Meet SMC's Newest Command Chief Master Sergeant Published Feb. 19, 2014 By Alicia Garges SMC Public Affairs LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Chief Master Sergeant Angelica Johnson is the Space and Missiles Systems Center's new command chief master sergeant. She came to SMC after serving as the command chief master sergeant at Keesler AFB, Miss. Born in Colombia, her family moved to the United States when she was five years old. While Bristol, Conn. is where she grew up, home for her is where her husband, daughters and dogs are. She joined the Air Force in 1985 in gratitude to her adopted country and became a U.S. citizen at her first duty station. On her dream sheet, Chief Johnson hoped for a location close to her family in Connecticut, but instead she was placed at Kirtland AFB in New Mexico as her first assignment. Since then, her assignments have included tours in California, Mississippi, Nebraska, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom. She has deployed to Oman and Ecuador. Originally, the chief planned on being in the Air Force for only four years but those four years have turned into a 29-year career. Most of her military career has been spent working in finance; however, for the past seven years she has served as a command chief master sergeant. SMC is the chief's second assignment at an organization where military space is the mission focus. She previously served at Vandenberg AFB as the 30th Space Wing's command chief master sergeant. At Vandenberg, she saw launch operations; however, now she's seeing military space on a whole different level, Johnson said. Prior to coming to SMC, she was the command chief master sergeant at the 81st Training Wing at Keesler AFB where she dealt with airmen coming out of basic training. That meant her focus was on the care of very young airmen. When asked what her job here entails, the chief said her main job is taking care of airmen and acting as a liaison between airmen and the SMC commander. One of her top priorities is developing airmen's careers and goals, and helping them reach their goals through mentoring. Also Chief Johnson wants to develop a culture of respect and dignity so people will want to be here. "I love dealing with people, hearing their stories and recognizing a good job," Johnson said. According to the chief, the most challenging part of the job is keeping people focused on their job. This is particularly hard in the current environment where budgets and personnel are facing cuts, she said. "It's hard to focus and get excited to come to work when team mates are being RIF'ed." When asked about her favorite on the job memory, she said she has too many to choose from; however, she really loves when parents come to visit and they are very proud of their son's or daughter's Air Force accomplishments. So far, the Johnson Family is enjoying their time in Southern California. There is so much to do here and the weather is great, she said. "We get up every day and say we're lucky people."