Commentaries

  • Embrace Change ... or Be Left Behind

    In this edition, the boss and I decided to touch on a very complex topic: change. Either you love it, hate it or just try to roll with it. It is a billion dollar industry with books, articles and podcasts all hoping to educate and coach us on how to cope, handle or even lead change. One thing is

  • Be your best

    What does being your best mean to you? Can you work on improving yourself? Is there a version of you which you have yet to discover?Always try to think big! Assess your patterns of thinking. Think about the ways great leaders think. The thoughts in your mind go far in defining what you do and how

  • Summer Health Hazards

    Summer’s here, and with it comes backyard barbecues, days at the beach, and time spent outdoors. Some of the things that make summer so much fun – swimming, hiking, and longer days, also present plenty of health risks. Don’t let a health emergency ruin your activities. Knowing common summer health

  • FAQ: Mental health referrals

    This past year and a half came with plenty of its own hurdles on top of unique military challenges from deployments, family separations, long hours and missile field tours. Yet, stress doesn’t always cause mental health issues because resilience, social support and coping skills can help us manage

  • The literal cost of leadership

    Many years ago, a mentor of mine relayed a story about one of the founding fathers of the U.S. Air Force, retired Gen. Benjamin Foulois. He explained that Foulois was assigned to the Signal Corps in the early 1900s and was part of the initial cadre to fly dirigibles for the U.S. Army. In parallel,

  • Change ...

    Change is inevitable. Change is uncertain. Change may be uncomfortable. However, it is often necessary because the risks of complacency are too great. In April, the Chief of Staff unveiled the Air Force's new mission statement. These eight words are a mandate to continue our journey as an

  • Protect your eyes from the sun’s UV rays

    Summer is here and the importance of ultraviolet (UV) protection, especially for our eyes, cannot be overstated. UV-A penetrates easily through the skin. Although it is not as strong as UV-B, it is more prevalent and poses more of a risk to the inner layers of the skin and eyes. UV-B affects the

  • Where does responsibility start?

    The Air Force teaches us as Airmen three core values that are ingrained into our minds from the first “... I solemnly affirm …. So help me God” of our oath to this country: Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence In All We Do. These core values guide us and give us a foundation for

  • Reflections on Military Service

    Serving in the U.S. military is a special privilege. It is inextricably tied to the deepest roots of our country. The expectations are high, but so is the satisfaction in knowing what we do truly matters. As we reflect on this, let it motivate us to be the best men and women we can be, do our jobs

  • Minutes of Success

    While there are numerous differences between active duty and the Reserve, the most difficult hurdle for me has been the consolidated timeline I have to be a successful and effective leader. As a supervisor while on active duty, I had my Airmen eight to 12 hours a day, five to six days a week. As a