Forging a Leader: 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron Civilian Earns Top Honors at NCOA

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Hailey Farrell
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  

When Braddon Kolafa, a structures foreman with the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, walked into the Noncommissioned Officer Academy at Sheppard Air Force Base, he wasn’t just stepping into a classroom–he was stepping into a room traditionally reserved for enlisted leaders. 

Kolafa spent 196 hours alongside enlisted Airmen, tackling the same leadership lessons and physical challenges. His commitment didn’t just meet expectations–it exceeded them, and he earned the title of distinguished graduate, a recognition reserved for the top performers in the course. 

“What was awesome to see when Kolafa came here, is not only did he embrace the curriculum and high standards that we set, he excelled to the point that he was a distinguished graduate,” said U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Wilfred Morgan, Sheppard NCOA commandant.

Kolafa didn't attend NCOA just to go through the motions and graduate; he immersed himself in the culture and pushed himself to learn more. By volunteering to be his flight's guidon bearer and participating in open ranks inspections, he showed that he was there to become a better leader.

“Experiencing leadership training allowed me to see how those core values translate into my role as a foreman overseeing both military and civilian technicians,” said Kolafa. “I can strengthen my team’s cohesion and improve the shop’s readiness to ensure our maintenance efforts align seamlessly with the strategic objectives of the 2nd Bomb Wing.”

Throughout the course, Kolafa embraced every aspect of the experience, including the optional ones. From pushups between lessons to running after hours, he accumulated the most physical training points in his flight. 

“I wasn’t obligated to participate in the activities like group physical training,” said Kolafa. “But I think a big part of the course is team building and interpersonal skills and that doesn’t just happen in the classroom.”

The overall goal of NCOA is to develop noncommissioned officers’ leadership capabilities and enable them to lead effective teams. Kolafa’s commitment to going above and beyond reflects the mindset he brought back to his team here at the 2nd Bomb Wing. 

“There are a few things I’d like students to take away from NCOA when attending the course,” said Morgan. “The first is to truly understand what our Airmen are doing. Kolafa is running his whole shop and his team, so him being able to understand how Airmen develop and what is expected of them, enables him to further enhance their development and adds value to his team.” 

As part of the curriculum, Kolafa and his classmates tackled concepts like shaping unit culture, leading diverse teams and aligning with a commander’s vision. 

“I need them to be forward thinking to be able to solve problems to give to the decision maker or the commander,” said Morgan. “Listen to their commander’s vision, take their commander’s priorities and make them their own, executing on their commander’s behalf.” 

Since returning to the 2nd Bomb Wing, Kolafa has applied what he learned by actively refining his leadership approach, creating development opportunities for his team and finding new ways to build cohesion and elevate performance. His time spent at NCOA isn’t just another line to add to his resumé, it’s the catalyst shaping his leadership and driving his shop’s mission readiness today, and for years to come.