16 Oct 2019

The Power of "Yes"

A couple of weeks ago I celebrated my twenty-year mark in our amazing Air Force. Over my eleven assignments, I have had many remarkable and memorable leaders, mentors, peers, and subordinates.  They have helped develop my leadership skills and shape me into a better person as we all know, we cannot succeed without help, and a strong team. Whenever

30 Sep 2019

What do you value most: service or self?

Team Dyess Commentary Program: Leaders are sharing the insights, experience, and wisdom gained throughout their Air Force careers through the written word.

25 Sep 2019

LISTENING IS LEADING

As a senior leader in our Air Force, opportunities often arise for me to sit down and mentor younger Airmen. Now I’m not saying I’m a better mentor than the next person you might meet, but perhaps it’s because I’m a little more seasoned or experienced (read: older) that Airmen seek my opinion on various issues. Leading Airmen is one of the greatest

25 Sep 2019

PROTECT THIS HOUSE

How much would you pay for a house? More precisely, a house which provides protection and security for those that call it home. A house where the foundation is made from rich soil and a structure to withstand the test of time. A house that cannot only hold the brightest lights, but will emit light, hope, faith, and love. A house that will endure

25 Sep 2019

Mission or People First?

Is it mission or people first? There are different arguments to justify either stance. I believe that if it were people first, everyone would get what they wanted from the Air Force and we, as an organization, would shy away from placing people in risky or dangerous situations. Of course, what we do is inherently dangerous and much depends on our

28 Aug 2019

Fix what you can touch

When you see a Colonel or a Chief, you may think they can solve every challenge, fix every problem, right any wrong. Those Eagles and Chevrons carry weight on many issues that confront us and can solve lots of problems. However, while we can do a lot, there are issues that we can’t fix, no matter how hard we try. I’m not going to solve Air Force

27 Aug 2019

7th BW honors bomber pioneer heritage, looks to future challenges

More than 70 veteran Airmen and their families from the 340th Bomb Group visited the 9th Bomb Squadron and 28th Bomb Squadron during a reunion tour at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, May 10, 2019. The tour gave the 340th bomber pioneers a chance to revisit their pasts and meet the next generation of professionals. Similarly, current bomber Airmen were

12 Aug 2019

Great relationships, incredible experiences, fantastic mentors

A lot of Airmen ask me, “When did you decide to make the Air Force a career?”I never woke up one morning and said, “I’m going to make the Air Force a career.” I enlisted in 1995 as a firefighter with a simple goal—to follow in my dad’s footsteps. I intended to serve four years, then separate. However, through great relationships, incredible

6 Aug 2019

Servant leaders build strong Airmen, teams

I have the honor of speaking with Airmen of all ranks and ages where I get to share my perspectives on the Air Force and a host of other subjects that affect our Airmen every day. During a recent event with a small group of young Airmen, someone asked the commanders present to share “the ‘secrets’ of leadership that [we] have uncovered in our

1 Feb 2019

7th CES receives multiple AFGSC awards

The men and women of the 7th Civil Engineer Squadron are the maintainers and stewards of the infrastructure of Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. They provide agile customer service and emergency services to over 13,000 people. The 7th CES is always working hard to provide the people of Dyess a safe, robust, and sustainable installation. This work is