Air University’s OTS honors former vice CSAF

Maxwell AFB, Ala. - Gen (Ret) Larry O. Spencer, former Vice Chief of Staff, USAF was honored at both the Officer Training School (OTS)l and at the Enlisted Heritage Hall on Dec 17, 2015. Gen Spencer was honored as a distinguished graduate of OTS and was added to the Wall of Achievers at the Enlisted Heritage Hall. Maj Gen Timothy Leahy, vice commander, Air University and Col Scott Lockwood, commandant, OTS officiated the distinguished graduate event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Bud Hancock)

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Air University’s OTS honors former vice CSAF

Maxwell AFB, Ala. - Gen (Ret) Larry O. Spencer, former Vice Chief of Staff, USAF was honored at both the Officer Training School (OTS)l and at the Enlisted Heritage Hall on Dec 17, 2015. Gen Spencer was honored as a distinguished graduate of OTS and was added to the Wall of Achievers at the Enlisted Heritage Hall. Maj Gen Timothy Leahy, vice commander, Air University and Col Scott Lockwood, commandant, OTS officiated the distinguished graduate event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Bud Hancock)

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Air University’s OTS honors former vice CSAF

Published Dec. 18, 2015
By Master Sgt. Michael Voss
42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. - -- Air University's Officer Training School inducted former Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. (retired) Larry O. Spencer into the OTS Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame here, Dec. 17.

The one-time OTS and Squadron Officer School distinguished graduate joined an elite group of 11 other leaders to be recognized by the Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development program.

Spencer, whose uniformed career spanned 44 years and serving as the vice chief of staff from Jul 2012 - Aug 2015, described the induction as a humbling experience.

"I am completely honored. It is not something I expected, or deserve for that matter, but it is an honor to be recognized this way, and I am just so appreciative," said Spencer in an interview before the ceremony. "I don't think I have done anything more than anyone else."

From less than ideal beginnings, the former staff sergeant and current Air Force Association president, travels often to Capitol Hill to advocate for Airmen and educate members of Congress on the Air Force mission.

He credits much of success to education and mentors.

"Education was a great equalizer to me. I grew up in south Washington, D.C., and there wasn't a lot of opportunity there. Education has been that game changer. And mentors, I had so many, most didn't even know they were mentors," said Spencer. "I forced people to be mentors whether they wanted to or not. I would seek out and find those people who I thought had their act together. I would watch how they operated, learned about what schools they went to and how they learned."

The industrial engineer graduate, who played sports with junior officers at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., remembers hearing their stories of leading shops and being envious.

"I came into the Air Force without any college, but I knew I wanted to lead and education and OTS seemed like the fasted way to do that," said Spencer.

The general explained that a person has to be bold to be a leader, and that is the message he shared with the OTS Det. 12 class of cadets that graduated Dec. 18.

"Air University is the professional military education mecca for the Air Force," said Spencer. "Every Airman in uniform is touched in some way by Air University and Maxwell Air Force Base."

Spencer went on the say that PME is critical to the success of the force and to some degree as a nation.

"What separates us from our adversaries is more than equipment and technology; it is our training, education and being bold leaders, and we can never loss that advantage," said Spencer. "And that is what I am going to make a point of telling the class. They need to be bold leaders and out-of-the box thinkers because the Air Force has changed. We didn't have computers when I first came in. There were phone booths and gas attendants, now we are talking about subsonic aircraft and things that are going to revolutionize the way we conduct war. So, I am going to challenge them to challenge the status quo and ask how and why we are doing things a certain way when there are better ways. Being bold is what keeps us ahead."