Commentaries

  • Undercover Boss and the value of partnerships

    Perhaps some of you have seen that new television show, "Undercover Boss." For those of you who haven't, the premise is that the CEO of a company goes undercover and works in a couple different positions far removed from the office furniture, staff meetings and power lunches we normally associate

  • Be accountable

    "I'm not the regular crew chief." "It's not my program." "They didn't count all my push-ups." "This isn't my normal job." How many of you have heard, or maybe even used, these excuses when your performance didn't measure up? We are all accountable to someone: to our

  • Seize the opportunities that come with mistakes

    A long-standing military axiom asserts "no plan ever survives first contact with the enemy." You can't plan for everything and things will surely go wrong at some point. That's true in combat and it's true in life. We can fly by the seats of our pants or we can attempt to plan every aspect of our

  • Integrity first

    "The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office," -- Dwight D. EisenhowerMany people tout the Air Force core value of integrity first. It's truly a great

  • Mission is "Theme No. 1"

    When I reintroduced myself to Team Little Rock, I outlined my five leadership principles that are preeminent in the 314th Airlift Wing's perspective: mission--standards--partnerships--innovation--focus. Today's focus is the mission--one that we as Airmen take personally. We "own" our mission. Let's

  • Mission excellence in all we do

    Integrity, Service Before Self and Excellence are the Air Force core values we live by and cherish.For many units to include our own, the third core value has often translated into a goal of mission excellence. For combat airlifters, mission excellence is often thought of as delivering personnel and

  • Happy 63rd Birthday Air Force!

    We mark our Air Force's 63rd birthday on Saturday with a celebration at Hangar 1080. For those young and young at heart, this is an opportunity to celebrate our heritage, honor, and valor since our birth on Sept. 18, 1947.It's also a time to reflect on those who've come before us, and the

  • How do you serve?

    Last week, Chief Master Sgt. Mark Marson wrote a great editorial in which he discussed integrity and excellence. I will continue in that vein and discuss what I believe Service means; and more specifically, how we can most effectively serve.Several years ago, as I prepared to leave Shaw Air Force

  • Standards and discipline

    "Be tough! Set your standards high and insist that your people measure up. Have the courage to correct those who fail to do so!" - Retired Gen. Louis Wilson, Pacific Air Forces commanderHave you ever been a part of an organization that earned an "Outstanding" rating from the inspector general? Have

  • From the AMC commander: a message to Mobility Airmen

    As we look toward the Labor Day holiday and the end of the active summer months, I want to take a moment and tell you how very proud I am of the work you are doing here at home and around the world.Each of you is making a difference in our world every day. Whether you're supporting the mission from