Commentary Search

Commentaries

  • Chances plentiful to learn in our lives

    When we talk about learning opportunities in the military, what is the first thing that leaps to your mind? It might be some sort of Professional Military Education. Perhaps you are thinking that learning opportunities focus more on taking some college classes in pursuit of your Community College of

  • Every dollar, every minute counts for Air Force

    No time is better than the present, especially when the present happens to be the end of a fiscal year, to reflect upon the goods and services we are buying and the processes we have in place to successfully complete the mission. The great Yogi Berra once said, "The future ain't what it used to be,"

  • Send the right message about leadership

    "Too often, we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." Leo Buscaglia. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of serving as the wing executive officer for a

  • Taking charge requires balance between lessons, reality

    The principles of leadership are at the forefront of our society and the demand for it has never been greater. At every turn, we are confronted with examples of leadership successes or failures. We hear it in the media, we read about it in print and we discuss it in personal conversations. The

  • Leadership about everyone moving 'up' together

    You can find leadership lessons in the strangest places. Some people search high and low, far and wide for mentors and wise sages with the hope of finding leadership enlightenment, the moment when everything in your supervision tool box finds a purpose. For me, that moment didn't happen during a

  • How will you shape your image in history?

    Among the many mementos in my office is a small black and white picture about the size of a dollar bill. With the help of my Air Force historian brother, Rich Guinan, it was determined the picture was likely taken at Fort Bliss, Texas, circa 1923. I first came across the picture while stationed at

  • Inspiration comes from unexpected sources

    All of us have encountered an inspiring person or people at some time or another in our lives, someone who provided guidance or played a key role in shaping our futures. Two individuals have had a profound effect on me during the past 10 years of my career. One is retired Chief Master Sgt. of the

  • Commander's perspective on PT success

    As a wing commander, I've seen a lot of Air Force Physical Fitness Assessment program results in the past few years. Unfortunately, I've also seen my share of Airmen who did not meet our standards and were separated from the Air Force. After analyzing so many results, I've formed a couple strongly

  • Sincere passion: Driver of selfless, infectious energy

    "Your pay will be low; the conditions of your labor often will be difficult. But you will have the satisfaction of leading a great national effort and you will have the ultimate reward which comes to those who serve their fellow man." - Lyndon B JohnsonVolunteerism is the principle of donating time

  • Working as team makes mission

    In a 79-second address to his football team, coach Bo Schembechler delivered one of the most well-known motivational speeches ever given. It was simply about the team. He warned against individualism and the tendency for members of a team to think of themselves rather than to think of and work as a