July 21, 2011 Inspiration from a wrestler In March of this year, Arizona State University senior Anthony Robles walked onto the mat to compete in the 125-pound NCAA wrestling championship match. Leading up to this event he had a very successful career. He completed two undefeated seasons and won state championship titles while in high
July 11, 2011 The four keys to world-class maintenance This week, Little Rock Air Force Base hosts the Headquarters Air Education and Training Command Logistics Compliance Assessment Program (LCAP) team who are here to evaluate the key logistic processes of the 314th Airlift Wing. The team will evaluate the proud professionals who perform or enable
June 24, 2011 Celebrate our freedom and be safe this Independence Day The 4th of July is a day for all of us to celebrate what we cherish and hold so dear as Americans ... it's been this way for 235 years. What our forefathers fought and worked so hard for you carry on today, magnificently. We are as busy as ever and no matter what's asked, you rise to the challenge
June 9, 2011 Where does airpower come from? Every day I see examples of the men and women of the Air Force putting their lives on hold to make our mission happen. This dedication isn't something new - we're part of a military that has done this for decades. But every time I drive by Heritage Park and see the B-47, tail number 0595, I am
May 25, 2011 Avoiding the Epic Fail "I saw the signs that he was having problems, sir, but I'm not his rater."One of my squadron commanders heard these words from a fellow squadron member as he counseled a young Airman who found himself in trouble and is now facing severe consequences. Let me be blunt. From my standpoint, this is
April 27, 2011 Achieving greatness through effective decisions New commanders traditionally provide their squadrons a road map for organizational success. Most road maps incorporate mission statements and visions to help unit members understand the part they play in the larger team effort. Squadron objectives naturally nestle under group objectives to ensure a
April 15, 2011 Are you the wind or the anchor? "People can be the wind beneath our wings or the anchor on our boat"- John C. MaxwellI find it funny every time I write an article I remember a bad supervisor or a bad situation that drives the topic. To ensure effective leadership, the Air Force spends a lot of time and money sending Airmen through
April 7, 2011 Straight talk and feedback (formal and informal) The old adage "people are your most important asset" is wrong. People are not your most important asset ... the right people are" ~ Jim Collins, Good to Great For me, it all starts with feedback and a leader's ability to spot talent! Too often I am sitting a panel at the Mathies NCOA or some other
March 16, 2011 An ode to Adam Early in the oncoming tide of Airmen moving in and out of Little Rock this summer, our base will lose a veteran C-130 maintainer as the 314th Maintenance Group commander, Col. Adam Dickerson, once again leaves Little Rock and heads off to the Middle East for a year's duty ... again. He's been my
March 4, 2011 Airmen are the keys to success Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley spoke recently at the Air Force Association's 27th Annual Air Warfare Symposium about the Air Force's top priorities. He outlined the five priorities that we, as a service, have committed to tackling in the coming years: strengthening the nuclear enterprise;