Commentary Search

  • What makes an organization successful?

    As I spend time looking through the dozens of leadership books that fill the shelves of bookstores everywhere, both physical and electronic, it amazes me how many different "experts" have the solution for building the perfect organization. Whether it's creating the best multi-million dollar

  • It's all about family

    You heard it when you arrived: "Welcome to the Wolf Pack Family." Or maybe you've heard people talk about the Air Force Family. When I speak with the Airmen in the Operations Group, I speak about being a family. So why do Air Force leaders refer to family when we talk about our organization? I can't

  • Commentary: Lessons of December 7th remain relevant

    Today marks the 71st anniversary of the Imperial Japanese Navy's attack on Hickam Field and Pearl Harbor. Though the fires of the ensuing World War have long grown cold, the lessons learned on that harrowing day reach through history and cascade onto the shores of present-day Joint Base Pearl

  • Give thanks in every circumstance

    As I was dealing with emotions in response to the third crazy event of the day -- I reflected on a lesson I was taught as a child -- "give thanks in every circumstance."Returning to my room, I thought about where I was a year ago, in Iraq with U.S. Special Forces closing bases and drawing down the

  • Season’s Greetings from COMPACAF

    Gillian and I are happy to be stationed in the Pacific theater once again, celebrating the holiday season alongside the rest of our PACAF family.While this is a time of celebration, we want to shift our focus from celebrating 'with' our families to actually celebrating them. Quite often, mission

  • Dec. 7: An attack on one is an attack on all

    "Once out of the hall, I became aware of the booming noise coming from the direction of Pearl Harbor. I attached no special significance to the noise, since there was frequent gunnery and bombing practice in the area. I paused momentarily to watch aircraft that were circling over Pearl Harbor. As I

  • Relationships facilitate mission success

    A mentor of mine once said, "Relationships matter, that's how we get things done in the Air Force." My squadron recently deployed to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska to conduct training on one of our nation's premier air-to-surface bombing ranges in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex. Among other

  • Veterans Day

    The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month marks a monumental time in the history of mankind. On that day, November 11, 1918, an armistice went into effect between the Allied Forces and Germany, effectively marking an end of hostilities in the First World War.President Woodrow

  • Staying persistent

    Throughout the years, I've received a lot advice on how to be successful. I want to share with you the one piece of advice that has given me the most payoff: "persistence" or the act of persisting, especially in spite of opposition, obstacles or discouragement.As an Airman, I set goals for myself,

  • A family away from home

    An explosion of eggs, milk and strawberry cake mix covered the floors, walls and ceiling of the kitchen. Small flour footprints led all around the house before abruptly stopping at two doors, mine and my sister's. After using her superior detective skills and following the clues, my mother found the