Commentaries

  • Will you answer the call?

    Lately it seems like I have been going to more and more retirement ceremonies and each of the honorees shared similar professional traits. The main one that they had in common was their readiness to step up and lead when they had the opportunity. If your boss wasn't able to perform their duties,

  • Strong supervisors and mentors...needed now, more than ever

    What is the meaning of life? Webster's Dictionary defines life as: "the property or quality distinguishing living organisms from dead organisms and inanimate matter, manifested in functions such as growth, metabolism, response to stimuli and reproduction." Several years ago as I worked as a young

  • Are you outstanding or out processing?

    As I'm typing this article, the sacrifice of our people who have answered our nation's call is even more prominent in my mind. In the past 48 hours, we've lost 22 members in combat. Each of us must again ask ourselves how our conduct reflects upon our service branch and country. You see, your

  • Cherish your spouse

    Just last week, while walking past the base chapel, I witnessed a scene that caused me to pause and reflect. I turned and watched as people, dressed in their Sunday best, flowed from the chapel doors, smiling and casually chatting. They slowly split into two lines, creating a path that led to a

  • Our own stone soup

    Sitting on my bookshelf is the children's book "Stone Soup," by Kit Schorsch. This short story centers on a Soldier returning from war when he happens upon a village. Hungry from his travels the Soldier knocks on several doors, asking the villagers if they may have some extra food. At each stop, the

  • The power to choose

    We're faced with decisions from the very first moment we wake each morning. Each day we must make decisions to get out of bed, get dressed in our uniform and come to work. We make decisions before going to sleep to set our alarm clocks so we can wake up with enough time to do all the necessary

  • Colonel Howard M. Dallman - First Airlifter to earn Air Force Cross

    Feb. 5, 1968, Vietnam, the surrounded Marine Fire Base at Khe Sanh. A C-130E, piloted by Lt. Col. Howard Dallman of the 314th Troop Carrier Wing, broke through thick cloud cover over Khe Sanh at 300 feet above ground level. Finding communications at the base inoperable, and having never landed at

  • What Does a Person in Trouble Look Like?

    Can you spot someone who is having a trying time in their life? There was a time that I would tell you I could pick them out quickly and then be able to render assistance. But the longer I live, the more I realize that people respond to stress differently, and I may not be as good as I thought at

  • Remember why you joined

    I began my Air Force career, as did a number of my fellow officers, as an enlisted Airman. The year was 1984, and a co-worker at my civilian workplace had signed up with the Navy. He was excited at the prospect of moving into a new and challenging career, at the opportunity to see other countries

  • Out of sight, out of mind

    One of the big problems with conservation of electrical energy is its invisibility. You can't see it, smell it and only notice it when it isn't there. Maybe that's part of the reason our total Entergy electric bill for this year is $6 million. That's right: six. million. dollars. That's the bad