8 Aug 2011

Mutual Respect: The Power of “Aloha”

Here on the mainland, most people know the word "aloha" as a simple Hawaiian greeting to mean both 'hello' and 'goodbye.' However, the purest definition of aloha, itself, is unconditional love, free of prejudice or discrimination. It involves an honest and proactive expression of faith, trust and acceptance given with nothing but good intent.

21 Jul 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 school in addition to winning three PAC-10 conference

11 Jul 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 quality maintenance in support of training our next

24 Jun 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 ... to answer the call of others so they can

9 Jun 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 reminded of a story that shows this dedication by an

25 May 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 tantamount to saying, "I saw an Airman in trouble and

27 Apr 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 consistent approach to wing goals. This is a

27 Apr 2011

Holocaust Days of Remembrance: What have we learned?

This year's Holocaust Remembrance week is May 1 - 8. Each year, this nation commemorates one of the most terrible times in history in hopes that such atrocities will never happen again. While the lessons of the Holocaust continue to shape how humanity acts and behaves in the global community, there is an important lesson learned from the holocaust

15 Apr 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 professional military education to show us how to

7 Apr 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 venue, and the Airmen disclose they haven't