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  • Finding my voice as a quiet leader in a not-so-quiet world

    I have always been quiet and awkward around people which is oftentimes viewed as a negative attribute and is something I have struggled with throughout my 19-year Air Force career. Since I don’t always have much to say out loud, I have endured the common comments and questions about my quietness

  • Staying resilient when 50 percent of your unit deploys

    The 60th Maintenance Squadron was extremely busy in 2017. During the past year, I had the opportunity to be part of numerous high-performing teams. We answered the nation’s call through deploying over 15 percent of our Airmen to overseas contingency operations at locations including the United

  • Travis Toastmasters aids readiness

    I started attending Toastmasters meetings when I first arrived at Travis Air Force Base, California, a year and a half ago to improve my public speaking skills and get involved with other members of the base.When I first started Toastmasters, I felt the usual jitters every time I was asked to speak

  • Service before self vs. service before family

    On the night of Dec. 24, 2004, I returned to Yokota Air Base, Japan, from a four-month deployment.Two days later, a 9.2 magnitude earthquake struck off the western coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The following day, my phone rang and on the other line was my squadron superintendent notifying me

  • Dense planetary core stifles epic changes

    My planetary analogy provides us all an opportunity to continuously evaluate our inherent human condition to resist change. As an experienced Air Force officer and commander, I find myself naturally “gravitating” back towards how I accomplished tasks as a young officer. Granted, some of those

  • Practice patience and understanding

    You may have noticed recently we temporarily closed the North Gate, but perhaps you were unaware of why. Modernizing our gates provides additional mitigation for our defenders to protect the base populace from the ever-present threat of gate runners.

  • Work-life balance: Do I have the time?

    I wish there were more hours in a day. I can understand why someone may say this. Perhaps it’s out of frustration or a simple cry for help. However, isn’t this an easy answer? Are you really that busy?