A General Call to Duty
CSU, Chico alums have a long history of service in the U.S. Armed Forces. Two alums, Lieutenant General Maurice L. McFann Jr. and Lieutenant General Thomas L. Baptiste, have risen to the highest echelons of the Air Force. Both were serving abroad and with NATO at the time of our interview, McFann as NATO commander of the Allied Air Component for Southern Europe in Izmir, Turkey, and Baptiste as deputy chairman of the NATO Military Committee in Brussels. For both, a career in the Air Force was launched by a desire to fly.
Lieutenant General Maurice L. McFann Jr. (BA, Physical Education, ’72)
How did you begin your Air Force career?
After completing my student teaching, I joined the Air Force in June 1972. I did not envision that 30-plus years later I would still be serving in the Air Force. I thought flying airplanes would be exciting and challenging, but I had always planned on using my teaching degree and hope to do so in the future.
How did your time at CSU, Chico prepare you for your work in the Air Force?
The value of teamwork was reinforced. The military, like many professions, is based on teamwork: Success requires an entire team to pull together to accomplish the task. Thanks to one of my instructors at Chico my junior year, I had the opportunity to coach a junior high basketball team. This made me realize how important volunteerism and mentoring can be. It was one of the most rewarding and life-changing opportunities of my life.
You are stationed in Izmir, Turkey. What are your duties?
I am the NATO commander of the Allied Air Component for Southern Europe. There are 17 nations in this headquarters working daily to be prepared to provide air support for any situation, ranging from humanitarian aid to combat operations. There are five Combined Air Operations Centers that work for my headquarters located in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey. These centers monitor the airspace over southern Europe and the Mediterranean; they are the first defense against a threat to the European continent. Our command contributes to the security, peace, stability, and territorial integrity of alliance member states.
What is living in Turkey like? Is your family with you?
Living in Izmir, Turkey, is wonderful. The Turkish people are wonderful hosts, and they are eager to share the traditions of their country. My wife, Debbie, has accompanied me on this tour and has been a tremendous asset. Our two daughters have their own families and live in South Carolina and Florida.
Living overseas should be cherished and not feared. Seeing our country through the eyes of another culture provides insights that are not possible if you only live within the United States. It is my distinct honor and pleasure to proudly serve my nation in Turkey and the NATO Alliance.
Lieutenant General Thomas L. Baptiste (BS, Business Administration, ’73)
How did you begin your Air Force career?
During my last two years at Chico, I committed to joining the Air Force to learn to fly. At first, I was unsure whether I would make the Air Force a career. The decision point was probably when I was selected for pilot training in 1977. Nearly 34 years later, I have no regrets.
How did your time at CSU, Chico prepare you for your work in the Air Force?
The business school provided me a solid foundation in leadership and management theory. Leadership is a personal trait and certainly not 100 percent learned, but my education from childhood through CSU, Chico prepared me well for the opportunities the Air Force presented me.
What does your current position as the deputy chairman of the NATO Military Committee in Brussels entail?
Some background: NATO is a 26-nation military alliance. The highest political level is the North Atlantic Council (NAC), where all alliance decisions are taken. The Military Committee is the senior military level within the alliance, providing consensus military advice to inform decisions that are taken in the NAC.
As the deputy chairman, I am the senior U.S. military officer at NATO headquarters and the second senior military advisor to the civilian secretary general of NATO. In the absence of the chairman, I am charged with finding consensus solutions to issues before nations’ chiefs of defense. Those solutions are translated into consensus advice to the NAC.
What is particularly rewarding about your current position?
The most rewarding, and at the same time frustrating, aspect of my job is the process of reaching consensus among the 26 nations. It requires agility while in the chair not only to recognize but also to capitalize on opportunities for compromise. It requires me to approach issues from other than a U.S. perspective.
What is living in Belgium like? Is your family with you?
Brussels is a magic city and a great place to live. My wife is here with me, and my daughters and their families have visited us.
Anna Harris, Public Affairs and Publications
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