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  • Bringing technology to today’s Air Force

    “It’s not science fiction, it’s what we do every day” was a recruitment campaign that ran in 2010 for the Air Force. The unfortunate truth to those in uniform was that, in the Air Force, we have, and still have, a technology gap in the way we do business.

  • Don’t fake it ‘til you break it

    “Fake it ‘til you make it.” This is a popular saying I have heard throughout my Air Force career and it honestly scares me sometimes.

  • Set the example

    I arrived at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, in May 1991. I was fresh out of technical school and ready to live in the “real” Air Force. I remember feeling anxious and excited. I didn’t know what to expect.

  • Who cares?

    In 2015, while assigned to a munitions squadron as a brand new first sergeant, I was diligently working in my office on a tasker when a young female Airman knocked at the door and asked, “Shirt, do you have a minute?”

  • What’s it going to be, Airman?

    Working with commanders and first sergeants as it relates to legal affairs, I found three things to be true: they need avenues to help their people be ready, be outstanding, or be out-processing.

  • We are not the bad guys

    A couple days ago, a paralegal told me that a senior noncommissioned officer told her that she tells Airmen only to come to the legal office if they need their deployment checklist signed off. According to this SNCO, nothing good happens at the legal office.

  • How I lead

    In the last 16 years of my career, I came to understand there is no one simple way to lead. I have been blessed to have had situations in my life that have led me to come up with my own version of how to be a better leader. What I am about to share may or may not work for you, but hopefully, you can

  • Got feedback?

    Have you heard about this new thing called innovation? It seems to be quite the buzzword lately.

  • Failing forward

    It is completely natural for the Air Force to incentivize compliance and conformity. We were established and gained significant achievements during the industrial era which depended on those same qualities. While this formula worked well and many standardization positions are still necessary, the