Commentaries - Page 4

The leader and the team
September 27, 2017 — It is an expectation, especially in the armed forces. It is something that comes naturally for some, and not quite so easily for others. Individuals can show true ability in big projects or simple tasks. Others may struggle to obtain those same objectives but shine in different areas when given the opportunity. It does not matter the location,...

Communicate and collaborate
September 13, 2017 — Several years ago I was able to spend an afternoon at the Pratt & Whitney headquarters and assembly line in Hartford, Connecticut. Pratt & Whitney is one of three major worldwide advanced engine manufacturers, and they are constantly in stiff competition with Rolls Royce and General Electric. If there is an industry where business is considered a...

INSPIRE your Airmen
August 30, 2017 — Today’s Airmen crave inspiring leadership – they want to be a valued member of the world’s best Air Force, know their contributions make a difference, and follow someone who will make them better. When these Airmen joined the Air Force they envisioned their leaders would be charismatic, passionate and successful – they believed their leaders would...

Combating Burnout
August 16, 2017 — In an effort to improve Airmen and their families’ quality of life, the Air Force has placed an emphasis on addressing work overload that can cause Airmen to burnout or become mentally, physically and emotionally drained. This issue is one of 11th Wing Commander Col. E. John Teichert’s 2017 strategic initiatives. To find a solution, we implemented a supplemental problem solving technique – the Google Ventures sprint process. ...

A Formula for Success: building relationships and your reputation
June 14, 2017 — Relationships and your reputation apply to virtually everything you do and every interaction you have. Your reputation and the relationships you cultivate, make life easier, not harder and can save you precious time, especially when time becomes critical.Ever had to call customer service and just get transferred around? What if you knew someone...

Comprehensive fitness summer challenge
May 25, 2017 — This weekend, as you honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country, I want you to think about yourselves, the ones you love and your overall health. Let’s make this summer, a summer of resiliency in all the Comprehensive Airman Fitness pillars. Are y’all, as a Texan would say, spiritually, socially,...

Why we serve – a common oath
May 12, 2017 — This July, our great Nation will celebrate 241 years of age and The Constitution of the U.S., which lays the foundation and provides the blueprint for our republic, will turn 230 years-old. Over the course of these years, we have become the most powerful nation on the planet and a symbol of freedom for others to aspire. These freedoms we now...

Teamwork in a Crisis
April 11, 2017 — Last week, we faced a major challenge in response to the F-16 incident. While I walked away from the week drained, I also walked away from the week feeling encouraged and proud because of the display of teamwork between Joint Base Andrews, the community, and local authorities. On the day of the incident, both the 11th Wing and the 113th Wing...

In obedience to its call
February 17, 2017 — There are many callings in this life, but none so precious as the honor of leading and serving others, whether it is in our Air Force, in our communities, or in our families. There are many facets of leadership through service, but one core trait stands out as pivotal – humility. In this month of President’s Day and in a year of an inauguration,...

Seven steps to '17
February 2, 2017 — Team JBA, first and foremost, thanks to everyone for what you do every day to push the various “no-fail” missions around this awesome installation! It strikes me that even being a few weeks into the new year, I’m still stumbling across various lists of things we should all try to do to improve our lives in 2017. I figured it might be nice to...