Commentaries

  • Making Fun of Stress

    Abraham Lincoln, in the midst of the Civil War, implored his advisors, "Gentlemen, why don't you laugh? With the fearful strain that is upon me day and night, if I did not laugh I should die, and you need this medicine as much as I do." It's no secret that all of us, military and civilian, are

  • Average: the top of the bottom

    Question: What is right beneath average? Answer: below average. Being average isn't about a result, but about a mindset that leads to that result. This week I want to explore how you engage each activity associated with your life. I believe you get out of life, your career and personal pursuits what

  • Service Before Self

    "Service Before Self," the second of our core values, provides the vector for our Air Force. It keeps us pointed in the correct direction, the defense of our great republic, and provides the motivation which sustains our efforts over time. Without Service Before Self, our direction, like that of

  • Let’s celebrate our success

    Today, I invite every Combat Airlifter to celebrate the success of Team Little Rock's participation in Air Mobility Command's 2009 RODEO competition. We brought home a combined total of nine awards, once again proving our place as THE center of C-130 excellence. These awards, without question,

  • Click, Call, Walk – Financial Services transformation has begun

    A financial services transformation is under way across the Air Force. This is an on-going Air Force effort aimed at enhancing customer service for members and their dependents through the use of computers and telephone systems for pay concerns. The end result, from a customer standpoint, is much of

  • Practice the way you execute

    As many of you read the paper today, our base will be celebrating the many awards received during our recent RODEO competition which took place at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. Winning trophies in areas of aviation, maintenance, support and aerial delivery is great; however, we must never forget

  • Don't major in the minor

    One of the greatest attributes I have witnessed from leaders that I admire is their ability to keep the main thing the main thing. We are all challenged daily with multiple concerns that jockey for our attention and action. The key to keeping down stress while leading a productive professional and

  • Education - take the time and go for it!

    If you're like me, I was happy to have a bachelor's degree, and was completely satisfied and done with school. How wrong I was. It seemed the Air Force had other plans for me: Air Force Professional Military Education and technical training, which involved Squadron Officer School, Air Command and

  • It's been a great ride

    It's been a total pleasure to serve as a member of Team Little Rock the past two years. Julie, the children and I will certainly miss Central Arkansas and all the great folks here. My going-away lunch and C-130 final flight were both very special, and are memories that will last a lifetime. Thanks

  • Our mission is about trust

    As I flew to Colorado Springs, Colo., the other day on my way to witness our base participate in the Air Mobility Command Airlift RODEO 2009 challenge, the concept of trust began to play out in my mind. Col. Greg Otey, 19th Airlift Wing commander, was piloting the aircraft that 35 of us were on and