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  • Innovation: our calling and imperative

    “Our industry does not respect tradition—it only respects innovation.” Satya Nadella spoke after assuming the role as chief executive at Microsoft.Arguably, similar sentiments could be said of our U.S. Air Force. Seven decades ago, visionary innovators established our service as a separate, but

  • Attitude is everything

    Let’s face it; every one of us has had a miserable day at some point. It is inevitable that there will be days in our lives where, by lunchtime, we just want to be left alone. The way we keep from running home and crawling back into bed is by developing a resilient, optimistic outlook. It sounds

  • Ready for this jelly

    This week kicked off the 75th anniversary celebration of the establishment of Travis Air Force Base.Looking back 75 years, specifically on this day, February 9, 1943, the Battle of Guadalcanal had been won and the Allies claimed their victory. When the U.S. Marines landed on the island in 1942, they

  • Doing enough

    With my military career winding down, I routinely ask myself if I’ve done enough. To be honest, I am not sure. However, I am confident in my choices to maximize the opportunities presented before me. As this will be my last commentary submission, I will use it to ask you, “Have you seized or

  • This is our time

    When standing in harm's way, do you want to be partially, mostly or fully ready to respond? Every day our friends, family and team of Airmen rely on us to be the best version of ourselves. Ask yourself if you have done everything you need to do for the person standing next to you or for your

  • Fostering trust through accountability and curiosity

    We are fiercely underway in 2018 as Travis Air Force Base, California, continues to remain engaged throughout the world, and our people continue to impress. January is championship season as we rally around our favorite sports teams and look forward to the Winter Olympics.

  • Stressed lately?

    Being 34 days from my upcoming retirement I have spent some time recently looking back on my career thinking about events that helped develop me into who I am today. I’ve grown quite a bit since I was an airman basic at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, U.K., in 1995.

  • Servant leadership and customer service are one

    By joining the U.S. Air Force, we have committed ourselves to put “service before self.” By definition, we have answered an altruistic calling to serve others. This reflects servant leadership and customer service.

  • Sit down, be humble

    If I asked you to give me a list of words describing qualities you admire in a leader, what would be on it? Perhaps honest, selfless, competent, dedicated, courageous, charismatic or empathetic easily make the list. What about humble? A word synonymous with others like meek, submissive, modest or

  • Three months of humanitarian support; an unforgettable display of readiness

    The month of August in Northern California is when summer begins to wind to a close, the days are long and beautiful, and the 12,000 total force Airmen at Travis Air Force Base, California, are gearing up for an engaging fall season. Little did we know just how engaging this August would prove to