exchange program with the Royal Australian Air Force.
He reached out to Drummond for a letter of recommendation, and his mentor went further - making calls to advocate on his behalf.
"Ultimately, I was chosen to go and represent the United States Air Force for three years. Without Drummond's guidance and mentorship, I don’t know if I would be where I am today," he said.
Now, as the senior advisor to the wing commander and the leader of the enlisted force, Brundage emphasizes the collective nature of mentorship, teamwork, and shared effort rather than solo achievement.
"One of the most valuable things you can learn early on in the Air Force is that you're not alone. You are not running a one-person race. You have an incredible amount of teammates there to support you."
That lesson became clear early in his career when he formed a unique mentorship bond with a fellow Airman, Chief Master Sgt. Lucero Stockett, back when they were both just starting out in tech school.
"We had a lot in common, and we pushed each other," he said. "We found great value in challenging and mentoring each other as peers.”
Stockett was later on selected as one of the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year as a senior master sergeant.
“Seeing her win that award as a friend, a peer and also a mentor was extremely rewarding,” said Brundage.
Brundage hopes that the next generation of Airmen will uphold the values of courage and integrity, making the right choices regardless of the challenges they face. He wants them to advocate for themselves and for those around them, standing firm in their principles.
For those seeking mentors, his advice is simple: find someone who challenges you.
"Sometimes people think the best mentor is someone who always agrees with you, but that’s not the case," he said. "Growth happens when things don’t go as planned. Seek a mentor who sees the world differently - maybe someone from a different career field."
For Brundage, mentorship is at the heart of the Air Force’s strength. "As we face emerging challenges, we're going to rely on mentorship more than ever. A good mentor isn’t just there to tell you everything is great. They tell you when you need to improve, to ensure you’re ready to execute and win America's wars," he said.
As his time in the Air Force draws to a close, Brundage reflects on how mentorship has shaped his career and his life.
"I've got just over five months left in the Air Force, and without a doubt, this has been the greatest experience of my life," he said. "Closing this chapter after 23 years is bittersweet, but through my mentors and the ability to mentor others, I have grown and learned so much."
As Brundage prepares to close this chapter of his life, he encourages others to embrace mentorship at every level. He stresses the importance of guiding peers, fostering growth, and stepping up when the opportunity arises. By paying it forward, Airmen can strengthen the force and help shape the future of the Air Force for generations to come.