Warfighter of the Week: Staff Sgt. Brad Johannes

Published Aug. 27, 2015
By Tech. Sgt. Heather Redman
12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) Public Affairs

DAVIS-MONTHAN AFB, Ariz. -- Staff Sgt. Brad Johannes, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) manager of engineering operations, was recognized as the Warfighter of the Week, August 24, 2015.

Johannes joined the Air Force in 2006 and comes from a long and distinguished line of veterans.

"Throughout my family's history, military service has been a recurring theme," said Johannes. "My father was a combat engineer in the Army and his father served with the Army in the Korean War. My brother was already a Senior Airman at the time I was looking into the Air Force, so I visited him and his wife at Travis AFB, California and had the chance to see what the Air Force lifestyle was like for young enlisted airmen. I decided it was something that I wanted to pursue."

Since his enlistment nine years ago, Johannes has been working in the engineering career field.

"I'm trained in Computer Aided Drafting, Land Surveying, Construction Inspection/Management, Airfield Assessment, and Geographic Information Systems," said Johannes. "I'm able to use these skills to provide oversight of project execution, airfield assessments, exercise and contingency support, and civil engineer functional area manager support for Twelfth Air Force's forward operating locations."

When it came to choosing a Warfighter of the Week, Johannes' section had no problems choosing him to represent them.

"The first thing that we looked at, when we were discussing who to nominate for the Warfighter of the Week, was performance," said Lt. Col Robert Grover, 12th AF (AFSOUTH) chief of engineering and contracting division. "Johannes came to us from the wing and the moment he arrived he hit the ground running."

Johannes hopes to one day be able to apply his civil engineering skills in one of the Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer units.

"I've worked alongside three of the four active duty RED HORSE squadrons and they maintain a high ops tempo with positive attitudes," said Johannes. "They're the experts for civil engineers in the Air Force and they consistently produce the best results and enable the combat mission. I think it'd be something great to be a part of."

Along with being part of a RED HORSE unit, Johannes also has plans to pursue a commissioning program.

"Right now I'm working towards my bachelors in civil engineering," said Johannes. "I'd like to take all of the lessons I've learned in the enlisted corps and apply them to the officer corps."

With a plan already laid out, there is nothing holding Johannes back from reaching his personal and professional goals.

"Johannes has been a rock-star from the beginning," said Grover. "I know that he will be able to accomplish anything he wants to."

Warfighter of the Week is an opportunity for the Airmen throughout 12th AF (AFSOUTH) to share their story. The Warfighter of the Week initiative aligns with the 12th AF (AFSOUTH) commander's priority of creating a work environment where someone knows you both professionally and personally. These outstanding Airmen are selected by their directors based on their contributions to the Air Force's mission.