6 Apr 2020

Commentary: Rising to the challenge

One of the biggest adjustments to command for me was the lack of official training that I received before I took command. Command has always been something that I aspired for and has always been my goal in the Air Force. When I took command, I was completely overwhelmed by the amount of information coming my way, the lack of time I had, and the

10 Feb 2020

The B-1 bomber is not done serving the US Air Force

In the Op-Ed, Maj. Gen. James Dawkins, Jr. describes how the B-1 bridges the legacy and next gen bombers and what the Air Force's plan is to sustain the aircraft's lifecycle.

28 Jan 2020

Accepting change

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more & become more, YOU ARE A LEADER”   - John Quincy AdamsI cannot begin to write what truly encompasses a leader. I cannot tell you how to check a bunch of boxes and then suddenly you’ve become a leader. A leader does not earn a master’s degree or sew a badge on their chest saying

20 Jan 2020

Atomic Habits

Have you ever thought about your habits? Our habits are the things we do regularly, and they’re usually hard to change. In a way, our habits define who we are – people who run a lot are called runners; people who write a lot are called writers; people who play games a lot are called gamers, you get the idea. Habits, though, are incredibly

7 Jan 2020

Connection…Motivation…Warrior Ethos: It all Connects!

It was 2013; I was a high-time Captain in the 28th Bomb Squadron.  I had three successful combat deployments under my belt with the 9th Bomb Squadron, and I thoroughly enjoyed teaching young Weapon Systems Officers how to employ the lethal B-1 bomber.  I attended an “All Call” where a USAF Brigadier General passionately reminded the audience that

30 Dec 2019

Commentary: Attitude and Effort

Do you want a more successful career and a happier, more fulfilling life? Then I’ve got two words for you:  Attitude & Effort.Attitude and Effort are two things YOU can control today and every day.  Armed with a positive attitude and 100 percent effort there is little that you can’t conquer.  Further, if you combine a positive attitude and 100

23 Dec 2019

Commentary: Solemn Success Indicator

"I’d be dead right now if it weren’t for the members of this Squadron.”  Those were the chilling words expressed during resiliency day by one of the youngest and lowest ranking members of our tribe.  The gravity behind such sentiment has weighed heavily on me as the Air Force continues to struggle with a skyrocketing number of suicides (132 this

3 Dec 2019

Tenets of Leadership: the Air Force Core Values

The Air Force Core Values Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence In All We Do, are the reasons our Air Force is the best the world has ever seen.  These Core Values are what drive me every day in how I operate as a Chief Master Sergeant and senior leader in our Air Force.Integrity FirstIntegrity First frames my decision-making.  I have

25 Nov 2019

Give thanks

In the Fall of 1621, 53 Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Native Americans gathered for the “First Thanksgiving.”  Lasting three days, the feast celebrated the Pilgrims’ first successful harvest, which would enable their survival through the coming winter.  Since leaving England aboard the Mayflower in September 1620, the Pilgrims saw their numbers cut in

12 Nov 2019

Airmen carrying the torch of 'The World's Greatest Air Force'

As November rolls around it makes me reflect about the end of World War I and Armistice Day. The First Great War, as we all know, was the first major operational use of Air Power in combat, in what would turn out to be first few steps toward us becoming the World’s Greatest Air Force.  Air Power was built from that generation of Airmen; this was