New Mission Support Commander brings unique experience to the 507th Air Refueling Wing

  • Published
  • By Maj. Jon Quinlan
  • 507th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
You can tell the new mission support commander is excited to be back at a wing; Col. Joseph M. Revit makes sure to emphasize that during his interview with me before officially assuming command of the 507th Mission Support Group during the December Unit Training Assembly.
 
I had an opportunity to sit down with the new commander this week to learn about where he's been and where he's going. From the beginning, it is very apparent that Col. Revit is a very honest, reasonable leader that is ready to learn and ready to help lead the mission support group.

Revit grew up in a coal mining town in north east Pennsylvania as the oldest of three children. He played football and baseball in high school and worked at a local grocery store for six and half years while attending high school and college. He describes his early years as "traditional U.S.A. and apple pie upbringing."

He attended college in his home town, graduating from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. He praised his family and dad for their strong support and upbringing. He credits his older cousin Joe, who served as a Naval Flight Officer flying in the back seat of the F-4 Phantom, as one of his motivators for joining the military.

Early on in college, Revit gravitated toward the Air Force after attending a Reserve Officer Training Camp in Kansas. However, he put his entry into the Air Force on hold as they were only accepting pilot candidates at that time. Later in 1986, he made the commitment to join as he was drawn to the camaraderie, regimentation and attention to detail the Air Force had to offer.

After a short stint on active duty, Revit transferred to the Air Force Reserve and continued to serve close to home. Revit said that is one of the advantages of the reserve forces-the ability to stay local, establish roots, all while still serving your country.

Revit said he was proud to serve 17 years as a traditional reservist at Willow Grove, Air Reserve Base, Pa. While serving locally as a citizen Airman, Revit sold heavy equipment for Caterpillar as a territory manager and he said his military experience helped him in his civilian career.

"It helped with leadership, management and it helped me to better prioritize my territory for sales, meet taskers that management laid upon us and deal with my customers is general," Revit said.

On the military side, Revit is a career Air Transportation Officer and Logistics Readiness Officer with experience at the squadron, group, wing, numbered air force, headquarters and joint levels. He has served in a variety of jobs from ground safety manager to installation deployment officer to acting deputy group commander. During it all, Revit said that he has served with some of the best people, whether deployed or at home station.

Revit stated that he has had a lot of great mentors, starting when he was a second lieutenant, when a senior NCO told him during a hot July UTA, "Just because you come out here with those gold bars doesn't mean that you are automatically respected... you can tell us what to do, but you have to earn respect" That advice resonated with Revit as he continued to live by the leadership motto of trusting your subordinates-take care of them and they will take care of you.

After a few years in the reserves, another mentor, then Maj. George Tota, motivated Revit by giving him a job as an Air Transportation Officer.

"I wouldn't be here if it was not for him as I was getting disillusioned in my current job. He brought me over to the Aerial Port and I had 10 fun years there."

One of Revit biggest lessons learned so far in the Air Force Reserve is not to under estimate the power of your fellow Airmen and subordinates.

"The folks that work for you do great things," Col. Revit said. "Give them the opportunity to excel and go forward...always champion the Airmen because they do great things."

The new top mission support officer also told me he had a simple leadership philosophy and then he explained the acronym, MPM to me - Mission, People, Money.

"Without the mission, nothing else happens so mission first, people and then money," Col. Revit said. "Take care of your people by making sure you have the money for training, school and other requirements. Get your Airman trained and on to the mission so that they can ascend the ranks in their career fields. Continue to contribute to the mission and get folks happy to do it. It's important to keep a good balance."

In regards to the current military budget concerns, the colonel gave some simple advice.

"A lot of these challenges are out of our control, so the best thing to do is control what you can," Revit said. "Trust your leadership...we are in the same boat and we don't know what's coming, but like I told my squadron commanders, if I know something I'm going to tell you, because you need to know."

The colonel also highlighted his new deputy group commander, Lt. Col. Greg Russell.

"I'm not an expert in all areas so what's great is our new deputy Lt. Col. Russell. He has got that piece of Force Support Squadron and Services on his resume so he is strengthening the team which is a plus for our organization along with our local unit commanders."

Revit also spoke about his strong relationship with his wife and son. Although they are separated he knows that this command is an important step for his family and his career. His wife works at U.S. Airways as a customer service agent and his son is in High School and participates in Navy Junior ROTC.