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  • Dreaming of a green Christmas

    The holidays are fast approaching with Thanksgiving already gracing our dinner tables. Stores are already serving up helpings of holiday tunes as we browse their aisles. Most of you, no doubt, will see your bills climb during this season, due in large part to a multitude of gift giving and to what I can politely describe as "excessive holiday lawn

  • Leadership has no rank; anyone can be a leader

    You may have heard the phrase, "with rank comes responsibility." Without a doubt that's true, but effective leadership can take place regardless of rank. Over the past 20 years, I've observed and practiced leadership at different levels. I've found there are four key principles to become an effective leader -- know yourself, know your job, set a

  • Are you ready for inspection?

    Picture this: the air traffic control tower receives a radio transmission from an inbound transport aircraft requesting permission to land. The plane's credentials check out and the aircraft is given permission to land. After the plane taxis in to its parking spot, the doors open and the passengers, the major command inspector general's team

  • Economic, political, scientific environmentalism

    I've never been the type of person I would consider an "environmentalist." Like most Americans, I've also never been overly preoccupied with energy conservation or global warming. I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit those always seemed to be topics that "others" would handle or resolve. The spike in energy costs (specifically gas prices) over the

  • Giving thanks not just for Thanksgiving

    We were all reminded on Thanksgiving to give thanks for the many blessings we enjoy. We don't have to wait until next Thanksgiving to remember all the blessings in our lives. I find myself telling others that they can find many things to be thankful for, even if they face challenges. However, I know I should also express gratitude to others

  • Rebuilding focuses on policies, processes, precision

    I had the opportunity to spend some time this past weekend with Lt. Col. Steve Ray, our former Training Group deputy commander who is currently the 20th Air Force deputy director of logistics. He was back in the area on Thanksgiving, and he shared with me their efforts on what 20th Air Force is doing to strengthen and rejuvenate our nation's

  • Why we fold socks

    When I was on the faculty at Air Command and Staff College, I watched a video of a speech by a senior Air Force officer as he discussed transformation and the changes the Global War on Terrorism had forced on the Air Force. One example he used to describe Air Force change involved training's need to evolve to reflect reality; he concluded that it

  • Counting our blessings, staying safe during the holidays

    Thanksgiving is a uniquely American experience. All around our country, people take time to pause and give thanks for the blessings of the year and to look forward to better times ahead. It is a time of family, fellowship, friendship, food and, to some, football. The Thanksgiving holiday marks the highest period of travel in our nation. More folks

  • Today’s changing Airmen, tomorrow’s Air Force

    Change....where would the Air Force be without it? I suppose we would still be part of the Army working on P-51 Mustangs and using typewriters to correspond. The Air Force was literally created out of a need for change. Propeller-driven fighter aircraft gave way to faster, more powerful jets, and now unmanned aerial vehicles have taken the place of

  • Busy week ends in thanks

    Last week was arguably one of the busiest weeks we've had in the last year. We had a host of on-base and off-base activities and some thank yous are in order. Thank you to all who participated in the Chief of Staff of the Air Force visit. General Norton and Suzie Schwartz really enjoyed their time with us at Keesler, and asked me to thank you on
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