Commentaries

  • 'TRUST IS THE ESSENCE OF LEADERSHIP'

    "Leadership involves solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership."- Secretary Colin Powell

  • Trust in relationships…

    How do we decide who to trust? To whom will we give a spare key? Which babysitter should we hire? Who do we confide in? (Note: Asking a person if we can trust them almost never results in a negative response).

  • A Culture of Modernization is a mindset, not a buzz phrase

    While our Air Force’s weapon systems and the way we fight have evolved through the years, our adversaries have continued to find ways to match our capabilities. The challenge of navigating government bureaucracy – with decades of institutional inertia – threatens our ability to innovate and

  • What is 'purpose?'

    In a recent study, 57% of younger Americans said when developing their career priorities, the most important is to do work that is enjoyable and meaningful, as this is what keeps them most engaged.

  • VALUES, CULTURE, VICTORY

    "You didn’t just fly coal to Berlin and keep a city from freezing and the lights from going out. You inspired at least one German boy to be like you when he grew up."- Retired Col. Wolfgang Samuel, USAF, a 13-year-old Berliner during the Airlift

  • Encouragement vs. discouragement: Your pet will love you either way

    January is ‘Train Your Dog’, ‘Walk Your Pet’ and ‘One Health Awareness’ Month. Please observe responsibly. Just like teaching them to sit or play dead wasn’t straight forward, repetition, patience and rewarding at the right times are the fundamentals of dog training, so you’re going to have to

  • Avoiding a no fail mindset

    “In pursuit of great, we failed to do good.” – Viktor, ARCANE Season 1.It’s funny how we can find inspiration in the most unlikely of places (i.e., a TV show). When I first heard this quote, I was taken back at how much it rang true and echoed in every facet of my military career. I’ve had many

  • Professionalism: A tradition that never changes

    With the recent passing of our Air Force’s 74th birthday, I’ve been putting a good deal of thought into how much has changed. In the 25 years I’ve served, I’ve worn three uniforms, seen a number of bases close, and several airframes retired.It struck me that there is one thing that hasn’t and never