Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Wolfe defined a new formula for personal performance during his keynote address, Feb. 25, at the Air and Space Forces Association's 2026 Warfare Symposium, urging Airmen to multiply their skills and dedication with a winning attitude.
Wolfe framed his remarks around the formula of (Competence + Commitment) × Attitude = Performance. He described it as an individual responsibility - one that calls on every Airman to develop expertise, demonstrate commitment to the team and standards, and choose a winning attitude each day. Wolfe said consistent application of the formula at the individual level directly enables the Air Force to execute Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach's priorities of readiness, modernization and caring for Airmen and their families.
"I challenge you to master your craft. Live with a deep commitment to your teammates and the standards that bind us every single morning. Choose your attitude. Decide to be a problem solver. Decide to find a way to win," Wolfe added.
Drawing from recent Team USA Olympic victories, Wolfe emphasized that elite performance is built through preparation and shared purpose, pointing to both the U.S. men's and women's hockey teams earning gold medals despite differing expectations. Referencing the legacy of the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" team, Wolfe said moments often described as miracles are instead the product of deliberate preparation, disciplined execution and a winning mindset.
"Competence is the result of repetition, training and education. Commitment is the discipline to execute the plan. Attitude is deciding to win even before the situation gives you the perfect conditions," Wolfe said. "When those three things come together, the world's assumptions don't matter. Performance does."
Wolfe directly linked this high-performance ethos to the Air Force's most pressing needs. Readiness secures the present, Wolfe said, while modernization represents the commitment to winning tomorrow. Wolfe placed special emphasis on the foundation that enables both: the stability and well-being of the force.
"Instability in our military families isn't a 'soft' issue. It is a direct challenge to our national security, and we will treat it with the seriousness it deserves," Wolfe said, emphasizing the service retains families, not just individuals.
Wolfe charged leaders to create an environment in which the formula can thrive and called on Airmen to embrace the discipline that underpins elite performance. Wolfe invoked the central lesson from Herb Brooks, the coach portrayed in the 1980 film, who forged a single team from individual rivals, to illustrate the Air Force's process of building a unified force from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
"The name on the front of the jersey is a heck of a lot more important than the one on the back," Wolfe said, quoting Brooks. "The name on our uniform is U.S. Air Force."
Wolfe concluded by issuing a direct call to action, affirming that the daily, often unseen actions of Airmen, from a maintainer's preflight check to a defender's post, are the gold medal performances the nation depends on.
"This commitment to excellence is what separates contenders from champions," Wolfe said, reinforcing that disciplined execution, even when no one is watching, defines the Air Force standard.
"This isn't just a phrase to remember. It is a living formula and a direct call to action for every one of us," Wolfe said. "Airmen, this is OUR TIME."
