Lorenz on Leadership

Lessons on Effectively Leading People, 

Teams, and Organizations

General Stephen R. Lorenz

USAF, Retired

Air University Press

Air Force Research Institute

Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama

August 2012
ii

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lorenz, Stephen R., 1951–

Lorenz on leadership : lessons on effectively leading people, teams, and organizations / Stephen R. Lorenz.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-58566-222-7

1. Lorenz, Stephen R., 1951– 2. Leadership—United States. 3. United States. Air 

Force—Anecdotes. 4. United States. Air Force—Management. 5. United States. Air 

Force—Military life. 6. Generals—United States—Biography—Anecdotes. 7. Conduct 

of life. I. Title. 

UB210.L67 2012

658.4’092--dc23

2012027598

Disclaimer

Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely 

those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official policy or views of the 

Air Force Research Institute, Air University, the United States Air Force, the Department of Defense, or any other US government agency. Cleared for public release: 

distribution unlimited.

Air University Press

Air Force Research Institute

155 N. Twining Street

Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-6026

http://aupress.au.af.mil

AFRI

Air Force Research Institute
Dedicated to Leslie Ruth Layman Lorenz, 

the love of my life and my Air Force teammate.

v

Contents

Dedication iii

Foreword vii

About the Author ix

Preface xi

Part 1

Articles from Air and Space Power Journal 

Lorenz on Leadership, Part I 3

Lorenz on Leadership, Part II 11

Lorenz on Leadership, Part III 19

Part 2

Articles for Senior Leaders

Transforming Air Force Education

for the Long War and Beyond 33

Accountability in Public Life 41

Leadership Principles for Senior Leaders 45

Part 3

Articles from US Air Force Academy Association 

of Graduates Checkpoints Magazine

Never, Ever Give Up:

A Story of Educational Perseverance 53

We Win as a Wing, We Lose as a Wing:

 A Story of Spirit as a Force Multiplier 59

Part 4

Monthly Releases

Back to Basics 67

Staying Safe in the Real World 69

Look into Their Eyes 71

We Are All Accountable 73

The Continuum of Training 75

At War in Cyberspace 77

Doing the Right Thing 79

Strengthening the Air Force Family 81

Leading in Lean Times 85
vi

CONTENTS

Creating Candor 89

Today’s Airmen 93

Greeting Carmen 97

Develop Your Vision 99

The Art of Objective Decision Making 101

It’s All about Service 103

Building a Winning Team 105

Technological Change 107

A Tale of Two Instructors 109

Cherish Your Spouse 113

Spotting Disasters 117

Jessica’s Legacy 119

A Mentor’s Influence 121

A Dynamic Tradition 123

The Solid Foundation 125

Motivation 127

Sustaining a Wingman Culture 129

The Study of Leadership 133

The Intellectual Resource 135

Professional Advocacy 137

Spouse Wingmen, by Leslie Lorenz 141

Love Your People 143

Ordinary People Becoming Extraordinary Airmen 145

Leaders Come in All Sizes 149

Thank You 151

Preventing Violence 155

Widows and Children Left Behind 159

Leaders, Stress, and People of Faith 161

Life’s Experiences: Luggage or Baggage? 163

Passing the Baton of Service to the Next Generation 165

Part 5

Other Articles

Linking Resource Allocation to Performance Management 

and Strategic Planning: An Air Force Challenge 169

Conclusion: Why Airmen Must Write! 189
vii

Foreword

If you want to learn about leadership, ask an experienced leader. 

Gen Stephen R. Lorenz, who retired as commander of Air Education 

and Training Command, has made the task accessible by giving us a 

collection of articles he wrote on the subject. General Lorenz started 

out like many graduates of the Air Force Academy with a heightened 

sense of leadership, one gleaned from watching and learning from 

leaders in classes, in the dorms, and on the parade grounds. Then, as 

now, he also had the opportunity to learn from a wide variety of important civilian and military leaders who visited the Academy. 

Even as a lieutenant, General Lorenz developed a habitual practice 

of keeping a log of his activities in journals and scrapbooks. He 

thought about the styles of different leaders and found it satisfying to 

write about leadership at different points in his life, recognizing that 

the concept of leadership had different faces. He found that some 

practices are universally applicable, while some depend on the situation as well as the age and maturity of those being led. All this gave 

him insights into his own leadership style and fed his knowledge 

about the foundations of leadership.

As his writings on the subject grew into a sizeable collection over 

the years, General Lorenz not only found audiences that appreciated 

what he offered about leadership, but he began to see a set of standard 

principles that had useful effect in a wide range of conditions. Some 

examples that are well presented in this study include the point of 

“Balancing Shortfalls.” It is a recognized principle that leaders never 

go to war with the resources they think they need—they must balance their shortfalls and show their staff and warriors that they can 

go forward anyway.

General Lorenz recognized that one of the toughest jobs commanders face is preparing their people to accept a new tasking. They 

have to find the resources to carry out the task, which means more 

work for everyone. Thus, while it is difficult to accept a new tasking 

because of the additional work involved, they find that people will 

work harder if the importance of the job is shared with the workers. 

Many audiences found General Lorenz an engaging speaker. He 

commonly used popular subjects, even videos of Homer Simpson, to 

carry the message. Leaders must recognize the need to communicate 

to the sensitivities of their audience. He also reminds us to take our 

jobs, but not ourselves, seriously.
viii

FOREWORD

Nothing speaks better to the subject of effective leadership than 

the need to develop professionally. General Lorenz believes that leadership is tied to a continuing study of the profession, thus the need for 

leaders to read. He particularly advocates reading biographies of 

great leaders. He found that learning from other’s experiences helped 

keep him from wasting time reinventing the wheel. And reading, like 

any other leadership development, is a lifetime experience because, 

as he describes it, “Life is a marathon, not a 50-yard dash.”

John A. Shaud, PhD

General, USAF, Retired

Director, Air Force Research Institute
ix

Gen Stephen R. Lorenz is a retired Air Force four-star general who 

currently serves as president and chief executive officer of the US Air 

Force Academy Endowment. His last military assignment was as the 

commander, Air Education and Training Command (AETC), Randolph AFB, Texas. He was responsible for the recruiting, training, 

and education of Air Force personnel. His command included the 

Air Force Recruiting Service, two numbered air forces, and Air University. AETC trains more than 340,000 students per year and consists of 12 bases, more than 88,000 active-duty, Reserve, Guard, civilians, and contractors, and 1,485 trainer, fighter, and mobility aircraft.

General Lorenz graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1973, 

and then attended undergraduate pilot training at Craig AFB, Alabama. He has commanded at every level, including an air refueling 

wing that won the 1994 Riverside Trophy for Best Wing in 15th Air 

Force, and an air mobility wing that won the 1995 Armstrong Trophy 

for Best Wing in 21st Air Force. He commanded the training wing at 

the Air Force Academy as the commandant of cadets. He also served 

as the deputy assistant secretary for budget, Office of the Assistant 

Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Headquarters US Air Force, Washington, DC. 

On 16 July 2010, he was awarded the Order of the Sword by the 

AETC Airmen. He is a command pilot with 3,600 hours in 10 aircraft. 

About the 

Author

xi

Preface

Studying history and leadership has been my hobby for most of my 

life. I remember looking at illustrated histories of the American Civil 

War when I was seven or eight years old. Later when I was just 10, my 

father, who was an Air Force captain at the time, took me on a tour of 

the World War I battlefield at Verdun, France. I cannot remember 

when I was not reading or studying about all types of leaders—or 

visiting historical sites with my family and friends. Even today, my 

wife of 37 years, Leslie, jokes about all the battlefields she has visited 

with me by saying, “If you have seen one cannon on a battlefield, you 

have seen them all.” Even our three children have walked the ground 

at numerous battlefields, including Gettysburg, Little Big Horn, Normandy—and yes, I took them to Verdun, France.

I started writing about leadership when I was a cadet, but really got 

started at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, in 1975. As a lieutenant 

working on my master’s degree at the base education office, I was 

frustrated with our squadron leadership, and, through the eyes of a 

24-year-old, I knew that I had all the answers. Fortunately, my lieutenant colonel squadron commander at the time was a wonderful 

mentor and extremely patient leader who spent time with me explaining that running a 150-person squadron was just a little bit more 

challenging than I might think. 

Years later, when I was fortunate to command a similar Air Force 

squadron I realized how right he was. Over the years, I have worked 

for numerous great bosses who have continued to mentor me, and I 

learned just as much from many great peers and subordinates, including wonderful noncommissioned officers and civil servants. You 

see leaders come in all shapes and sizes, ranks, and professions. Leaders are everywhere if you know how and where to look.

Another hobby that I enjoy and that facilitates the study of leadership is visiting libraries and book stores. Over the years, I have noticed that very few Airmen take the time to write. There are normally 

numerous books about Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen and their great deeds. If you are lucky, you might find on the 

shelves a book full of airplane pictures. We do love our machines, but 

Airmen are just as accomplished as leaders as any other group.

The first article I wrote that was actually published in a base newspaper was “Lorenz on Leadership, Part I.” This article was printed in 

the base paper at Castle AFB, California, in 1987. I do not know why 
xii

PREFACE

I wrote it in the middle of the night during an operational readiness 

inspection as we were generating aircraft to put on alert, but I did. 

This small step led me to continue to study leadership and build a 

briefing by the same name which I have given over 500 times in the 

last 25 years.

I have had a lot of help and feedback over the years in writing articles and building briefings. I want to thank my numerous executive 

officers, aides, commander’s action group members, public affairs officers, judge advocate generals, and senior enlisted advisors for assisting me. They all helped improve the product.

I hope you enjoy these articles on leadership, but what I really hope 

is that as leaders you get inspired to write your own stories that will 

help mentor future generations of leaders. If I can do it, so can you!
PART 1

Articles from Air and Space Power Journal

Lorenz on Leadership, Part I

In 1987 I was commander of the 93rd Air Refueling Squadron at 

Castle AFB in Merced, California. Late one night, I sat down and 

wrote out a list of leadership principles. There was nothing magical 

about them—they were simply useful precepts I had learned over the 

years. Today, especially after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 

2001, our leaders need to reflect on the principles that guide them. I 

do not seek to instill mine on the readers of this compilation. Rather, 

I only ask that Air Force leaders reflect on what their principles are, 

regardless of whether or not they have written them down. That said, 

I offer the following for consideration.

Balancing Shortfalls

Shortfalls occur in our professional and personal lives. We never 

seem to have enough time, money, or manpower. The essence of this 

“scarcity principle” lies in accepting the reality of limited resources 

and becoming adept at obtaining superior results in less-than-ideal 

situations. Equally important, once people acknowledge the scarcity 

of resources, they need not bemoan the situation any longer. In other 

words, they should “deal with it.” Leaders must carry out the mission 

with the resources they have. They have to make it happen! This is 

part of being a military commander and leader. Commanders never 

go to war with all the resources they think they need—they balance 

their shortfalls to accomplish the mission.

Keeping Our Eyes on the Ball

In order to prevail, leaders must always keep in mind what they 

want to accomplish and not become distracted, regardless of the task. 

They must articulate the mission to their people. During my tenure as 

director of the Air Force budget, I didn’t consider the budget the mission so much as I considered it a means for our service to defend the 

United States through the exploitation of air and space. In the Air 

A version of this article was published as “Lorenz on Leadership,” Air and Space Power Journal 

19, no. 2 (Summer 2005): 5–9.
4 │ PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL

Force, this means that leaders must connect actions and troops to the 

mission and never lose sight of this important relationship.

Leaders can assure their people’s well-being (a major ingredient of 

mission accomplishment) by knowing how they feel and how they 

are doing. They should look their people in the eye and ask how they 

are. Eyes don’t lie; they reflect happiness, sadness, or stress. To get an 

honest answer, one should ask at least three times and do so more 

emphatically each time: “How are you doing?”

The first response is always, “Fine.” The second, “I’m okay.” Finally, 

when they realize that their leader is truly interested, they respond 

honestly. By the way, the only difference between a younger person 

and someone my age is the amount of scar tissue. Because I have lived 

longer than most of my military colleagues on active duty and therefore have more scar tissue, I can probably disguise my feelings more 

effectively. But the eyes are the true indicator. Again, leaders must 

never lose sight of the primary objective: to focus on the mission and 

take care of their people.

Those Who Do Their Homework Win

The equation for this principle is simple: knowledge = power. For 

example, take the battle for scarce resources. The person who has the 

most compelling story, backed by the strongest data, gets the most 

resources. We have seen this principle, which applies universally to 

all other undertakings, demonstrated repeatedly throughout history—especially military history!

The Toughest Word to Say in the English Language

According to an old adage, the most difficult word to say in English is no. But I have a contrarian’s view. Saying no finishes the situation; saying yes, however, carries with it additional tasks, commitments, and responsibilities. For instance, when I agree to speak to a 

group, I have taken a more difficult path than I would have by declining. If I say no to a request for funding an initiative, my job is finished. 

If I say yes, then I must take on the task of finding resources. Leaders 

should also consider the effects of a response on working relationships. If a leader responds affirmatively 95 percent of the time, his or 

her people will readily accept the fact that the leader has carefully 
PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL │ 5

considered their request before responding negatively. I never say no 

until I research the issue and look into all of the alternatives. To this 

day, it still amazes me that most of the time I can say yes if I do a little 

work and make a personal commitment.

New Ideas Need Time 

and Nurturing to Grow and Bear Fruit

In order to overcome some of the challenges we face today, we 

need people to think and act out of the box. Furthermore, we must 

have the patience and faith to stay the course. Things do not happen 

overnight; people have to work very hard to make things happen. 

They must sell their ideas and do their homework without concern 

for who gets the credit. This principle is very important to remember 

as new generations of Airmen enter the Air Force to help fight the 

global war on terrorism.

Leaders Should Not Lose 

Their Temper—Unless They Plan To

To navigate the necessary course of action and ensure mission accomplishment, a leader must be willing to use more than one approach. Earlier in my career, I saw my boss—a mild-mannered, consummately professional four-star general—storm into a meeting and 

angrily bark out criticisms to his senior staff. When we left the room, 

he looked at me, winked, and said that a person has to put across a 

different face in order for people to take him or her seriously. My boss 

had planned the whole incident. He had not lost his temper at all—he 

did it for effect. If leaders cannot control themselves, how can they 

control others? They must have self-discipline. They should never, 

ever lose their temper—unless they plan to.

All Decisions Should 

Pass the Sunshine Test

Because leaders must make difficult decisions every day, it’s important for people in the trenches to know that the process is fair and 

above reproach. Toward that end, we must be as open and accessible 
6 │ PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL

as possible and always act as if our decisions were public knowledge—as if they appeared in the newspaper, for example. If leaders 

are forthright about why they made a decision, their people might 

disagree, but they will understand the underlying logic and continue 

to trust them. As Air Force leaders, we need only look to our service’s 

core values—integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all 

we do—to arrive at solid decisions that gain the public trust and instill faith in our processes.

Ego: Both a Facilitator and a Detriment

A unit’s success depends upon its members keeping their egos in 

check. We cannot afford to let them run amuck. We need confident, 

capable people who work together to enhance the organization rather 

than individuals who pursue their own selfish agendas. As my father 

taught me, leaders need people with ambition—not ambitious people. Early in my career, I applied for a development program—the 

predecessor of the current Air Force Intern Program. I had confidence that I would be accepted, so not seeing my name on the list 

came as a shock. To make matters worse, another officer in my squadron did make the cut.

Inwardly, I withdrew from the organization and walked around 

several days feeling hurt and angry. Eventually, though, I realized that 

the Air Force only owed me the opportunity to compete. On the day 

the board met, my records did not meet its standards. Whose fault 

was that? Mine—no one else’s. I put the issue behind me and embraced my squadron mate. This experience taught me the negative 

effect of allowing my ego to dominate my actions—specifically, my 

failure to realize that the Air Force had not promised to select me for 

the program. It did, however, guarantee me equitable consideration 

and fair competition. I should have expected nothing else. An Air 

Force person should compete only with himself or herself, striving 

for improvement every day!

Work the Boss’s Boss’s Problems

This principle goes one step beyond the adage “work your boss’s 

problems.” Most people make a decision through a soda straw, but if 

they would rise up two levels above themselves, they could open the 
PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL │ 7

aperture of that straw and get a strategic view of the decision. Taking 

a “God’s-eye” view—looking through the eyes of their boss’s boss—

allows them to make a much better decision. That is, leaders must 

become deeply committed to the organization and make their boss’s 

challenges their own. If they can achieve this type of commitment—

regardless of who the boss is or which political party controls the 

government—the only thing that matters is enhancing mission accomplishment by making the best decisions possible and doing the 

right thing under the circumstances.

Self-Confidence and Motivation: 

Keys to Any Great Endeavor

We can attribute most successful endeavors to persevering and 

putting forth maximum effort. Whenever I speak about leadership, I 

always begin with a quotation from Sir Winston Churchill: “To every 

man there comes in his lifetime that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered that chance to do a very 

special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents. What a tragedy 

if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for that which 

would be his finest hour.”

I am particularly attracted to this statement because of the great 

things Churchill accomplished, even though he faced failure and defeat many times. Regardless of the difficulty or hardship, he remained 

committed and motivated and never gave up. Churchill’s words represent a call to action that has helped me overcome such challenges as 

surviving engineering courses as a cadet as well as serving as a wing 

commander, commandant of cadets at the Air Force Academy, and 

budget director for the Air Force despite having no prior experience 

in budgetary matters. Although I lacked in-depth knowledge of budget and finance, perseverance got me through, as always. I never gave 

up. My best advice? Never give up. Never, ever give up!

Apply Overwhelming Combat Power 

to the Point That Will Have the Most Effect

I have a simple organizational method that has served me well for 

many years. I like to approach issues, goals, and tasks—“big to small, 
8 │ PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL

top to bottom, or left to right.” That is, I believe that one must be able 

to see the entire forest before working on individual trees. We must 

understand the big-picture issues before delving into smaller details. 

From a broad point of view, I find it helpful to pursue goals by progressing from the short term through the midterm to the long term. 

Leaders should make sure their subordinates have not only the “overall road map” they need for direction, but also the resources to plan 

and complete tasks.

One of my favorite and most beneficial experiences involved an 

aircraft-sanitation worker at McGuire AFB, New Jersey. During a 

customer-focus class that I taught in an effort to counter what I perceived as lackadaisical attitudes prevalent in the organization, I noticed a lady in the audience whose body language was so agitated that 

she was figuratively screaming at me. I stopped the class and asked her 

what was wrong. Jeanie said she was frustrated because no one would 

help her with a work problem. I told her that if she explained the situation to me, I would try to help.

According to Jeanie, the sanitation truck that she operated was designed for servicing a KC-10, which sits high off the ground. Normally, she hooked the truck’s waste-removal hose to the aircraft, 

flipped a switch, and gravity pulled the contents into her vehicle. At 

that time, however, McGuire also had the C-141, which sits only 

three feet off the ground. Consequently, when she attempted the same 

procedure on the C-141, the hose bent because it was not fully extended, as with the KC-10, and became clogged with waste. She then 

had to disconnect the hose, lift it over her head, and shake it to clear 

the obstruction—clearly an unpleasant task that she had to repeat 

multiple times if the aircraft’s lavatory was completely full.

Although such a problem might seem trivial, on a large aircraft 

that makes extended flights, the lavatory is a mission-essential piece 

of equipment. Armed with the knowledge of Jeanie’s problem, I organized a team to solve it, and the team members did so by engineering 

and installing a 3.2-horsepower engine that proved more than capable of overcoming the clearance problem. But the greatest accomplishment in this case was neither the technical solution nor the 

vastly improved sanitation procedure but the effect the process had 

on Jeanie. It revived and energized her. Thereafter, each time I saw 

Jeanie she proudly displayed her truck, which she had polished and 

shined so highly that it would likely meet a hospital’s sanitation standards. This story drives home the point that leaders must look for 
PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL │ 9

both verbal and nonverbal messages from the people in their organization. If they can reach the person who operates the sanitation truck, 

then they can reach anyone.

Study the Profession 

and Read—Especially Biographies

During our Air Force careers, we have many opportunities to add 

to our education and knowledge. America’s future depends upon our 

maximizing and complementing these occasions with our own regimen of reading and development. As a lifetime student of leadership, 

I have an insatiable appetite for learning and regularly read two or 

three books at a time. I have dedicated myself to learning from other 

people’s experiences so that I do not waste time trying to reinvent the 

wheel. Studying and learning how other leaders overcame adversity 

will build confidence in one’s own ability to make tough decisions. I 

have found my study of Gen Colin Powell and Gen Henry “Hap” Arnold especially rewarding.

Take Your Job 

(Not Yourself) Seriously

To drive home the important concepts when I discuss leadership, I 

include comical—sometimes outrageous—videos and pictures to accompany each principle. Audiences seem both surprised and refreshed to see a general officer use David Letterman-style “top-10 

lists” and irreverent videos ranging from Homer Simpson to bizarre 

advertisements as part of a serious presentation. However, I see these 

methods as the ideal way of delivering my message. Leaders must realize that because they communicate with a diverse, cross-generational 

population, they need to speak in terms their audience will understand.

A leader must create a common, shared vision that everyone can 

comprehend and accept. I like to try to communicate my vision by 

talking about an experience or using an analogy that everyone can 

relate to, understand, and remember. It is critical that leaders deliver 

their message in easily grasped terminology. They should employ a 

type of universal device akin to the “Romulan translator” depicted in 
10 │ PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL

the Star Trek television series. The medium used by the communicator 

can take the form of an analogy, a video, or a story. However, the critical point is that the communicator packages and delivers the message 

in a format that the varied groups we lead today will understand.

Today’s leaders were born primarily during the last half of the 

twentieth century. They could have been born 100 years earlier or 100 

years from now. Most, but not all, American leaders were born in the 

United States. They could have been born in another country like 

Iraq or Cambodia, but the majority was born in America. The United 

States, whether it wants to be or not, is the world’s greatest power, and 

air and space power is now the permanent instrument of that power.

Every one of the current leaders in our military at some time made 

a conscious decision to become a defender, not a defended. Balancing 

this all together, we see that our leaders have a heavy burden leading 

others in the global war on terrorism. Every day they get up in the 

morning to lead, and they have to give it their very best—not their 

second best. Visiting the wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and 

Airmen in our hospitals makes us realize that leaders owe their people the very best. They cannot afford to have a bad day! They must 

know who they are and how they lead; they must have their own list 

of leadership principles.

As I said before, the most important point about these 13 personal 

leadership principles that I have laid out is to encourage leaders to 

define their own principles. I have sought to motivate and aid our 

service’s leaders in identifying and clarifying their positions—not in 

memorizing mine. In order for a leader’s set of principles to be effective, they should be based on a foundation—such as the ideals embodied in the Air Force’s core values—and they must reflect who that 

leader is! It is never too early or too late to write down a set of personal leadership principles. Future leaders in today’s Air Force should 

start now—they will never regret it, and it will make them better 

leaders for our nation.
Lorenz on Leadership, Part II

In the summer of 2005, when I was director of financial management and comptroller at the Pentagon, Air and Space Power Journal 

published an article of mine titled “Lorenz on Leadership.” Later, as 

the commander of Air University (AU), I sat down to proffer some 

additional thoughts on my favorite subject: leadership. I hope that 

you share my enthusiasm for the study of leadership!

Never, Ever Give Up

In my last article, I quoted Winston Churchill and briefly explained 

why I find him so fascinating. One of his most famous quotations was 

“never, ever, ever give up!” Churchill was a man who met failure faceto-face many times in his life. He ran for parliament and lost, only to 

be elected two years later. When he was the first sea lord of the Admiralty (equivalent to the US secretary of the Navy), he planned the 

Gallipoli campaign in Turkey, which turned out to be an abject failure, and was fired. During the early 1930s, he railed against Nazi tyranny, but nobody listened to him. Then in 1940 he became the prime 

minister who led England in the war against Hitler. After the defeat of 

Germany but before the war against Japan ended, the people held an 

election, throwing him and his party out of office! Five years later, in 

1950 he became prime minister for a second time. Wow! Talk about 

perseverance, tenacity, and strength of character! I admire Churchill 

so much because the story of how he overcame his struggles in life is 

an example for all of us to follow.

As a graduate of the Air Force Academy—and I can truly say that 

those four years were tough—I could handle the physical, military, 

and mental aspects without much difficulty; however, my struggles 

were mostly academic. You see, I was on the dean’s “other” list six of 

eight semesters. I enjoyed courses in aeronautical engineering, computer science, and electrical engineering so much that I took them 

twice. Although this may seem humorous today, it is not an aspect of 

my history that I am particularly proud of; nevertheless, the lesson 

here is that one must never, ever give up. While many of my friends 

A version of this article was published as “Lorenz on Leadership: Part 2,” Air and Space Power 

Journal 22, no. 1 (Spring 2008): 9–13.
12 │ PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL

were going out to enjoy themselves on the weekends, I forced myself 

to concentrate on my studies, especially those math and science 

courses that held little interest for me—the ones I had to work on 

twice as hard just to pass. This particular aspect of character served me 

well in the more than 37 years I served in the Air Force. As the commander of AU, I was lucky enough to be responsible for most of the 

education in the entire US Air Force. Isn’t America a great country?

Life Is a Marathon, Not a 50-Yard Dash

We’ve all seen examples of athletes or teams that, in a moment of 

almost certain glory, celebrated too early, only to see victory swept 

from their grasp by an opponent who, not surprisingly, never, ever 

gave up. In our lives, it is important to remember that we must prepare to run a marathon—not a 50-yard dash. I’m sure that in your 

careers, you’ve seen military members start a task in a sprint only to 

find out it required marathon-like stamina. Their first inclination was 

to give up because it was too hard. They didn’t do their homework, so 

they spent all their energy in the early stages and couldn’t complete 

the task. You see, life is about training and being prepared for opportunities when they come—you don’t train for a marathon in the same 

way you train for a 50-yard dash! You must invest time and effort in 

understanding your goals and then in charting a course to accomplish them. I used the short-, mid-, and long-term approach, and I 

taught my people this as well. There’s a lot of truth to the cliché 

“What’s the best way to eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” Understand the mission; do your homework; and never, ever give up!

Never Develop a Sense of Entitlement

You will never get what you want when you think you deserve it. 

Rewards always come later than we are typically willing to accept. 

Since we are human, we frequently compare ourselves to our peers, 

but we should really compete only with ourselves—not others. We see 

others being rewarded, so we take an “I should have won that” or “I 

deserved that” attitude. If you get the feeling that “you deserve” something or feel that the organization “owes you,” immediately stop what 

you’re doing, take a deep breath, and reevaluate yourself because once 

you go down that path of “me, me, me,” it’s hard to turn around. Over 
PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL │ 13

the course of my career in the Air Force, I saw a number of people 

develop an entitlement attitude, only to end up disappointed and bitter. When this happens, the person loses, his or her family loses, and 

ultimately the organization loses. The Air Force or any job owes you 

only one thing—the opportunity to compete and serve!

As a Leader, You Must Reach the Acceptance Phase 

of Grief Faster Than the People You Lead

There are five traditional stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, 

depression, and acceptance. When a challenge arises in your organization, it is important that, as a leader, you reach the final stage long 

before your people do. In 1993 I took command of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at March AFB, California. A few weeks after taking command, we had an operational readiness inspection (ORI), and the Airmen performed brilliantly! I was so proud. On the last day, we all 

gathered in the base theater for the outbrief. Horns, bells, and whistles 

were going off, and everyone was pumped about getting the ORI grade 

because they had worked so hard to do a great job. The inspector general (IG) took the stage, and in the first of four categories, we got a 

“high satisfactory,” and in the second category, we got a “high satisfactory.” As the briefing progressed, the noise level got lower and lower 

because everyone knew what was coming. That’s right, an overall 

“high satisfactory”—which really just means a “satisfactory.”

The IG then got up and left, leaving me, the wing commander, in 

this room with these tremendous people who had done a wonderful 

job, but it felt like all the oxygen had been absolutely sucked out of the 

place. You could have heard a pin drop. Now, as the leader, what was 

I to do? I had five options: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and 

acceptance. I thought long and hard about what to say, and having 

reached acceptance faster than the folks in the room, I came up with 

the following: “The IG is a great group of individuals who have come 

here with a difficult task, and we are all better off because of their 

feedback. But I’ll tell you what I think. I think that grade is the biggest 

bunch of ‘BS’ I’ve ever heard of.”

At first there was no reaction to my remarks, but then the entire 

room erupted in shouts and cheers! All I had done was reach acceptance of our final grade and then put into words what everyone else 

in the room was thinking. However, imagine my surprise when we all 
14 │ PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL

went to the club to celebrate the end of the ORI and saw that a videotape of me making my statement about the grade was on a permanent 

television loop for everyone to see and hear, over and over again! As 

a leader, you must get through all the stages of grief before your people do, so you can lead them through the tough times.

It’s Not about You!

The sooner you can wrap your mind around this one, the sooner 

you can focus on what’s right and get out of your own way. Leadership is not about you; it’s about the organization and the people who 

work in it. As a leader, you set the tone of the organization and give 

your folks the tools to succeed; then you must get out of the way and 

let them do their jobs! Let’s take a lesson from sports. Professional 

football teams have coaches—folks who devise the strategies and the 

plays. They look at the team’s talent and put the right players in the 

right position for the best possible outcome, but they are not out 

there running the ball—their players do that.

As a leader, it’s your job to put the right folks in the right places to 

ensure mission success. I’ve seen too many leaders who were afraid to 

trust in their subordinates and the organization; consequently, the 

pride and attitude of the workers suffered. Leadership is not about: 

“Hey, look at me. I’m the leader. Look at what my organization has 

done.” Those who pursue the awards, promotions, and accolades are 

often the ones exposed in time and eventually fall by the wayside. 

People see right through someone who has his or her own agenda, 

and that person’s ability to lead is immediately sacrificed. Leaders 

have to understand that it is about the people, the organization, and 

the mission.

A few years ago, my spouse reminded me that it is indeed not 

about me. We were at a conference, and during the course of the 

meeting, I was asked a certain question several times. I don’t recall 

the question, and it’s not important. But I do remember being asked 

this question for what seemed like a dozen times, so to be quite honest, I was tired of hearing and answering it. While we were seated at 

dinner that night, a young cadet happened to ask the very same question again, and without hesitation I gave him a halfhearted, emotionless answer. My mannerisms reflected my frustration with the question, and my answer simply vocalized it.
PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL │ 15

Overhearing what I had said, my spouse squeezed my arm and said, 

“Honey, I know you’ve heard that question a dozen times, but that’s 

the first time that cadet has ever asked it.” She was absolutely right. The 

cadet didn’t know how many times I had been asked that question, nor 

did he care. He only knew that he had asked it and wanted an answer. 

I immediately sought him out and gave him the right answer with the 

right attitude. Remember, it’s not about you! (Postscript: this also applies to every promotion ceremony, parade, and speech you will ever 

attend or participate in. You must be enthusiastic and sincere, no matter how many times you have done it before!)

You Want People with Ambition Working 

for You, Not Ambitious People

My father taught me this statement a long time ago. As a leader, 

you want people with ambition working for you—those are the folks 

who are goal oriented and possess a willingness to strive for excellence. They are the ones who are willing to do what it takes to fulfill 

the mission, whether it’s staying late or working harder to ensure that 

the goals and mission of the organization are complete. On the other 

hand, ambitious people often have an ulterior motive behind their 

actions—motives shrouded in “what’s in it for me?” versus “what’s 

good for the organization?” As a leader, you will have to know the 

difference.

You Never Know When You Are Going 

to Make a Difference

In 1996 I became commandant of cadets at the Air Force Academy. In my first two years, nine cadets died due to rock-climbing, car 

and aircraft accidents, and one to pulmonary edema at high altitude. 

She was a third-class cadet (a sophomore)—a 19-year-old who was as 

sharp as a tack! At the memorial service in the Cadet Chapel, I steeled 

myself to go talk to her mother and father.

What could I say? This family had given their national treasure to 

the Air Force, and she dies during training. In this moment, how could 

I attempt to assuage her parents’ grief? I walked up and introduced 

myself to her mother. “Ma’am,” I said, “My name is Steve Lorenz.” She 
16 │ PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL

immediately stopped me and said, “I know who you are, General 

Lorenz; my daughter told me about you. She had just earned her superintendent’s pin for getting good grades, and you saw her on the 

terrazzo where all the cadets formed up and congratulated her for 

doing a great job. She immediately went back to her room and called 

us to say, ‘The commandant of cadets told me how proud he was of 

me for earning the superintendent’s pin.’ ” This conversation with the 

mother is especially poignant to me because I do not remember talking to this young cadet at all, but this is what the mother remembered. In a few seconds, I had made a difference in someone’s life. You 

truly never know when you are going to make a difference.

During my tenure on the Joint Staff, I worked several layers below 

the man I consider one of the greatest military officers of our time, 

Gen Colin Powell. Now, before the days of e-mail, we used to hand 

carry correspondence into his office. I distinctly remember going to 

his executive officer’s desk one day to deliver a staff package. As I 

turned to leave, a major entered the room with his grandmother and 

said, “Grandmother, there is General Powell’s office.” At that precise 

moment, General Powell came out of his office to retrieve a package. 

Seeing the major wearing his Joint Staff badge and his guest, he asked, 

“Major, is this your grandmother?” The major said, “Yes,” and then I 

saw General Powell gingerly take this lady’s hand and for the next 

couple of minutes tell the grandmother what a great job her grandson 

was doing and how without his support he would be unable to do his 

job. General Powell then reached into a desk drawer, presented the 

grandmother with a Joint Staff pin, and said he was off to a meeting, 

but he thanked her again for allowing her grandson to serve. As soon 

as his door closed, I turned to look at the grandmother, and you could 

certainly see that her heart was aflutter—and so was mine. You see, in 

less than a minute, General Powell had made a difference in her life, 

the major’s life, and my life. It takes only a moment to make a difference, and you may never know when that moment will present itself.

Being in Our Profession Is 

All about Service to Others

I am reminded of the photograph of the chief master sergeant stationed in Iraq who, after working a full 12-hour shift, would go to the 

inpatient ward and hold a wounded Iraqi child who had lost her 
PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL │ 17

entire family. To me, this is what being in the military is all about—

service. Harking back to the days when civilians referred to someone 

who joined the military, oftentimes they didn’t say that “he joined the 

Air Force,” or “he joined the Army.” Instead they said, “He joined the 

service.” Why? Because that’s what we’re all about—service to others. 

I imagine that after his long shift, the good chief just wanted to go 

back to his tent and unwind, but he had made a commitment to make 

a difference and was prepared to execute that duty, no matter the cost. 

This is a lesson we can all use. When we raise our right hands to take 

the oath or when we put on our uniforms, we are saying “I want to 

serve” and “send me, I’ll go.” There is no distinction between being in 

the military and serving—they are one and the same.

What Will Your Leadership Legacy Be?

In my office, I have a quotation framed and positioned on my desk 

where I can see it every day. It says, “My biggest fear is that I will look 

back on my life and wonder what I did with it.” Sooner or later, it will 

be time for all of us to hang up our uniforms and find something else 

to do. As I look back over my career, I continually wonder if I did 

enough—if I did all that I could to make a difference and be a positive 

influence on others. Hopefully I did.

I was lucky enough to travel with the chief of staff to Balad, Iraq. 

We visited the hospital there, and one of the many individuals I talked 

to was an Army lieutenant colonel—a tall, thin, lean, and gaunt man 

with dark circles under his eyes. He was very tired! He was a battalion 

commander who had been in the country for 11 months and was 

visiting one of his wounded troops. After chatting for a few minutes, 

I backed away from him to the other side of the tent, and people began to flow between us. As I stood there watching him, I said to myself, “You know, Lorenz, you’ve been a commander several times in 

the last 35 years. I just hope you are a good-enough leader to lead 

someone like that.” You see, you must never, ever stop trying to be the 

best leader you can be.

Lorenz on Leadership, Part III

In 1987 I first wrote out my thoughts on leadership. The compilation included 13 principles that AU published in the summer of 2005 

as part I in what became the “Lorenz on Leadership” series. Later, in 

the spring of 2008, AU published part II, which included an additional eight leadership principles. Over the last few years, various experiences have highlighted yet another group of principles that I 

present for your consideration.

When I first wrote down these principles, I certainly didn’t intend 

to prescribe an approved way to think or lead. After all, none of these 

principles is unique. I took them from other leaders who influenced 

me through the years, hoping that readers would develop their own 

set of principles.

This Is a Family Business

Families are important—this goes without saying. When I say that 

this is a “family business,” realize that the term family encompasses 

more than just your immediate loved ones. In this case, it also includes our extended Air Force family. I can’t tell you the countless 

times I’ve heard people thank their “brothers and sisters in the Air 

Force family.” Sometimes they do so at promotion or retirement ceremonies, but I’ve also heard the phrase at going-away parties and in 

daily conversations.

When we take time to reflect, we recognize the bond we share with 

others in the Air Force is stronger than that for most coworkers in the 

business world. This is especially true when we factor in the ties we 

create after remote tours, overseas assignments, and long combat deployments. You see, the term brothers and sisters in arms is no accident. As we live, train, sweat, and bleed together, these bonds grow so 

strong that the only language we have to describe our feelings for 

each other is the language of family—the Air Force family.

Building a strong Air Force family means that all of us share a commitment to our fellow Airmen, treating them in ways that reflect our 

commitment. We should all live in a way that maximizes our ability to 

A version of this article was published as “Lorenz on Leadership: Part 3,” Air and Space Power 

Journal 24, no. 3 (Fall 2010): 5–12.
20 │ PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL

touch the lives of others. This means that we should have a healthy 

focus on others, not on ourselves. Paraphrasing a wise person, we 

should not think less of ourselves; we should think of ourselves less.

Now, I would most certainly be remiss if I didn’t specifically mention our spouses—our foundation. These are the men and women 

who keep us strong, help us through the tears, and enable each of us 

to serve in the world’s greatest Air Force. Our lives need balance, and 

our spouses help provide that stability. I like to use the analogy that 

such balance is similar to the spokes of a bicycle wheel. You see, a 

bicycle needs balanced spokes in order to provide a smooth ride. Our 

lives are no different. I think of the spokes as the different priorities in 

our lives. If one of the spokes—like the relationship with your spouse, 

the needs of your children, or the responsibilities at work—gets 

slighted, the wheel no longer rolls the way it should. It might even 

stop rolling all together.

We must balance the spokes in our lives very deliberately and carefully. When we are balancing shortfalls and managing a limited 

amount of time, money, and manpower, our spouses are often shortchanged. We can’t afford to let that happen; we must always make 

time to tell our spouses how much we appreciate them. It only takes 

a minute to let them know how much we care. Maintaining the 

friendship, trust, and energy in a relationship is a full-time job. It’s up 

to you to make it a fun job—for both you and your spouse.

Successful Teams Are Built on Trust

Although the Air Force family helps support and steer us through 

our service, trust is the foundation of our existence. This trust is a 

two-way street—both within our service and with the American public. When an Airman from security forces tells me that the base is 

secure, I know without a doubt that all is safe. Before flying, I always 

review the forms documenting maintenance actions on that aircraft. 

The aircraft maintainer’s signature at the bottom of the forms is all I 

need to see to have complete confidence in the safety of that airplane. 

I liken it to the cell phone commercial many of you have probably 

seen. Although there may be a single man or woman in front, he or 

she speaks with the voice of thousands standing behind. A successful 

team is one that works together, enabled and empowered by trust.
PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL │ 21

On our Air Force team, everyone’s ability to perform his or her 

function is what builds trust and makes the machine run so smoothly. 

Ultimately, we all share the same goal—the defense of our nation and 

its ideals. That’s the common denominator, regardless of rank, where 

trust and mutual respect are paramount. At every base, in every shop 

and office, Air Force leadership (officer, enlisted, and civilian) consistently sets the example. We are all role models and always on the job. 

Our Airmen live up to these expectations every day.

The trust and faith we share with the American public are a different story. There are constantly under scrutiny—and for good reason. 

Members of the American public “trust” us with their sons and 

daughters—and billions of dollars of their hard-earned money. That 

trust is built upon a foundation of accountability. To be accountable 

is to be subject to the consequences of our choices. Whether we 

choose to do the right thing—to act with integrity, service, and excellence—or not, we have to be prepared to accept the consequences.

We are accountable for the choices we make in our personal lives. 

The vast majority of choices that get people in trouble involve alcohol, sex, drugs, and/or money. Each year, some of us make wrong 

choices in these areas and are held accountable. If you know Airmen 

who are headed down a wrong path, help them before they make a 

bad choice.

We are also accountable for the choices we make as military professionals. We must adhere to the standards we learned from our first 

days in uniform. When Airmen cut corners by failing to follow tech 

order guidance or by violating a flying directive, we must hold them 

accountable. We must police each other because if we don’t, small 

lapses will lead to bigger ones, and the entire Air Force family will 

eventually suffer. Overlooking a lapse is the same as condoning it.

When you assume responsibility for others as a supervisor or commander, it is important to realize that you’ve taken a big leap in accountability. Simply put, you are accountable for the choices your 

people make. That is why you must lead by example. Your people 

need to see that you set high standards and live according to those 

standards. You must also enforce standards within your unit. You 

should correct deficiencies at the lowest level before they grow into 

something bigger. Remember this—units with high standards have 

high morale. It’s been that way throughout military history.
22 │ PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL

Feedback Fuels Change

Trust and accountability rely on feedback for success. We all have 

blind spots—areas where we think things are better than they are. To 

correct these, we need to be aware of them. This means that we need 

to encourage dissenting opinions and negative feedback. We should 

ask open-ended questions: What are we missing? How can we do this 

better? What’s the downside? What will other people say?

When our people answer, we must welcome their inputs, even 

when those inputs don’t cast our leadership in the best light. In the 

end, our time as leaders will be judged by the quality of our decisions 

and the accomplishments of our people. The personal price we pay in 

the short term for creating candor in our organizations is well worth 

the long-term professional and institutional benefits of hearing the 

best ideas and eradicating our blind spots.

In order to encourage our people to voice their alternative ideas 

and criticisms, we have to be confident enough in our people to listen 

to negative feedback and dissenting opinions, find the best way forward, and then lead in a positive direction. We all like the “warm 

fuzzies” we get when people agree with our ideas and give us positive 

feedback. We naturally dislike the “cold pricklies” that come when 

people disagree with us and point out our shortcomings. As leaders, 

we have to be mature enough to deal with negative feedback without 

punishing the source; the best leaders encourage frank feedback, especially when it is negative.

As followers, we must work at creating candor as well. While the 

leader must set the tone for open communication, it is important that 

those of us who voice dissenting opinions or give negative feedback 

do so in a way that it can have the most effect. We can’t expect our 

leaders to be superhuman—this means we should speak in a way that 

doesn’t turn them off immediately.

We should also remember that the leader is ultimately responsible 

for the direction of the organization. If he or she decides to do something that you disagree with, voice your opinion—but be ready to 

accept the leader’s decision. As long as the boss’s decision isn’t illegal 

or immoral, you should carry it out as though the idea was your own. 

That’s the mark of a professional Airman.
PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL │ 23

All Visions Require Resourcing

As leaders, we must be prepared to face many kinds of potential 

challenges, both anticipated and unexpected. While working on the 

challenge, as a leader, you will be faced with balancing a limited 

amount of time, money, and manpower. In order to optimally allocate these critical resources, leaders must develop visions for their 

organization.

To realize a vision, several things need to happen. First, you must 

align the vision with one of our core service functions. The closer to 

the core, the easier it will be to gain support and, eventually, resourcing. Next, take the vision and develop a strategy. Depending on your 

vision, the strategy may involve acquisition, implementation, execution, modification, or one of many other aspects. Let your strategy 

start at the 40 percent solution, then evolve to 80 percent, and finally 

to 98 percent. Realize the process is continual and that you will never 

get to 100 percent.

With the strategy in place, you can start socializing the vision. Socialization will also help your vision progress and grow roots through 

increased organizational support and understanding. The support will 

help you champion the concept for resourcing. After all, your vision 

must have resourcing in order to come true. Those resources will go to 

winners, not to losers, so invest the time and energy to be a winner.

In life, and especially in the Air Force, priorities and personnel are 

always changing. Over time, your vision will need to adapt to the realities of change. It will require even greater persistence and objectivity. Giving your vision roots and aligning it with core functions will 

create something that can be handed off and sustained through 

change. The best ideas, sustained by hard work, can be carried forward by any leader.

You may also find yourself joining an organization and accepting 

someone else’s vision. In this situation, evaluate their vision against 

current realities and resourcing priorities. If they’ve done their homework, the project will be easy to move forward. If they haven’t, assess 

the vision to determine if it should move ahead or if its time has passed.
24 │ PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL

Objective Leaders Are Effective Leaders

In essence, a leader develops a vision to help guide decision making. Most decisions are made without much thought—almost instinctively based on years of experience. Other decisions, however, involve 

time and thought, and they can impact other people. These are the 

decisions where the process is an art; it defines who we are as leaders.

Saying this isn’t a stretch. As leaders, we do things in order to create a desired effect. Making the “best” decision hits at the core of creating that effect and, in turn, is an essential aspect of being an effective leader. Now, these aren’t decisions that involve “right versus 

wrong”—or lying, cheating, or stealing—we must never compromise 

our integrity. In fact, most of these decisions involve “right versus 

right,” and the decision may be different today than it was yesterday. 

This is what can make them so challenging. Let’s take a moment to 

look at the elements involved in making the “best” decision.

Effective decisions require objectivity. The old adage “the more objective you are, the more effective you are” has never been more accurate or applicable than it is today. It can be tempting to look at decisions through the lens of a small straw. Effective leaders must step 

back and gain a much broader view; they must open their aperture. 

I’ve always advocated looking at issues and decisions from the viewpoint of your boss’s boss. This approach helps to open the aperture 

and maintain objectivity.

In order to gain the broad, objective view, leaders must work to 

gather a complete picture of the situation. Some call this situational 

awareness; others call it a 360-degree view of the issue. In either case, 

that awareness involves considering all of the variables that weigh 

into the decision, the interests involved in the decision, and the potential consequences of the decision. The potential consequences 

must include possible second- and third-order consequences. Tough 

calls like these can involve individuals, organizations, and issues beyond those initially considered. Weigh the consequences against unit 

missions and organizational goals. Investigate how the decision will 

move things forward in the near, mid, and long term. This will provide the context for the decision and, although it will involve a lot of 

work, will result in the broadest view of the entire process.

Tough decisions can be very emotional. Don’t let emotion play into 

the decision-making process. Emotion only serves to cloud the issue; 

it can potentially result in a decision where near-term happiness fades 
PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL │ 25

quickly into mid- and long-term unintended challenges. Leaders 

must look at decisions from the outside, unattached to the emotional 

influence from within. They must rise above such distractions in order to maintain their objectivity and keep their organizations headed 

in the “best” direction.

Train Wrecks—How Can 

We Prepare for Impending Crisis?

Unfortunately, it is the unanticipated crisis that often derails organizations headed in a positive direction. I like to call those unanticipated challenges “train whistles in the distance.” In reality, it’s pretty 

easy to know when trains are coming down the tracks. They are big, 

make lots of noise, and are accompanied by warning lights and bells. 

Trains typically run on a schedule, making it even easier to know 

when to either step to the side or hop onboard.

We rarely get the same notification from an impending crisis in the 

workplace. More often, it appears, seemingly from out of thin air, and 

immediately consumes more time than we have to give. Through 

frustrated, tired eyes, we wonder where the crisis came from in the 

first place. Even though we vow never to let it happen again, deep 

down we know that it’s only a matter of time before the next one hits 

our organization by surprise.

Such an outlook is what helped create an entire school of thought 

called “crisis management.” We have crisis action teams and emergency response checklists—we even build entire plans describing 

how to effectively deal with the train that we never saw coming. These 

impacts can be hard to absorb and usually leave “casualties” behind. 

Wouldn’t it be better to prepare for specific contingencies and not rely 

on generic crisis-response checklists? Wouldn’t it be better for the 

organization if a leader knew about the train long before it arrived?

So, how does a leader get the schedule for inbound trains? In many 

cases, just getting out of the office and talking to members of an organization can help a leader identify potential issues and areas of risk. 

By the same token, if you are a member of an organization and know 

of an upcoming challenge, it is your responsibility to research and 

report it.

Candor and objectivity alone will probably help catch 90 percent 

of the issues before they impact an organization. In order to achieve 
26 │ PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL

100 percent, a leader must work hard to avoid complacency. When 

things get “quiet” within an organization, it doesn’t necessarily mean 

that everything is being handled successfully. In fact, the hair on the 

back of every leader’s neck should start to stand up when things get 

quiet. After all, it probably means that the leader isn’t involved enough 

in the daily operation of the unit and that the first two elements, candor and objectivity, are being overlooked. This is the time to be even 

more aggressive about candor, information flow, and objectivity.

Leaders who work hard to enable candor, remain objective, and 

discourage complacency have a unique opportunity to steer their organizations in the best direction when challenges or crises loom. As 

they identify the inbound trains, leaders can decide whether to maneuver clear or to hop onboard. You see, each inbound train is an 

opportunity. It is a chance to fight for new resources—money and/or 

manpower—and to unify their team toward a common objective. 

Leaders should anticipate inbound trains as a means to improve their 

organizations.

So then, what is the best way for a leader to guide people through 

change? There are certainly many methods to do so, and each one 

depends on the type of change expected. In all cases, however, the 

principles that underlie the preparation for change are the same. 

Preparation builds confidence, helps a leader’s organization be less 

fearful of approaching uncertainty, and ensures that the organization 

is much more effective once change arrives.

This is where education and training come into play. We educate 

in order to prepare for uncertainty. Education helps us understand 

why the change is necessary. It also helps us objectively assess the 

environment and rationale necessitating the change. With objectivity, 

we can unemotionally assess the benefits and drawbacks of the different potential courses of action. Education is a never-ending selfimprovement process. The different levels occur at specific spots in 

our careers—opening doors and creating opportunities. Because the 

Air Force lines up education programs with future levels of responsibility, it can be difficult to adequately catch up on education. Never 

pass up the opportunity to further your education.

While education helps us prepare for uncertainty, training programs are designed to prepare for certainty. After all, it’s those things 

we expect that fill our syllabi and lesson books. We train for them 

over and over until recognizing and reacting to them are second 
PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL │ 27

nature. This is one reason why we use checklists so much in the Air 

Force. They help lead us accurately through challenging times.

Through experience, our collective list of “certainty” grows. It 

shapes the evolution of our training programs. You see, when we react to a challenge, we create a certain result. Positive results reinforce 

the action and make us more confident. Although the positive result 

“trains” us to use the same response next time, it typically doesn’t 

teach us to handle anything other than the exact same challenge. 

When we make mistakes or experience negative results, we have an 

opportunity to learn. Even though it may not be as much fun to investigate our failures, we are more apt to critically assess the challenge 

and develop other, more successful, potential courses of action.

As a leader, you must ensure your people have the education necessary to prepare them for uncertainty and the training to guide them 

through certainty. As an individual, you must aggressively pursue 

these opportunities to further develop yourself as well. Such preparation will instill the confidence necessary to embrace change.

In the End, People Are Still People

Although leadership will always be about the people we lead, technology has changed the way we do our jobs. Beyond the most noticeable and tangible aspects like e-mail, PowerPoint, and cell phones, 

technology has transformed the workplace in three main areas: collaboration, automation, and personal accessibility. Collaboration includes our ability to network, collect, and share information. Getting 

the right information to the right people when they need it isn’t always 

as easy as it sounds. After all, accurate information is a key element in 

making objective decisions, and objectivity is what keeps our organizations headed in the best direction. Today’s challenge, however, is 

managing the sheer volume of available information. Technological 

advancements will only make this challenge greater in years to come.

By automation, I’m talking about technology’s impact on the tasks 

we do each and every day. Historically, automation has been one of 

the enablers for doing “more with less.” Our most expensive asset is 

our people. Technology gives us the ability to energize certain efficiencies by replacing manpower with technology. Maintaining the 

balance of technology and manpower will continue to be a daily leadership challenge.
28 │ PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL

Lastly, accessibility applies to our ability to contact anyone, anywhere, and anytime through voice and data communication. There 

are two key aspects of accessibility: how leaders make themselves 

available to others and how you, as a leader, take advantage of the 

availability of others. It is important that commanders, while making themselves available at all hours of the day, don’t foster an environment where subordinates are afraid to get decisions from anywhere but the top. At the same time, leaders must guard against 

exploiting the availability of others, especially subordinates. Such 

exploitation will only reinforce to subordinates that decisions can 

only come from the top.

Accessibility has also changed how we make ourselves available to 

others. Many commanders like to say that they have an “open door 

policy.” Don’t fool yourself into thinking that issues will always walk 

through the open door. Leaders still need to escape the electronic accessibility, namely e-mail, and seek human interaction. New Airmen 

in the squadron aren’t going to raise a concern by walking into a commander’s office, but they might if the commander is able to interact in 

their work environment. Leadership by walking around will always 

be a positive leadership principle.

Each of us has reacted differently to the impact technology has had 

on the workplace. I like to think that there are three kinds of people 

when dealing with technology: pessimists, optimists, and realists. The 

technology pessimists are those people who resist any change due to 

improved technologies. Technology optimists jump at the earliest opportunity to implement any technological advancement. Technology 

realists, who make up the lion’s share of us all, accept that change is 

necessary and work to integrate improvements, but they don’t continually search for and implement emerging technology.

Our organizations need all three technology types in order to run 

smoothly. It is incumbent upon each of us to understand what kind 

of technologist we—and those whom we work around—are. This is 

simply another medium where one size won’t fit all. Leaders must 

adapt their style, depending on whom they deal with and the nature 

of the task to be performed. The pessimist might not “hear” the things 

communicated electronically. By the same token, resist the temptation to always communicate electronically with the optimist. Instead, 

push for the personal touch and realize that your approach must be 

different for each person.
PART 1, ARTICLES FROM AIR AND SPACE POWER JOURNAL │ 29

In essence, leadership is the challenge of inspiring the people in an 

organization on a goal-oriented journey. Technology enables that 

journey, and we, as leaders, must successfully manage both the benefits and detriments of that evolution. Ultimately, leaders are still responsible for themselves, their people, and the results of their units. 

It’s how they can make a difference, both in the lives of their people 

and in the unit’s mission.

It’s Your Turn

In the end, a leader’s true mission is to achieve a desired effect. As 

a result, I always approach each new assignment or responsibility 

with two main goals: to leave the campground better than I found it 

and to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Working toward 

these goals—in concert with the Air Force’s core values—helps us all 

to be servant leaders, focusing on others ahead of ourselves while accomplishing the mission.

Once again, let me emphasize that these principles, like the others 

I’ve written about through the years, are merely my observations. They 

are—in no way—the single best way to lead nor are any of them unique 

or earth-shattering. These leadership principles are merely things I’ve 

noticed from other leaders who influenced me. I encourage each of 

you to develop your own set of leadership principles and share them 

with others. Not only will it help you become a more effective leader, 

it will also make our Air Force even stronger than it is today.

PART 2

Articles for Senior Leaders

The following articles for senior leaders were written 

by General Lorenz during his tenure as 

the Air University commander. 

Transforming Air Force Education 

for the Long War and Beyond

Air University (AU) is currently in the process of transforming for 

the “long war” and beyond. The idea of a university reorganizing for 

war may seem odd, but in the Western way of war, warriors and academics have always enjoyed a close relationship. The West’s first great 

general, Alexander, was tutored by Aristotle; when he went to war, he 

did so with academics in his train. According to noted military historian Victor Davis Hanson, the close relationship between warriors 

and scholars in the Western way of war is one of the main reasons for 

its success across the millennia.1

In the US military, the connection between thinkers and fighters 

has become closer than ever, and exploiting this relationship to the 

fullest is vital to winning the current war. Doing so, however, will 

require (1) understanding how military education differs from the 

traditional civilian model and (2) reorganizing our present system of 

military education to meet the emerging challenge.

The Unique Nature of Military Education

At its core, the US system of military education does not significantly differ from the civilian system. Both are based on the university model of research and teaching that has dominated Western education for centuries. In this model, professors conduct research to 

push their fields forward. They produce books and articles that they 

subsequently teach to their students and, in the process, become better educators themselves. This procedure, which systematically turns 

out better students, faculty, and ideas, has played a significant role in 

the explosion of knowledge in the West and is largely responsible for 

the lightning pace of innovation in science and technology today.

Military education, however, differs from most academic fields in 

a number of ways. First, although hundreds or thousands of schools 

offer instruction in most fields of study, in the United States only a 

handful of joint/service schools teach military art and science. Further 

A version of this article was published as “Transforming Air Force Education for the Long War 

and Beyond,” Air and Space Power Journal 21, no. 2 (Summer 2007): 5–9.
34 │ PART 2, ARTICLES FOR SENIOR LEADERS

restricting the breadth of the field, for the most part only those 

schools associated with certain service sponsors have faculties knowledgeable about particular domains of war. Thus, for instance, we have 

only one air war college, one land war college, and one naval war 

college—a situation that places an enormous burden on serviceschool faculties to research and publish work related to the type of 

war for which their service is responsible. In most fields of study, if 

professors do not publish, they can fall back on books and articles 

published elsewhere to stay current and educate their students. At 

service schools, however, they are often the only game in town.

A second difference between military schools and the majority of 

civilian schools involves pure versus applied research. In most fields 

of study, professors write for academic audiences. Promotion, tenure, 

and other benefits come from moving academic debates forward. In 

the civilian world, outside of business, law, and engineering schools, 

writing for policy makers and practitioners may even have negative 

connotations since it might appear to sully an instructor’s credentials 

as an unbiased observer. However, in military education this relationship is reversed, with practitioners constituting our most important audiences. Military schools conduct, or should conduct, their 

most highly regarded research for policy makers in Washington, generals in the field, and students in the classroom. Though important, 

purely academic work does not have the pride of place it enjoys at 

civilian schools.

A third difference involves urgency. The ideas that we in a military 

university explore through research and the lessons we teach often 

pay off—for good or ill—much faster than in other fields of study. For 

instance, a school’s decision about whether to drop classes on conventional war and add lessons on insurgency this semester or to wait 

for another year can mean the difference between life and death; its 

results will show up on the battlefield with the next graduating class. 

This fact can place more pressure on our schools to change curricula 

and on military professors to develop new areas of knowledge and 

expertise than is the norm at civilian schools.

A fourth difference concerns the need to educate a larger portion 

of our workforce. Both civilian and military sectors desire more educated workers, but we have a stronger impetus. In modern warfare, 

particularly during times of rapid change, education acts as a massive power multiplier. Today the US military needs flexible and innovative thinkers almost as much as it needs bombs and bullets. Yet 
PART 2, ARTICLES FOR SENIOR LEADERS │ 35

realistically, until fairly recently we have had enough resources to 

educate only a small fraction of the force. The issue of increasing the 

size of the educated force carries high stakes.

The Need for Change

Currently the United States finds itself in the midst of geopolitical 

changes that tax the flexibility of our system of military education. 

After 9/11, the nation’s military schools worked to integrate lessons 

on terrorism into their curricula. As the war in Iraq heated up, they 

added seminars on insurgency. Yet today our schools face an underlying problem vastly greater than updating curricula and changing 

lessons. Essentially, we confront adaptable enemies who sometimes 

innovate faster than our own capacity to do so. Stateless organizational structures, ongoing cyber wars, and remote-controlled improvised explosive devices are only the most recent outputs of our enemies’ idea-generating systems. Using innovations produced by these 

systems, they have found ways to circumvent our ponderous Cold 

War military apparatus and have pinned down our forces across the 

globe. Their flexibility at times trumps our material advantages. All 

too often our enemies appear to be winning this war of innovation.

To answer our opponents, we must improve our system’s ability to 

produce and disseminate new ideas. This new system must have two 

parts: it must systematically generate relevant new ideas, injecting 

them into national debates, and it must develop adaptive, innovative 

students who can continue the process after they leave our military 

schools.

AU has begun to play a role in this war of ideas, but doing so requires significant changes. The core of our strategy at Maxwell AFB, 

Alabama, calls for reenergizing the university model of research and 

teaching that so effectively propels innovation in the civilian sector. 

This approach is not new to the Air Force. Throughout the1930s, the 

Air Corps Tactical School employed it in an effort to confront the 

specter of a rising Germany and Japan and to develop new uses for 

emerging airpower technology. Using a combination of theory, history, and field research, instructors at the school wrote the plan employed by the United States in World War II and educated Airmen 

who developed strategies used by the Air Force for the next half century. Unfortunately at some point during the Cold War, AU reduced 
36 │ PART 2, ARTICLES FOR SENIOR LEADERS

its emphasis on this spirit of innovation and outreach to national 

policy makers. For the most part, the Air Force outsourced servicerelated research on military strategy to independent think tanks, and 

the university became mainly a teaching school.

This neglect of innovation has proved costly to the nation as well 

as to our faculty and students. Although the Air Force remains the 

world leader in developing military technology, it lags behind the 

Army in its ability to produce and disseminate thoughts about how to 

use its new technology and ideas. By one count, for every book published on airpower today, five appear on ground-centered military 

solutions. In 2006 the Strategic Studies Institute—the Army War College’s in-house think tank—produced 53 monographs, but during the 

same period, AU’s tiny think tank produced only two.

When it comes to injecting ideas into national debates, we find 

ourselves similarly behind. For example, of the military experts regularly featured on Fox News and CNN, Soldiers outnumber Airmen 

five to one, and the vast majority of newspaper articles on airpower 

derive from interviews with ground-power experts. This lack of research production also has secondary consequences. Today the percentage of AU professors with a strong grasp of air, space, and cyberspace theory and history is small compared to the percentage of 

land-power experts at Army or Marine schools. At times this dearth 

of experience shows up in the classroom. I firmly believe that each 

military school has a duty to develop and disseminate new ideas about 

the ways its service can assist the nation and contribute to the joint 

fight in the long war. AU has not done as well as it could in this area.

Transforming Air University for War

To bring us back into the war of ideas, AU has begun changing the 

way it does business. We are treating this endeavor as part of the war 

effort. Success will require an integrated campaign involving numerous approaches.

First, we are reorganizing our command structure. Although the 

Air Force originally collocated its schools at Maxwell AFB specifically 

to develop synergies, at present little overlap exists among the schools. 

Primarily, a command structure with too large a span of control drives 

this lack of lateral communication. By centralizing staffs and decreasing such spans, we hope to increase synergy among the schools and 
PART 2, ARTICLES FOR SENIOR LEADERS │ 37

enhance their accountability to our Air Force, the joint community, 

and the nation.

The second set of changes involves providing our instructors with 

greater resources and incentives to publish on topics related to air, 

space, and cyberspace. To do this, we are building a new university 

research institute—an initiative taken by the other services decades 

ago with good results. We believe that this institute will go a long way 

toward generating and disseminating ideas about ways the Air Force 

can contribute to national security. In line with the university model 

of research and teaching, the institute will have a second purpose: 

giving AU professors with innovative air-, space-, and cyberspaceoriented research agendas time away from the classroom to conduct 

their work. Doing so will not only increase our pool of researchers, 

but also will improve our faculty—and hence the education we offer 

our students.

On a similar note, we are taking significant steps to give our professors incentives to conduct research on Air Force–related topics. 

Ironically, in the system that has evolved (partially because of the 

small audience for air-related publications), instructors often have 

greater incentives to research topics unrelated to the Air Force than 

to examine questions pertaining to air, space, and cyberspace.

Similarly, publications aimed solely at academic readers often receive more credit than work intended for policy audiences. Beyond 

this, the knowledge and expertise that active duty students and instructors bring back fresh from the field often go unheeded because 

these warriors do not possess academic-level writing skills. To correct these problems, we are asking the schools to reconsider how they 

reward research and promote professors. Research specifically pertaining to ways that air, space, and cyberspace can contribute to the 

joint fight will receive the highest honors. Applied research—white 

papers, group endeavors, and similar projects—will receive as much 

credit as purely academic work. Skilled writers who coauthor with 

instructors and students possessing practical experience will receive 

as much credit as do those who prefer to work alone. These changes 

should help vector research toward the war effort.

Producing ideas, however, is not enough. To be effective, they 

must be disseminated to the nation’s intellectual centers, so we have 

launched a number of initiatives to facilitate this process. Every year 

our students and faculty write hundreds of papers—most of which 

either appear in forums read solely by academics or disappear onto 
38 │ PART 2, ARTICLES FOR SENIOR LEADERS

library shelves. To correct this problem, we have begun to guide student research in directions that answer current questions related to 

the Department of Defense (DOD), the Air Force, and the joint community and to catalogue as well as track papers produced at AU so 

that relevant audiences can locate them online. We have also created 

a requirement that students and faculty summarize their work in 

“blue darts”—short op-eds or influence articles—that we can forward 

to the DOD, joint service, or media audiences, as appropriate. Beyond this, we have begun to stand up special research teams that can 

rapidly respond to high-level research taskings, ensuring that DOD, 

joint, and Air Force policy makers can reach back to AU for information and expert opinions.

On a more academic front, we have recently launched a new journal, Strategic Studies Quarterly, to help promote debate on high-level 

policy issues and have created a new online e-mail publication, The 

Wright Stuff, to quickly disseminate research and ideas to the Air 

Force audience and beyond. We are also experimenting with a number of other initiatives. We have begun to commission studies on important topics from well-known authors. In addition, we are once 

again sponsoring symposia that bring policy makers and academics 

together to discuss important issues and are partnering with civilian 

and military universities as well as think tanks to help stimulate research and debate on Air Force–related issues. Taken together, these 

steps and others like them should increase the flow of ideas dealing 

with air, space, and cyberspace to audiences that can use them. Over 

time these changes will substantially increase the number and quality 

of relevant new ideas flowing out of AU. They will also help develop 

our faculty and improve the education we offer students.

The third approach aims directly at our student body. As the United 

States begins to understand the nature of the long war, the need for 

training in language and regional cultures has become even more apparent. Accordingly, over the last year, we have substantially increased 

our offerings in these areas. To support the Air Force’s new cyber mission, the Air Force Institute of Technology will soon supplement its 

current graduate curriculum in cyber operations with a 12-month 

program in cyber warfare. Much like the Air Corps Tactical School’s 

efforts to pioneer air war in the 1930s, this hands-on initiative engages 

faculty and students in a combined effort to develop technology and 

doctrine for fighting in cyberspace. We have also added to the number 

of courses in other relevant fields such as counterterrorism, counter-
PART 2, ARTICLES FOR SENIOR LEADERS │ 39

insurgency, space, and cyber warfare. Finally, we are currently in the 

process of revamping our Air and Space Basic Course to do a better 

job of building the confidence and a warrior ethos that will serve our 

junior officers for the rest of their careers.

Lastly, we are taking steps to add dramatically to the number of 

students we educate. Through partnerships with civilian schools, we 

have been able to exponentially increase the educational opportunities for enlisted Airmen. By 2008 we will begin to offer them the 

opportunity to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Our new distance-learning 

program will soon allow us to give all officers a chance to pursue an 

AU master’s degree by the 12th year of their careers. We are also 

attempting to create a new AU PhD in strategic studies—the first of 

its kind in the US military—that will greatly increase the pool of 

doctorate-holding officers from which the Air Force will draw its future senior leaders. Beyond this, we are making major changes in our 

education of junior officers and in our noncommissioned officer academies as well as taking advantage of new cyber technology to develop 

communities of practice for squadron commanders. Our goal in all of 

this is to increase vastly the number of flexible and innovative thinkers 

in the Air Force.

Conclusion

In sum, the United States has only now begun to come to grips 

with the nature of the long war and what lies beyond. Winning this 

war will require us to leverage our existing strengths. It will require 

new equipment, new tactics, and, from time to time, even new strategy. But it also requires something more. Our best hope for succeeding in this struggle lies in developing a system that institutionalizes 

innovation. More than anything else, we need new ideas as well as 

men and women who, understanding the problems we face, can innovate and adapt to overcome them. The system of military education 

we continue to pioneer at AU will take a significant step toward developing this system and, over the long run, defeating our opponents.

Notes

1. Victor Davis Hanson, Carnage and Culture: Landmark Battles in the Rise of 

Western Power (New York: Doubleday, 2001), chap. 5.

Accountability in Public Life

It is cruel, this accountability of good and well-intentioned men.

—“On the Collision of Wasp and Hobson”

Wall Street Journal

December 2008—“Accountability” is a loaded word in public life. It 

is usually associated with failures and firings (and, some might add, 

“scapegoating”). Given this negative connotation, if we were asked if 

we wanted to be “held accountable” for something, we would probably not volunteer.

Yet, that is exactly what we do when those of us who are appointed 

to senior offices accept the responsibility for leadership of a public 

institution. For us, it’s imperative to understand that holding people 

accountable can seem cruel, yet it is essential for maintaining the 

public trust. Let me explain why.

I’ve learned that there are three levels of accountability in public 

life. The first level is that of the individual in public service. To be 

individually accountable is to be subject to the consequences of our 

own choices. If we choose to do the right thing, we typically receive 

positive consequences. In fact, it is important to understand that 

holding people accountable must include rewarding good behavior 

and performance. When we choose not to do the right thing, however, we can expect negative consequences. This is often what we associate with the word accountability. For most of us, making the right 

personal and professional choices is simply a matter of living according to the established institutional standards. These standards are 

usually written down and are clearly stated. There is little guesswork 

involved. We simply have to choose to adhere to the standards.

When we are assigned responsibility for others as a supervisor or 

commander, we assume a higher level of accountability—the second 

level. We become accountable for the choices of our people. Most of 

us learn rather quickly that we must set the right example for our 

people. We must also enforce the standards—preferably at the lowest 

level before minor discrepancies grow into major ones. As leaders, we 

also get some room to adjust the standards higher than the minimum. For example, I’ve always found that when my units had high 

standards, they had high morale, so I intentionally adjusted our 
42 │ PART 2, ARTICLES FOR SENIOR LEADERS

expectations higher. Nevertheless, the minimum standards were 

clear, and we all knew what they were.

There is a third level of accountability for those who rise to be senior leaders in a public organization like the US Air Force. This level is 

fundamentally different. We are still accountable for our own choices 

and those of our people, but we are also accountable for outcomes.

In our business, results matter; senior leaders are accountable for 

results. We can have the right intentions and work hard, but results 

speak for themselves. Furthermore, when things go terribly wrong, 

senior leaders are accountable, whether or not they had any direct 

personal involvement. If this seems cold and cruel, that’s because 

sometimes it is.

Perhaps the best explanation of this level of accountability is a 

1952 Wall Street Journal editorial written after the USS Hobson and 

the USS Wasp collided. The commanding officer of the Hobson had 

gone to sleep, leaving his subordinates to run the bridge. He was 

awoken as the two ships approached each other; in his disorientation, he gave a steering command that, in retrospect, was fatal. His 

last command took the ship right in front of the Wasp. When the 

ships ran together, the Hobson was cut in two and sank within four 

minutes. The captain, and 176 of her crew, drowned as a result. The 

Navy convened a board of inquiry to assign accountability for the 

incident. Many believed that it was unfair to assign blame to an exemplary officer whose intentions could not have included such terrible consequences.

In response, the Wall Street Journal editorial staff wrote, “This accountability is not for intention, but for the deed. The captain of a 

ship, like the captain of a state, is given honor and privileges and trust 

beyond other men. But let him steer the wrong course, let him touch 

ground, let him bring disaster to his ship or to his men, and he must 

answer for what he has done. No matter what, he cannot escape. It is 

cruel, this accountability of good and well-intentioned men.”1

Like the captain of a ship or the pilot of an aircraft, senior leaders 

are responsible for setting the right course for their institutions in a 

dangerous, uncertain world. Unlike lower-level supervisors and junior commanders, they often have little written guidance on how to 

do this.

These leaders are responsible for charting the course for their institutions, and they are accountable for the results, although they 

cannot possibly predict the future with certainty. For many years to 
PART 2, ARTICLES FOR SENIOR LEADERS │ 43

come, people will second-guess their decisions with the benefit of 

hindsight. Suffering this second-guessing is part of being a senior 

leader, and it is something all strategic leaders must come to grips 

with.

We have chosen to assign this level of accountability to our senior 

leaders. It is a tough choice, but, as the Wall Street Journal article explains, “The choice is that or an end to responsibility and, finally . . . 

an end to the confidence and trust in the men who lead, for men will 

not long trust leaders who feel themselves beyond accountability for 

what they do.”2

This is the reason for assigning such a high level of accountability 

for senior leaders of public institutions. Accountability is essential for 

trust. We risk losing the trust of the American people if we do not 

hold ourselves accountable. When things go wrong, the American 

people need to see that we take action to correct the problems. But we 

must also evaluate the situation and, as appropriate, assign accountability for those responsible. Sometimes, accountability should be assigned to senior leaders. This is especially true when we find problems that are “systemic” in nature. Only our senior leaders have the 

ability to find and fix systemic problems, even if they were not personally involved in the incidents that brought these problems to light. 

Our leaders are responsible and accountable for charting the right 

course for the institution. When the institution strays, senior leaders 

must be held accountable.

This can be cruel, but we are dealing with a Hobson’s choice, which 

is really no choice at all. We either accept this level of accountability 

or risk losing trust. Accountability, especially for our senior leaders, 

is the price we pay to establish and maintain trust.

Given current events, the time may have come for private institutions to learn this important lesson. Indeed, it is becoming increasingly apparent that decisions made by business institutions such as 

those in the financial sector affect the public welfare for good or ill. 

This development is reinforced by the investment that Americans, 

acting through their elected representatives, are willing to make in 

private corporations. As these “private” institutions are increasingly 

expected to act in the public interest, they will have to build public 

trust. If they want to do this in a lasting way, they will have to grapple with the subject of accountability. Perhaps they should look to 

the wisdom of an old Wall Street Journal editorial as they do so.
44 │ PART 2, ARTICLES FOR SENIOR LEADERS

Notes

1. “On the Collision of Wasp and Hobson,” Wall Street Journal, 14 May 1952.

2. Ibid.
Leadership Principles for Senior Leaders

August 2009—In 1987 I was commander of the 93rd Air Refueling 

Squadron at Castle AFB, California. Late one night, I sat down and 

wrote out a list of leadership principles. There was nothing magical 

about them—they were simply useful precepts I had learned over the 

years. I added to those principles in the summer of 2005 as the director of financial management and comptroller at the Pentagon and 

again, in the spring of 2008, as the commander of AU. As the commander of AETC, I published monthly articles, short vignettes, detailing the application of the leadership principles that have guided 

me through the years.

I have never sought to instill my leadership principles on others. 

Rather, I’ve tried to motivate others to reflect on the leadership principles that have guided them, to write them down, and to develop 

them. I’ve tried to help them use their principles to develop those 

within their command and to push their organizations towards 

greater success.

That said, I offer the following for consideration.

Never Develop a Sense of Entitlement

As senior leaders in the Air Force, you are entitled to certain privileges. Those privileges exceed what most Air Force personnel are 

authorized. Although the privileges come with increased responsibility, others won’t always see it that way. A large dose of humility can go 

a long way. After all, an organization’s success depends on all of its 

members keeping their egos in check.

A leader must be able to connect with subordinates and communicate from a shared common vision that everyone can comprehend 

and accept. It is always easier to communicate your vision by talking 

about an experience or using an analogy that everyone can relate to, 

understand, and remember. It is critical that leaders deliver their 

message in easily grasped terminology.

If you ever get the feeling that “you deserve” something or that the 

organization “owes you,” immediately stop what you’re doing, take a 

A version of this article was delivered to the Senior Leader Orientation Course.
46 │ PART 2, ARTICLES FOR SENIOR LEADERS

deep breath, and reevaluate the situation. The “me” path is a dangerous one, and once you start heading in that direction, it can be hard 

to turn around. Over the course of my career in the Air Force, I’ve 

seen a number of people develop an entitlement attitude, only to end 

up disappointed and bitter. When this happens, the person loses; his 

or her family loses; and, ultimately, the organization loses.

Creating Candor

It is essential that candor be a part of every organization. Candor 

helps us to identify our blind spots. Everyone has them—areas where 

we think things are better than they are, areas where we’re a little too 

confident. To find the blind spots, we must encourage dissenting 

opinions and negative feedback. We should ask our organizations 

open-ended questions: “What are we missing?” “How can we do this 

better?” “What’s the downside?” “What will other people say?” When 

our people answer, we must welcome their inputs, even when those 

inputs don’t cast our leadership in the best light.

As followers, we must work at creating candor as well. While the 

leader must set the tone for open communication, it is important that 

those who voice dissenting opinions or give negative feedback do so 

in a way that it can have the most effect. When voicing your disagreement, propose a solution or alternative path. If you are pointing out a 

blind spot for one of your leaders, strongly consider doing it in private. This is especially true if the issue is more personal in nature. It’s 

much easier for a leader to listen to a criticism made in private.

In the end, our time as leaders will be judged by the quality of our 

decisions and the accomplishments of our people. The personal price 

we pay in the short term for creating candor in our organizations is 

well worth the long-term professional and institutional benefits of 

hearing the best ideas and illuminating our blind spots.

Accountability

If we were asked if we wanted to be “held accountable” for something, we would probably not want to volunteer. Yet that is exactly 

what we do when those of us appointed to senior offices accept the 

responsibility for leadership of a public institution. For us, it is impera-
PART 2, ARTICLES FOR SENIOR LEADERS │ 47

tive to understand that holding people accountable can seem cruel but 

is an essential ingredient toward maintaining the public trust.

When we are assigned responsibility for others as a commander, we 

assume a higher level of accountability. We become accountable for 

the choices of our people. Most of us learn rather quickly that we must 

set the right example for our people. We must also enforce the standards, at all levels, before minor discrepancies grow into major ones. 

I’ve always found that units with high standards also have high morale.

In addition to being responsible for the choices of others, senior 

leaders are accountable for the outcomes and results of those choices 

whether or not they had any direct personal involvement. In our business, results matter, and even the best intentions cannot erase poor 

results. If this seems cold and cruel, that’s because sometimes it is.

Accountability is essential for trust. We risk losing the trust of the 

American public if we do not hold ourselves and our people accountable. When things go wrong, the public needs to see that we took 

action to correct the problem. Many times, accountability is assigned 

directly to senior leaders. This is especially true when we find problems that are “systemic” in nature. Only our senior leaders have the 

ability to find and fix systemic problems, even if they were not personally involved in the incidents that brought these problems to light. 

We either accept this level of accountability or risk losing trust. Accountability, especially for our senior leaders, is the price we pay to 

establish and maintain the public trust.

Objective Decision Making

Making decisions is something leaders do each and every day. 

Most decisions are made without much thought, almost unconsciously and, in many cases, automatically. Others, however, are decisions that involve time and thought and can impact more than just 

ourselves. These are the decisions where the process is an art, and it 

defines who we are as leaders.

First, and foremost, effective decisions require objectivity. The old 

adage, “the more objective you are, the more effective you are,” has 

never been more accurate or applicable than it is today. It can be tempting to look at decisions through the lens of a small straw. Effective 

leaders must step back and gain a much broader view; they must open 

their aperture. I’ve always advocated looking at issues and decisions 
48 │ PART 2, ARTICLES FOR SENIOR LEADERS

from the viewpoint of your boss’s boss. This approach helps to open 

the aperture and maintain objectivity. After all, if your boss’s boss is 

happy with your boss, then your boss will be happy with you.

In order to gain the broad objective view, leaders must work to 

gather a complete picture of the situation. That awareness involves 

considering all the variables weighing into the decision, competing 

interests involved in the decision, and determining the potential consequences. The potential consequences must include possible secondand third-order consequences. Tough calls like these can involve individuals, organizations, and issues beyond those initially thought. 

Weigh the consequences against unit missions and organizational 

goals. Investigate how the decision will move things forward in the 

near, mid, and long term. This will provide the context for the decision and, although it will involve a lot of work, will result in the 

broadest view of the entire process.

Lastly, tough decisions can be very emotional. Don’t let emotion 

play into the decision-making process. Emotion only serves to cloud 

the issue and, potentially, can result in a decision where near-term 

happiness fades quickly into mid- and long-term unintended challenges. Leaders must look at decisions from the outside, unattached 

to the emotional influence from within. Leaders must rise above such 

distractions in order to maintain their objectivity.

Leaders use decision making to define reality. Decisions made 

within context and with the benefit of situational awareness will position future issues for success and establish tomorrow’s realities for 

our subordinates, our boss, and, ultimately, our boss’s boss. In the 

end, objectivity will ensure that decisions will result in the desired 

effect and will keep you and your organization headed in the “best” 

direction.

Lean Times

You don’t need to pick up a newspaper to know that our nation and 

our Air Force face challenging economic times in the months and 

years ahead. Leading in lean times requires making tough choices, but 

this is what leaders do. If you’ve ever heard me discuss leadership, then 

you have heard me say that leaders must learn the art of balancing 

shortfalls. We never have enough time, money, or manpower. This is 

true in our personal lives as well as our professional positions.
PART 2, ARTICLES FOR SENIOR LEADERS │ 49

We often use tools to help us. One tool I have found to be indispensible is the “unfunded requirements list.” This list includes all of 

the projects and upgrades for your organization that are not in the 

budget. This list must be comprehensive and part of a multiyear plan 

for improvement. Most importantly, it must be a priority order. In 

order to accurately prioritize the requirements, tie each of them to 

either core, sustainable, or enhanced tasks. The core tasks are things 

you have to do to accomplish your mission and are the most essential. 

Your goal is to work down the items on the list one at a time—focus 

on the top priority until you get the resources required and then go to 

the next item. You should be ready to execute the top priority at any 

moment; you never know when the resources will be available.

In lean times, we must protect the core tasks. This means being 

ruthless in cutting the enhanced items first, and then figuring out 

workarounds when sustainable items have to go. Sometimes we may 

have to implement a workaround that is uncomfortable, but we must 

in order to protect the mission and core tasks.

Develop Your Vision

Our job, as leaders, is to make people’s dreams come true each and 

every day. I know you all have dreams, visions that could benefit our 

Airmen both today and tomorrow. Such visions must be pursued—

you should never, ever, ever give up.

In order to realize a vision, several things need to happen. First, 

you must align the vision with one of the core functions I mentioned 

earlier. The closer to the core, the easier it will be to gain support and, 

eventually, resourcing. Next, take the vision and develop a strategy. 

Depending on your vision, the strategy may involve acquisition, implementation, execution, modification, or one of many other aspects. 

Let your strategy start at the 40 percent solution, evolve to 80 percent, 

and remain at 98 percent. Realize that the process is continual—you 

will never get to 100 percent.

With the strategy in place, you can start socializing the vision. Socialization will also help your vision progress and grow roots through 

increased organizational support and understanding. The support will 

help you champion the concept for resourcing. After all, your vision 

must have resourcing in order to come true. Those resources will go to 

winners, not to losers—invest the time and energy to be a winner.
50 │ PART 2, ARTICLES FOR SENIOR LEADERS

In life, and especially in the Air Force, priorities and personnel are 

always changing. Over time, your vision will need to adapt to the realities of change. It will require even greater persistence and objectivity. Giving your vision roots and aligning it with core functions will 

create something that can be handed off and sustained through 

change. The best ideas, sustained by hard work, can be carried forward by any leader.

You may also find yourself joining an organization and accepting 

other people’s visions. In this situation, evaluate their vision against 

current realities and resourcing priorities. If they’ve done their homework, the project will be easy to move forward. If they haven’t, assess 

the vision to determine if it should move ahead or if its time has passed.

Our Air Force needs you to champion your visions, to develop 

them along our service core functions, and to socialize them—let 

them grow roots and evolve. Do your homework and the resources 

will follow. After all, it is your initiatives that fuel the positive change 

that makes our Air Force the finest in the world.

What Will Your Leadership Legacy Be?

As I said before, the most important point about these leadership 

principles that I have laid out is to encourage others to define their 

own principles. I hope to motivate and aid our service’s leaders in 

identifying and clarifying their positions, not in memorizing mine. 

In order for a leader’s set of principles to be effective, they should be 

based on a foundation—such as the ideals embodied in the Air Force’s 

core values—and they must reflect who that leader is. As senior leaders in today’s Air Force, continue to develop and articulate your principles; you will never regret it, and it will make you better leaders for 

our nation.
PART 3

Articles from US Air Force Academy 

Association of Graduates 

Checkpoints Magazine

Never, Ever Give Up:

A Story of Educational Perseverance

Winter 2009—In order to succeed at the US Air Force Academy, 

cadets must excel at academic, athletic, and military challenges. 

One of the toughest lessons all cadets learn during the four years is 

how to balance their natural strengths—the things they enjoy being 

good at—with everything else. In essence, this balancing act paves 

the way for success in service to the nation after graduation. Resting 

only on our strengths makes us one-dimensional leaders. Our 

country needs leaders who are able to engage in many dimensions. 

For me, I learned very quickly that I was going to have to work 

hardest in the “academic dimension.” It ended up being one of my 

greatest struggles.

The journey actually began in the summer of 1960 when I was 

only nine years old. My father was a captain in the Air Force, stationed at Lowry AFB in Denver, Colorado. One Saturday, he drove 

my entire family down to Colorado Springs, and we visited the Air 

Force Academy for the very first time. I remember it like it was yesterday because that was the day I fell in love with the Academy. Construction on Cadet Chapel had yet to begin, and Sijan Hall was still 

years in the future. I remember standing there, under the bright blue 

mountain sky, and pledging to myself that one day this was the place 

I would go to school. As a fourth grader, I did not know how I was 

going to get there, but I knew right then and there that I was going 

to devote all my energy to becoming a cadet at the most beautiful 

school I had ever seen.

During the next nine years, through eight moves and eight different schools (including four high schools), I followed my father across 

the country and around the world. During that entire time, I kept my 

goal in sight to become a cadet at the Air Force Academy. I joined 

every high school club. I tried out for every sport I could participate 

in. I took every course the Academy required. I even ran for every 

high school office that was available. This was particularly tough because we were moving almost every year. I took the ACT and then the 

A version of this article was published as “Never, Ever Give Up,” Checkpoints, December 2009, 

21–22.
54 │ PART 3, ARTICLES FROM CHECKPOINTS

SAT—five times! If there was anything that I thought would improve 

my chances to get into the Academy, I did it! 

When it finally came time to get an appointment to the Academy, 

I immediately applied to Illinois, my home state. My congressman 

wrote back that even with all my hard work, I was fourth in line for 

an appointment and that I should try again next year. I was disappointed and somewhat discouraged but vowed not to give up. I talked 

to the Academy group, which was then in Washington, DC, and they 

told me that some congressional districts did not have qualified candidates. They recommended that I should also apply to those districts. My dad was stationed in Washington at the time, so I literally 

started walking the halls of Congress until I came upon the office of 

Cong. Tim Lee Carter of Kentucky’s 5th Congressional District. He 

had no qualified candidate that year and, after I had a face-to-face 

meeting with the congressman, nominated me to the Academy to be 

a member of the class of 1973. I was on top of the world! On 23 June 

1969, on a bright, shiny day, I reported to the base of the ramp with 

1,403 of my new classmates.

Basic Cadet Training was a blur. We ran everywhere, from dawn 

until dusk. Upper classmen yelled at us all day long. It seemed we 

were in constant motion 24 hours a day. However, I was happy. I had 

achieved my life’s goal and was a cadet at the US Air Force Academy. 

It had been a challenge to get into the Academy, but I was now a cadet, 

and I thought the hardest part was over. Boy was I wrong! Little did I 

know that the hard part was just beginning.

It started when we took the battery of aptitude tests that seemed to 

go on forever. I did well in the social sciences and ended up validating 

the entire fourth class year of history, and my political science scores 

were well up there. However, in the math and science areas of the core 

curriculum, I was at the bottom of the heap. My math scores entitled 

me to be placed in all the “peoples” courses. Anything that had a 

“101” attached to it and was a “bucket” section was where they sent 

me. I slugged my way through one math and science course after another. I had more extra instruction sessions in physics than actual 

classroom sessions and still ended up with a “D.” I think they did not 

give me an “F” because they felt sorry for me.

I survived my fourth class year, but the “bucket” sections were getting smaller as many of our classmates resigned or were “academically” asked to leave. Third class academic year began, and for the 

first time, I really understood what challenging academics were. The 
PART 3, ARTICLES FROM CHECKPOINTS │ 55

11 semester hours of the “peoples” Math 201 were pure drudgery. I 

just barely survived that onslaught, when Computer Science 200 

snuck up on me, and I met my first academic board with a big fat “F.” 

It was quite a humbling experience to stand at attention in front of 13 

captains, majors, and colonels justifying why I should stay at the 

academy. Since I had validated fourth class history and it appeared 

that my military order of merit was adequate, they voted to keep me 

for one more semester to see how I would do. I passed Computer Science 200 on my second try and slid into second class summer. It had 

gotten to the point that I was living semester to semester and looking 

forward to summer training because I knew I could make it through 

the military training without too much trouble.

Second class academics began, and I was finally getting into some 

history and political science courses that were actually enjoyable. In 

fact, political science classes were so enjoyable that I declared international affairs as my major. However, two gigantic math and science 

hurdles remained. A solid year of electrical engineering (EE) and aeronautical engineering stood like the Rocky Mountains between me and 

graduation. Two other things that were about to affect my future time 

as a cadet were also out there, but being 19 years old, I did not see them 

coming. The first was that I was now truly at the bottom of my class in 

the math and science areas. All the other cadets who had, for two years, 

cushioned my grades at the bottom of the bell curve were gone. The 

second was that I had finally met a young lady. Yes, now when I needed 

to be truly focused on studying to make it to the end, I started dating. 

During the middle of the week when I should have been studying, I 

was now talking on the telephone. Every weekend, I was faced with the 

choice of studying for courses I truly disliked or going downtown to 

date this young lady. Being 19, I found that the choice was, of course, 

obvious! As the fall semester started slipping by and I prepared for finals and Christmas leave, I had a very uneasy feeling.

On 23 December 1971, I arrived at McConnell AFB, Kansas, on 

Christmas leave to visit my parents. I told my dad that I was “concerned” about my grades. This turned out to be an understatement. 

Early on Christmas Eve, he called my academic advisor and asked him 

to find out what my grades were. My advisor checked and called my 

dad back immediately. He said I had done well in history and political 

science and had earned a 2.0 grade point average for the semester, but 

I had flunked both EE and aeronautical engineering! He also said that 
56 │ PART 3, ARTICLES FROM CHECKPOINTS

the academic board would be meeting to decide my fate the day after 

Christmas. He told my dad that things did not look good.

Needless to say, this was not a very happy Christmas for me and 

my parents. I spent all day praying that I would be allowed to stay at 

the Academy to redeem myself and to earn those golden lieutenant 

bars. The hours passed by so very slowly. On the afternoon of the 

26th, my advisor called my dad and said that because of my Military 

Order of Merit, the academic board had voted to let me stay. However, I would be restricted to the cadet area for six months and would 

have to take R-Flight (summer school) my first class summer to graduate with my class. The Academy board had given me another chance. 

I was so thankful, but I was about to learn some very valuable lessons 

during the next six months.

When I got back to the “zoo,” I found out that 17 of my classmates 

had flunked out that semester; I was still at the Academy by the grace 

of God and the dean. I also found out that I was assigned six (the 

maximum number) weekend academic call to quarters (WACQ). 

Each WACQ was two and a half hours long, which meant in addition 

to all the military duties that occurred each weekend, I also had to be 

at my desk studying a minimum of 18 hours from Friday night until 

the Sunday evening call to quarters. This was easier said than done, 

especially during the dark ages. I remember sitting at my desk studying EE (for the second time) and watching my classmates leave the 

squadron area to go on dates downtown. After about a month of this, 

my initial euphoria of getting to stay at the academy passed, and I 

started to get depressed. I began to ask myself, “Is all this pain worth 

it?” I hated EE and aeronautical engineering; I was never going to 

use these “worthless” classes. I told myself that the core curriculum 

was a waste of time. I was on the verge of resigning, but a group of 

people and a piece of precious metal changed my mind.

That group of people included my family, air officer commanding 

(AOC), professors, and classmates who helped and encouraged me 

during this challenging time. They assisted me in studying for my 

classes and motivated me when I was down. They all made a real difference in focusing and improving my spirits. However, I will never 

forget the day my squadron ordered class rings. I remember trying 

on that piece of precious metal for the first time. It was so big, heavy, 

and beautiful. They gave me an order form with a picture of the ‘73 

class crest. I thought it was magnificent. I took the order form and 

taped it to the wall in front of my desk. From then on, when I started 
PART 3, ARTICLES FROM CHECKPOINTS │ 57

to feel sorry for myself, I would look at the picture of that beautiful 

ring and remind myself why I came to the Academy in the first place. 

I started to count down the days until the ring dance: 100 days, 98, 

50, 25, and so on. Finally the great day arrived. That night when I put 

the ring on for the first time, I knew all the hard work had been 

worth it and that the Academy had shaped my life forever.

The semester that I had been “locked” in my room for six months, 

I achieved my highest grades. That summer “R-Flight” went well, 

even though I did not get any leave. My firstie (senior) year was still 

challenging, but there was nothing that could get in the way of those 

gold bars. On 6 June 1973, 564 of my classmates preceded me in getting their diplomas handed to them by Sen. Barry Goldwater of Arizona, with a total of 844 of us getting to walk across the stage. After 

four long, hard years, I had finally made it, earning an Academy degree and the coveted golden lieutenant bars.

I have had a lot of time over the 36 years since graduation to reflect 

on how the entire Academy experience affected me and shaped my 

life. Like everyone else, I have faced personal and professional challenges. But even on the darkest of days, I looked back and remembered the WACQs, EE, and aeronautical engineering. If I could make 

it through the Academy’s academic challenges, then I could make it 

through anything.

Like most graduates, I internalized the honor code as a daily “code 

of conduct.” However, I left the Academy with other major life lessons 

as well. The first was that you must “never, ever, ever give up.” If you 

are willing to work hard and stay focused, tenacity and perseverance 

will help you prevail. The second was that the pursuit of learning 

through education, even during the dreaded core curriculum, is a 

major building block for success in life. You see, taking courses is not 

about the grades; it is about what you learn and how you use that 

learning in your everyday life. We all must never stop learning and 

growing. To this day, I am always reading and studying. Finally, 

achieving any great endeavor is all about teamwork. If it were not for 

my parents, family, professors, advisors, and classmates that helped 

me graduate from the academy, I would not have been able to serve 

our nation in the world’s greatest air force.

As I said at the beginning of this article, one of the toughest lessons to learn at the Academy is to balance one’s natural strengths 

across the academic, athletic, and military dimensions. I used to 

think my challenges were unique, but as the years have passed, I 
58 │ PART 3, ARTICLES FROM CHECKPOINTS

have observed that many, if not most, cadets had similar challenges 

in one or more of these three dimensions. Our graduates and the 

nation are all the better for it.
We Win as a Wing, We Lose as a Wing:

A Story of Spirit as a Force Multiplier

On the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that on other 

days and other fields will bear the fruits of victory.

—Gen Douglas MacArthur

Summer 2010—I will never forget the night of 9 November 1996. 

A well-coached Air Force Academy football team with a phenomenal 

quarterback solemnly walked off the field at West Point’s Michie Stadium. An average Army football team had just soundly defeated 

them 23–7. As I looked across the field, I saw the reason why. A sea of 

4,000 screaming West Point cadets decked out in Army black and 

gold jerseys danced in the stands, cheering as one. You see, the Army 

football team wasn’t made up only of those wearing helmets and 

shoulder pads—it also included a highly organized group of cadets, 

cheerleaders, and its band. Together the Army team had one goal in 

mind: defeat Air Force!

As I followed the Air Force football team off the field, I realized that 

our Cadet Wing should work to have the same effect as the Army 

Corps of Cadets. Although the wing could not help on the field, it 

could have an impact from the stands. Organized and energized as the 

Army cadets were that night, our Cadet Wing could be worth at least 

three to seven points by the end of the game. In many games, those 

three to seven points are the difference between winning and losing.

The Air Force football team completed the 1996 season two weeks 

later with a final record of six wins and five losses. Of all the games 

that season, six of them were decided by fewer than seven points. 

Although we beat Notre Dame, losses to both Army and Navy forced 

the Academy to relinquish possession of the commander-in-chief ’s 

trophy for the first time in seven years. As the commandant of cadets, 

I knew we could do more to support the football team. I thought that 

the team would be a good unifying element within the wing and a 

method to increase overall morale and pride. In addition, such emphasis could benefit other intercollegiate programs as well.

A version of this article was published as “We Win as a Wing, We Lose as a Wing,” Checkpoints, 

June 2010, 20–22.
60 │ PART 3, ARTICLES FROM CHECKPOINTS

We formed the Cadet Wing Esprit-de-Corps Committee cochaired by a member of the Air Force Academy’s Falcon football team 

and a nonintercollegiate cadet. The committee started by surveying 

all 40 cadet squadrons and each of the four classes to better understand the environment at the Academy. At the time, intercollegiate 

athletes from 27 teams comprised 25 percent of the Cadet Wing. It 

was an important study, and the results ended up telling a very interesting story.

The committee found that there was a significant amount of resentment between the intercollegiate and nonintercollegiate cadets. 

Nonintercollegiate cadets perceived that the intercollegiate athletes 

hid behind their privileges, like separate dining, reduced room inspections, and less time at mandatory military training events. The 

intercollegiate athletes expressed frustration that the nonintercollegiate cadets did not appreciate the significant time required on the 

practice fields. These perceived friction points between the groups 

would be a major hurdle in building overall wing spirit. If we wanted 

to make a difference on the “fields of friendly strife,” we needed to 

move the perceptions within the wing closer together.

After assessing the study results, the Cadet Esprit de Corps Committee built a plan named “Operation Restore Thunder.” Its mission 

was to bridge the gap between intercollegiate and nonintercollegiate 

cadets. The plan aimed to foster an environment within the Cadet 

Wing where cadets both feel and demonstrate pride in their Academy 

and all cadet programs.

The committee’s recommendations looked at established spirit 

programs at Army, Navy, Texas A&M, and the Citadel and started at 

the top of the cadet leadership chain. They established a new cadet 

leadership position (wing spirit officer) and recommended that the 

new person work and live on wing staff with the captain of the football team. Together, these two cadet leaders were tasked to build an 

overall strategic campaign plan on how the entire Cadet Wing team 

would support not just the football team but all intercollegiate teams 

for the entire year. In turn, each cadet squadron adopted an intercollegiate team, and both the cadet squadron commander and the respective team captain had to brief the commandant on their yearlong 

strategic support plans. These plans had to be updated monthly with 

the commandant.

The committee also found that most cadets liked living with others 

that have similar tastes, backgrounds, and experiences. If we were 
PART 3, ARTICLES FROM CHECKPOINTS │ 61

going to get each group to understand the other’s challenges and 

build a true wing team, we needed to get them away from this tendency and “walk in each other’s shoes.” What better way to do that 

than to live and work together? So the committee recommended a 

policy that aimed to “integrate” all cadets, forcing intercollegiate athletes to start living with nonintercollegiate cadets. It was not a popular policy, but over time the new roommates gained an understanding for each other’s challenges.

The Cadet Wing began publishing a master calendar that included 

specific “games of the week.” They encouraged all Academy mission 

elements to avoid scheduling events that conflicted with those games 

so that more cadets could attend and lend their support. We created 

cadet spirit awards and designed a blue “spirit jersey” to be worn at 

games. We even started preparing the battlefield during the cadet’s 

first summer in Basic Cadet Training. The wing spirit officer gave all 

new cadets a briefing about specific “spirit responsibilities,” telling the 

new cadets that they were the engine that produced the energy to 

keep the Academy’s spirit machine running smoothly.

We instituted the Outstanding Military Athlete Award. We reinstituted car rallies and spirit dinners. After specific games, we had the 

coaches and team captains thank the Cadet Wing for their support. 

We established a weekly air tasking order (ATO) to support the 

teams. The ATO described the spirit plan of attack for specific games 

and periods of time. At every game the chief of wing spirit was responsible for coordinating the Cadet Wing, cheerleaders, and the 

Drum and Bugle Corps. We developed scripts for contingences at the 

games. The scripts further developed the ATO and described when to 

cheer, what to chant, and how the plan would change based on the 

score and phase of the game. Once again, we required that the Cadet 

Wing stand up in the bleachers whenever the team was on the field. 

When we sang the third verse of the Air Force song, the Cadet Wing 

went out on the football field to show solidarity with the team. The 

cadets formed a line and held hands with the team as the entire wing 

sang together.

We had plans whether we won or lost; we were always there to support the team. None of these ideas were original, but three things 

were different: (1) every idea fit into the cadet-built strategic spirit 

plan; (2) the cadets implemented all aspects of the plan; and (3) the 

plan had the support of the superintendent, dean, commandant, director of athletics, and the coaches. The plan supported our initial 
62 │ PART 3, ARTICLES FROM CHECKPOINTS

goals: improve cadet morale, build pride in the Academy, and unite 

all of the Academy mission elements towards a common goal—defeat 

the opposition! Slowly but surely the “me” mentality transformed 

into a “we” mentality. After all, we go to war as a team and not as individuals.

We kicked off the next football season in August 1997 with our 

great football coach Fisher DeBerry briefing each of the four cadet 

groups. Coach DeBerry emphasized how important the entire Cadet 

Wing was to victory. He talked about teamwork and how the Cadet 

Wing’s energy and spirit made a difference on the field. The first game 

of the season was against Idaho during parents’ weekend. The cadet 

strategic plan, the ATO, contained a day-by-day schedule that called 

for a car rally, a spirit dinner, and a major pep rally to build spirit in 

preparation for the game. It also set up a time for the wing spirit officer to utilize our new public address system to practice new cheers 

with the Cadet Wing, cheerleaders, and the Drum and Bugle Corps. 

The battle slogan became “feel the thunder,” and everyone at the 

Academy greeted each other with that cry.

In the beginning, the fourth class cadets and those cadet leaders 

responsible for the plan accounted for most of the participation. 

Many cadets thought “spirit” was spontaneous and resisted organized 

motivation. The first game against Idaho was very close, but Air Force 

was victorious, 14–10. As we all stood on the field in Falcon Stadium, 

holding hands and singing the “third verse,” many in the stands felt 

the Cadet Wing team had made a difference. The next week when we 

were getting ready for an away game at Rice in Houston, Texas, Coach 

DeBerry and the team captains thanked the Cadet Wing for the energy that helped in the victory. The wing stood and cheered. We 

crushed Rice 41–12. The next week, the team came back home to the 

Academy and squeaked by the University of Nevada–Las Vegas by 

just one point, 25–24. Coach DeBerry once again thanked the wing 

for making a difference.

Our next game was critical—against our in-state conference rival 

Colorado State University. The previous year, we watched a large 

halftime lead turn into a difficult loss at home by only one point; it 

was a real heartbreaker. The cadet leadership decided to pull out all 

the stops. The plan called for a 1,000 cadet–strong contingent to fill 

the stadium in Fort Collins. We ended up sending even more to the 

game; the setting was electric. We totally dominated the field and 

beat them 24–0!
PART 3, ARTICLES FROM CHECKPOINTS │ 63

We won four of the next six games. Of those games, five of them 

saw the game end with a margin of fewer than seven points. The next 

big game was now against the Army Knights at Falcon Stadium. The 

commander-in-chief ’s trophy was in play because we had previously 

defeated Navy by three. The ATO built up the spirit and anticipation 

during the week leading up to Saturday’s game. There were lots of terrific spirit banners and pep rallies. We even scheduled fly-bys from 

both the Air Force and the Army. However, this year it was all strategically thought out and run by the cadets with one goal in mind for 

the Cadet Wing team—Beat Army!

The Cadet Wing marched onto the field wearing battle dress uniforms (BDU) before the game. Many in the stands thought they 

should have worn service dress, but it was all for effect. Right before 

kickoff, the entire wing removed their BDU tops, revealing bright 

blue Air Force spirit jerseys. The giant sea of blue stunned everyone. 

This was followed by 16 F-16’s in afterburner that flew over during 

kickoff. Army never had a chance. We destroyed them 24–0. I remember walking by the West Point superintendent and commandant 

and exclaiming, “We stole all of your spirit ideas!” The wing continued its spirited support and helped the football team to 10 wins and a 

postseason bowl appearance that season. All told, the Cadet Wing 

was flying high.

Away from the football field, the other intercollegiate teams enjoyed the support of the 40 cadet squadrons as well. Can you imagine 75 cadets cheering on the rifle team in the middle of the week or 

50 cadets showing up to support the fencing team? It happened because the cadet leadership made it happen. Now, I am not saying all 

the cadets bought into the strategic spirit plan, but the more they 

saw the positive results their efforts created, the more they wanted to 

participate.

The following year witnessed even more success. The football team 

won 12 games, finished the season nationally ranked, and crushed the 

Washington Huskies 45–25 in a postseason bowl game. After the last 

game of the regular season, the Cadet Wing approached the director 

of athletics and asked to tear down the goal posts in Falcon Stadium. 

Now, goal posts are expensive, and new ones were certainly not in the 

budget. I was impressed with the request and excited when the athletic 

director actually let them do it in the name of the Academy spirit.

More than a dozen years have passed since those young cadets 

built and implemented the “Operation Restore Thunder” spirit plan 
64 │ PART 3, ARTICLES FROM CHECKPOINTS

for the Cadet Wing. These cadets are now captains and majors in our 

US Air Force, and many have seen combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

They helped improve the tradition of team excellence at our Air Force 

Academy and have carried that winning attitude with them into their 

military and civilian careers. The spirit committee ended its initial 

briefing to the Cadet Wing with a quote from John Wooden, the wellknown collegiate men’s basketball coach: “Success is a peace of mind 

which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your 

best to become the best you are capable of becoming.” I believe that 

all the cadets, both on and off the athletic fields, internalized this 

ideal. Today, our Air Force and our nation are all the better for it.
PART 4

Monthly Releases

The following commentaries were written by General Lorenz 

during his tenure as the Air Education and Training Command 

commander and following his retirement. These commentaries 

are part of the “Lorenz on Leadership” series.

Back to Basics

15 July 2008—These are challenging times. If you’re keeping up 

with the news, you’re probably as frustrated as I am when you see 

editorials with titles such as “Clean up the Air Force.” While we have 

important issues such as nuclear accountability that must be addressed, you and I both know that the vast majority of the Air Force 

does not need “cleaning up.” As Secretary of Defense Robert Gates 

has said, “I have every confidence in you, and in the Air Force that 

has served our country so well.”1

Nevertheless, when faced with these negative perceptions, our best 

answer is to get back to basics. Every good team faces bad news from 

time to time. The excellent teams get through adversity by focusing on 

what made them excellent to begin with. This is what we must do now.

For the US Air Force, our basics have been and must always be our 

core values: integrity, service, and excellence. These values have stood 

the test of time. They sustained our predecessors when they faced difficulty, and they will do the same for us today.

Integrity is our number one value, which is why we say “integrity 

first.” When used to describe a building, the word integrity implies 

strength. If a building has integrity, it can weather a storm and remain strong. The Air Force is built upon the integrity of its people—

you and me. If our collective integrity is strong, then the Air Force 

will be able to weather any storm. Unfortunately, the opposite is true 

as well.

I believe the key to integrity is transparency. Our actions should be 

transparent to outsiders. While they may not always agree with our 

decisions, they will see that we are making an honest effort to do what 

is right. Everything we do in serving the nation should be done as if 

we were being observed by the American people. If we act in this way, 

integrity will not be a problem.

We are all public servants, and this requires sacrifice. In short, it 

requires us to put “service before self.” We exhibit this core value 

when we leave our families for deployments, when we put ourselves 

in harm’s way, and even when we work the extra hour to make sure 

the job is done right.

Service before self does not mean service in spite of self, however. 

We all have times when our personal lives, especially our families, 

take priority. That is when we as the Air Force family must step up 
68 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

and cover for each other. When you take on an additional task to help 

a fellow Airman who is dealing with personal issues, you make the 

Air Force stronger. And one day, someone will do the same for you.

We became the world’s leading Air Force by exhibiting “excellence 

in all we do,” and we must keep striving for excellence today. This 

means that we must aggressively and constantly seek improvement. 

The Airmen who came before us would not settle for the status quo. 

They always sought better ways of doing business—better processes, 

better equipment, and better training. We must do the same.

It is a fact that the most dangerous time for each of us is when we 

first get comfortable at something, be it flying a sortie, repairing an 

engine, teaching a class, or driving to work. Comfort leads to complacency, and complacency kills. For this reason, I believe that we all 

should be a little uncomfortable in our jobs. That slight degree of 

discomfort gives us a valuable edge that spurs us to learn more and 

get better.

Can I share a secret with you? I’m a little uncomfortable in my new 

position as commander of AETC. As I learn about what the great Airmen of the command do, I am truly humbled. Our command is so 

large and diverse that I have a hard time seeing how I can ever become as knowledgeable as I want to be.

Although I would like to be comfortable, I know that personal 

comfort would be professionally detrimental for the Airmen I command. That is why I’m going to leave my comfort zone, focus on the 

basics, and strive for bigger and better things for our team. I am just 

one Airman; however, I can’t do anything alone.

No one says it better than our acting secretary of the Air Force, 

Michael Donley: “There is no quicker route to recovery than the 

power of tens of thousands of Airmen and civilians rededicating 

themselves to the high standards of excellence that have always been 

the hallmark of the world’s best Air Force.”2

 I ask you to come alongside me, and let’s work together to turn adversity into opportunity by 

getting back to basics.

Notes

1. “Gates: Focus on Nuclear Mission,” Air Force Print News, 10 June 2008.

2. Ed White, “Acting SECAF Donley Shares Perspective with Airmen,” Space Observer, 10 July 2008.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 69

Staying Safe in the Real World

11 August 2008—It’s no secret. We’re flying some old airplanes. In 

fact, aging airplanes continue to consume much of our attention. We 

are currently replacing the wing boxes on our C-130s, first delivered 

in 1956. Late last year, we grounded our F-15Cs, first delivered in 

1974, after one literally broke apart in the sky. And more recently, we 

have focused on the T-38, which was first delivered in 1961.

In April, two AETC pilots died in a T-38 crash at Columbus AFB, 

Mississippi. The investigation board performed a thorough analysis 

of the wreckage, and we now know that the cause was a broken part, 

a lever in the wing. The lever broke as the airplane taxied, and this 

caused the flight controls to be ineffective on takeoff. This is the first 

time this part is known to have failed.

As soon as he found out about the levers, my predecessor, Gen Bill 

Looney, directed a halt in flying to allow inspection of every lever in 

the fleet. If a lever was cracked, or even if it had a nick, gouge, or 

scratch, our team replaced it.

But we didn’t stop there. We learned that the lever suffers high 

stress when flight controls are moved on the ground with no power, 

so we stopped this practice. In addition, our T-38 pilots paused to 

study the accident and the malfunction. We have also teamed up with 

Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) to take two important steps. 

First, we studied the levers in-depth to react to the original problem. 

More importantly, we were proactive by disassembling multiple aircraft to look for additional parts that may develop similar problems.

Because there is a very small chance that these levers may fail at 

some unspecified time in the future, AFMC is manufacturing new, 

stronger levers for all T-38s. As soon as these levers are available, we 

will install them.

Some people will ask, “Why don’t we stop flying until these levers 

are ready?” It’s a good question, and we did consider this. After a full 

discussion with commanders, flight engineers, maintenance experts, 

and instructor pilots, we decided that continuing to fly was the right 

thing to do. In making this decision, we weighed the risk of flying 

with that of not flying, including the loss of pilot proficiency. Arriving 

at this decision was not easy, but the experience taught us important 

lessons about staying safe in the real world.
70 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

Safety is critical, but if we wanted to be perfectly safe, we would 

never fly. In fact, we wouldn’t travel in our cars, play sports, or walk 

to the park. In all of these activities, there is a small chance that an 

accident can happen. Even though we know this, we seldom think 

twice about driving to work, playing basketball, or walking down the 

street. We all accept risk in order to live our lives.

And in the Air Force, we must accept some risk in order to accomplish our mission. The T-38 is a very safe airplane to fly. You have my 

word that if I learn of information to the contrary, we will stop flying 

immediately. In the meantime, we will accept the inherent risks of 

flying to accomplish the mission of producing pilots.

Accepting that risk, however, does not relieve us of the responsibility to be proactive. Just as we are tearing T-38s apart looking for other 

parts that could break, we should all look around our shops and seek 

out areas where our people are at risk.

When we find a dangerous situation, or one finds us, we must 

pause to consider our options. We should learn as much as we can 

and seek inputs from all levels. After taking time to think, commanders and supervisors should implement the safety measures that best 

minimize the risk to their people while allowing them to accomplish 

their mission. They should explain the problem and the plan of action to their people. After this, everyone should monitor the situation 

as they get back to work.

We can never drive risk to zero. However, we can continuously 

strive to make our workplaces and processes safer. As Airmen, we 

have come a long way. My grandfather used to tell us how he participated in too many funeral processions when he attended pilot training in 1919. Since then, Airmen have been tremendously successful 

in reducing risk while training and fighting in the air.

Now it is our turn.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 71

Look into Their Eyes

18 August 2008—If we want the Air Force to be a family, we must 

do what a family does—care for one another.

At a recent conference for new squadron commanders, a commander’s spouse asked me a great question: “What is the one thing we 

can do to make the most difference for our people?” My answer was 

simple. It’s not a program or an event. You have to care for them. You 

will make mistakes as a leader, and sometimes you will encounter 

situations where there are no good answers, but if your people know 

that you care for them, they will overlook and forgive your faults. If 

you are sincere, they will respond by giving you their all.

So how do you show those around you that you care about them? 

Here’s a simple way. Ask them how they are doing, and while you are 

listening, watch their eyes. Why? Effective leaders understand that 

the eyes are the window into the soul.

Many of us don’t want to admit when we’re having problems. We 

want to be strong, or we don’t think our problems are big enough to 

talk about. When asked how we are doing, most of us will respond 

with the typical “I’m fine.”

In the Air Force, we are fortunate—the vast majority of our folks 

are inherently honest. While we may say we’re “fine,” because that is 

the culturally acceptable thing to do, our eyes will not lie. If someone 

isn’t fine, you will see it. And that’s when you take the time to ask 

again, maybe in a slightly different way. You may have to ask several 

times. Take the time to do this. It’s important.

For example, you may pass Airman Jones in the hallway and ask 

him how he is doing. Although he says “fine,” he doesn’t really look at 

you. This is your chance to make a difference. Don’t miss it. “How is 

your family doing?” you ask. Airman Jones quickly answers, “They’re 

OK,” but he still doesn’t look at you. Don’t quit. Stop and look him in 

the eye and say, “You look like something’s on your mind; are you 

sure you’re OK?” Try to get him to talk, always looking at his eyes for 

important clues.

The fact is that we’re not always OK. We all have issues in our lives 

such as relationships that turn sour, kids that aren’t behaving at 

school, financial problems, or sick parents. These things weigh on our 

minds, and they can affect our performance. They can even lead us to 

contemplate irrational thoughts such as lashing out, leaving those we 
72 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

love, or taking our own lives. Unfortunately, we’ve had several people 

in the Air Force who have taken that road recently.

We are all leaders because we influence those around us. We can 

help make our Air Force a stronger family by showing each other that 

we care. Chances are that all of the people you work with have something in their lives that troubles them. Take the time to ask them how 

they are doing and watch their eyes when they answer.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 73

We Are All Accountable

24 September 2008—Over the past few months, we’ve heard a lot 

about accountability in our Air Force. If you’re a little unsure as to 

what people mean when they discuss accountability, you’re not alone.

Over the years, the word “accountability” has been associated with 

high-profile failures, including shooting down our own helicopters in 

Iraq, bombing friendly troops in Afghanistan, and failing to keep 

positive control over nuclear components. Closely related to this, accountability has also been associated with specific sanctions, including loss of rank, forced retirements, and documented poor performance on fitness reports.

But focusing on only specific actions and sanctions misses the 

point. Accountability goes much deeper than that. Accountability is a 

matter of trust. Without accountability, we risk losing the trust of our 

fellow Airmen, our sister services, and the American people.

To be accountable is to be subject to the consequences of our 

choices. Whether we choose to do the right thing—to act with integrity, service, and excellence—or not, we have to be prepared to accept 

the consequences.

Even if others do not hold us responsible, we are all accountable—

always. If we ever forget that as individual Airmen, we’re headed 

down a very dangerous path. If we ever forget it as a service, we’re 

headed toward extinction.

We are accountable for the choices we make in our personal lives. 

The vast majority of choices that get people in trouble involve alcohol, sex, drugs, and/or money. Each year, some of us make wrong 

choices in these areas and are held accountable. Sometimes, careers 

are ruined as a result. More importantly, a bad choice hurts the people we love—our families, friends, and fellow Airmen. If you have 

problems in these areas, go to someone you can trust and get help. If 

you know an Airman who is headed down a wrong path, help him or 

her before he or she makes a bad choice.

We are also accountable for the choices we make as military professionals. We must adhere to the standards we learned when we first 

received our training. When an Airman cuts corners by failing to follow tech order guidance or violating a flying directive, we must hold 

him or her accountable. When you see people doing the wrong thing, 

correct them. We must police each other, because if we don’t small 
74 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

lapses will lead to bigger ones, and the entire Air Force family will 

eventually suffer.

Many of us in AETC are instructors. We teach and enforce the standards. It is also essential that we live by the standards. We must set the 

right example; otherwise, we lose our credibility. We all remember 

teachers whose attitude was “do as I say, not as I do.” We cannot be like 

that. As we shape the future of our Air Force, we must hold ourselves 

to the highest standards of personal and professional conduct.

When you assume responsibility for others as a supervisor or commander, it is important to realize that you’ve taken a big leap in accountability. Simply put, you are accountable for the choices your 

people make. That is why you must lead by example. Your people 

need to see that you set high standards and live according to them. 

You must also enforce standards within your unit. You should correct 

deficiencies at the lowest level before they grow into something bigger. Remember, units with high standards have high morale. It’s been 

that way throughout military history.

If we fail to hold ourselves accountable, we risk losing the trust that 

we have worked so hard to gain. Airmen will not trust a leader who 

does not consider himself or herself accountable for his or her actions. Just as importantly, the American people will not trust us with 

their sons and daughters, or their most destructive weapons, if we do 

not hold ourselves accountable. When things go wrong, our civilian 

authorities, our sister services, and the American people need to see 

that we take action to correct the problem and move forward, but assigning accountability is also critical for maintaining trust.

We do not want to return to a situation where the public doesn’t 

trust us. I entered the Air Force during a time when public trust in 

the military was very low, and it was difficult on all of us.

In the years after Vietnam, we built trust by setting high standards 

and holding ourselves accountable for meeting those standards. It 

was the right thing to do, and it worked. Now, we must maintain 

these high standards. As we make personal and professional choices, 

we must remember that we are all accountable—always.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 75

The Continuum of Training

3 November 2008—I believe we should work the problems of our 

boss’s boss. I have found that if we see the bigger picture—and understand the larger context of our challenges—we will make better decisions. Since assuming command of AETC, I have been trying to understand where our challenges fit in the bigger picture.

My boss, of course, is chief of staff Gen Norton A. Schwartz, and 

his boss is Secretary Michael B. Donley. Together, they are responsible for organizing, training, and equipping the Air Force. They need 

AETC to provide Airmen of character and skill who can contribute 

on their first day in the larger Air Force. That is why we say that AETC 

develops Airmen today for tomorrow.

In the First Command, we recruit Airmen, give them their initial 

training, and send them to advanced schools. I call this process the 

continuum of training for our Airmen. While an Airman may go 

through several different training programs before attaining “mission 

ready” status, each of these programs should work together in a continuum—a coherent and consistent progression of training that leads 

to the ultimate goal of forging Airmen of character and skill.

Each of us has a role to play in this process. It is natural that we 

focus our efforts on making our individual portion of the continuum 

as good as it can be, but we cannot fall into the trap of viewing our 

individual roles in isolation. This is a team effort. If we understand 

where we fit into the continuum, we can make better decisions and 

produce better Airmen.

Much like a relay race, we run as hard as we can when it is our 

turn, then hand our Airmen off to the next set of instructors much 

like a runner hands the baton to the next teammate. While our portion is over, our race is not complete until the last runner carries the 

baton across the finish line. In AETC our race is not finished until we 

deliver the Airman to the gaining command. It takes each of us doing 

our part to make this happen.

In some ways, AETC is a factory that produces more than 200 different types of trained Airmen. We take raw material—the recruit—

and change him or her into an Airman capable of defending the nation. The “assembly line” begins with the recruiter who finds and 

delivers the raw material to the factory.
76 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

Along the line, instructors mold and shape each Airman, then 

send him or her down the line to the next instructor. It is vital that the 

recruiter finds quality recruits, and each instructor must do his or her 

best to ensure an Airman with the right character and skill is sent to 

the next program. If they don’t, future instructors will have to correct 

the mistake or, worse, take the Airman off the assembly line. Of 

course, our Airmen are much more important than objects on an assembly line, but this metaphor shows us how problems develop when 

we fail to ensure the quality of our people during the short time we 

have them.

While the quality of each individual Airman is important, producing the necessary quantity of Airmen is critical as well. We must deliver the right number of Airmen at the right time. If we don’t, some 

career fields become dangerously undermanned, and the mission 

suffers. This is why we strive to create a “smooth flow” of Airmen 

through the training programs. Much like a pipeline, it is important 

to keep Airmen flowing through the training programs at the proper 

rate. Gaps and backups in the pipeline mean two things, and both are 

bad. First, our individual Airmen have to endure unnecessary breaks 

in training, and their skills inevitably atrophy.

Second, the pipeline cannot deliver the right flow of Airmen to the 

Air Force. This is why it is so important that our commanders and 

instructors manage the flow of Airmen through their individual 

training programs while ensuring each Airman meets the standards.

In AETC, we solve problems for the secretary and chief of staff of 

the Air Force. They are responsible for building a healthy Air Force, 

and they need a steady flow of trained Airmen. Our job is to recognize the big picture—that we conduct a continuum of training for 

each Airman—and make decisions accordingly. We are a team, and 

our job is not finished until we deliver Airmen of character and skill 

to their new commanders.

We produce Airmen of the highest quality, which is why our recruiters work so hard to find the right people and our instructors 

pour their hearts and souls into their students. At the same time, we 

produce the right quantity of Airmen to keep the Air Force healthy. I 

ask you to consider where you stand in the continuum of training. 

When you have a tough decision to make, use this larger perspective 

to make it. Work the problems of your boss’s boss, and you will have 

few problems of your own. More importantly, our Air Force and our 

nation will be stronger when you do.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 77

At War in Cyberspace

19 December 2008—“The stark reality is that the bad guys are winning, and our nation is at risk.”1

 That’s what retired Air Force lieutenant general Harry Raduege, Jr., wrote in an insightful article about 

cyberspace. As he describes our many challenges in cyberspace, General Raduege observes that “the list of concerns is growing and endless: rampant cybercrime, increasing identity theft, sophisticated social engineering techniques, relentless intrusions into government 

networks, and widespread vulnerabilities continuously exploited by a 

variety of entities ranging from criminal organizations and entrepreneurial hackers to well-resourced espionage actors.”2

Over the last few weeks, we have focused on the security of our 

computer networks, and we have found that we have big challenges. 

The bottom line is that we are at war in cyberspace . . . today . . . all the 

time. Our enemies are attacking our network—the same network you 

use to send e-mails, share documents, and access the Internet. They 

are using stealth and surprise to insert malicious code into our network in order to gain intelligence. What is our enemy’s intention? We 

don’t know, but it’s not friendly.

Rob Tappana, our command chief master sergeant, said something 

that caught my attention. He observed that if our front gate was under 

attack, we would do something about it. We would reinforce the 

guards with our security forces, convene the battle staff, increase patrols, and raise awareness levels throughout the base. Chief Tappana 

then pointed at the computer on a nearby desk and said, “We must 

realize that that’s our front gate too.” He is right. We need to think and 

act like warriors in cyberspace. That’s where leadership is essential.

General Raduege describes four stages in our journey to secure 

cyberspace. The first stage is ignorance. We don’t know what we don’t 

know about cyberspace attacks. We are past that stage now. If you 

didn’t know about our vulnerability in cyberspace, you do now.

The second stage is awareness. We now realize that we are at war in 

cyberspace, and we are vulnerable. We no longer take access to the 

network for granted; we realize that it can be taken away unless we 

take steps to defend it.

The third stage is actualization. We share a sense of urgency that 

we need to do something about the attacks on our network. We will 
78 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

learn more and more about cybersecurity. We will all work together 

to reduce our vulnerability and defend the network from attack.

The final stage is the “cyber mindset,” where we think and act as warriors in cyberspace just as we do in air and space. We will train to protect 

ourselves and our networks from attack. We will all be “on patrol” as we 

look for new threats. Leaders at all levels will measure our vulnerability 

and direct defensive actions to counter the enemy.

To get to the fourth stage, we are going to have to work through a 

paradigm shift about security in cyberspace. Many of us (including me in 

the past) have taken the network for granted. We can’t do that anymore. 

Every computer connected to the network is part of the battlespace. Every 

person that has access to the network is operating in a combat environment. Everyone must act responsibly, or it opens a hole in our defense.

As I’ve written before, I believe you are all leaders because you 

have influence over other people in your workplaces, your families, 

and your communities. It’s going to take your leadership to help us 

make this paradigm shift. How do you lead others through change? 

You work through the stages of change faster than the people around 

you. So, as leaders, I ask that you move from awareness to actualization as quickly as possible. Talk to our experts, beginning with our 

communication professionals. Set the right example by following 

procedures and not taking shortcuts. Learn about and use the tools 

we have today. I promise that more tools are on the way.

I am working through the stages as fast as I can. We are improving 

the security of our computers at our headquarters. I have directed 

that no one is exempt from security measures, including me. If my 

computer has to restart while I’m in the middle of something, so be 

it. We must be willing to accept a moderate amount of mission degradation to secure ourselves against the enemy “at the gate.”

General Raduege writes that despite the challenges facing us in cyberspace, he is optimistic that we are “on the verge of a new dawn for cybersecurity.”3

 I am optimistic as well because we are fortunate to have you to 

help lead us through this change in our mind set. We are at war in cyberspace, and we will all need to apply our warrior skills to prevail. Fight’s on!

Notes

1. Lt Gen Harry Raduege, Jr., “Evolving Cybersecurity Faces a New Dawn,” Signal Magazine, 

December 2008, http://www.afcea.org/signal/articles/templates/Signal_Article_Template

.asp?articleid=1784&zoneid=245.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 79

Doing the Right Thing

20 January 2009—Last week, our nation was inspired by the actions of a brave pilot—an everyday American who reminded us of 

who we are and who we can be.

It just so happens that the pilot of US Airways Flight 1549, Chesley 

B. “Sully” Sullenberger, was a classmate of mine. We both graduated 

from the Air Force Academy in 1973. When I saw his picture on the 

news, I immediately looked him up in our 1973 yearbook, and there 

he was, looking sharp in his cadet uniform.

Sullenberger learned how to fly in our Air Force, and he served out 

his seven-year commitment as an officer and pilot. He then began a 

29-year career as an airline pilot and safety expert. When you throw 

in his time as a cadet, he had more than 40 years of training, education, and experience to prepare him for the challenge he would face 

last week.

He prepared himself well. Like all Air Force pilots, Sullenberger 

spent hundreds of hours studying emergency procedures and practicing them in simulators. He obviously continued this practice as he 

transitioned to the airlines. One definition of integrity is doing the 

right thing when no one else is looking. Sullenberger made himself a 

better pilot by studying and practicing when no one else was paying 

a lot of attention. His foundation of knowledge and skill was strong 

because he put in the time and effort required to build it.

But preparation wasn’t enough. When faced with a crisis, Sullenberger had to execute. He didn’t panic. Instead he focused on what he 

had to do to save his plane and his passengers. Ditching a large aircraft is an incredibly difficult thing to do, but Sullenberger was able to 

do it safely. He executed his responsibilities with excellence.

Once the aircraft stopped in the cold waters of the Hudson River, 

Sullenberger continued to care for his passengers and crew. New York 

mayor Michael Bloomberg described how Sullenberger walked the 

aisle of the airplane twice to make sure everyone was out. In doing so, 

he put service to others before his own personal safety. In the middle 

of incredible stress and strain, he chose to do the right thing.

In media parlance, the story of Flight 1549 had “legs.” Even as the 

historic inauguration approached, people remained fascinated with 

the incident, hanging on every detail as recounted by the passengers, 

ferrymen, and rescue specialists. Perhaps this can be explained by 
80 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

the sheer drama of the crash and the fact that it happened in our 

largest city.

I think there is something deeper here, however. I believe that in 

the face of all the negative news we have endured in recent months, 

we are looking for a hero—or in this case, a “Sully”—who will do the 

right thing in the face of adversity. Americans love heroes, especially 

“ordinary” people who do extraordinary things, because one of our 

core ideals is that everyday people can make a difference. On a very 

cold day in New York, Sully made a difference. He did it by living according to our core values of integrity, service, and excellence.

We didn’t invent the core values in the Air Force. They came from 

the American people that we serve. Although the headlines may be 

filled with stories of fraud, greed, and waste, it is important to remember that there are millions of Americans who choose to live by 

these values. Whether it is the teacher who chooses to stay after class 

to help a troubled student or the policeman who chases the thief into 

the dark alley, many Americans choose to live according to integrity, 

service, and excellence.

The story of Sully Sullenberger reminds us of this. In these challenging times, it’s good to remember what makes our country great.

To Sully, my old classmate: “Thanks for landing Flight 1549, walking down the aisle twice, and setting an example for us all.”
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 81

Strengthening the Air Force Family

9 February 2009—“I also want to thank my brothers and sisters in 

the Air Force family.”

If you have attended as many promotion, retirement, and award 

ceremonies as I have, you’ve heard these sentiments many times. We 

may not phrase it in exactly the same way, but the meaning is clear. 

When we reach certain milestones and take time to reflect, we recognize that the bond we share with others in the Air Force is stronger 

than for most business world coworkers. This is especially true when 

we factor in the emotions of deployments and combat. The term 

“brothers/sisters in arms” is no accident. As we live, train, sweat, and 

bleed together, these bonds grow so strong that the only language we 

have to describe our feelings for each other is the language of family—the Air Force family.

It would be a mistake to take these bonds for granted, however. If 

we don’t respect and value each other, we risk breaking the family 

ties. This doesn’t mean that you’re always going to like everyone you 

meet in the Air Force, but if you grew up with brothers and/or sisters, 

you probably didn’t always like them either. Building a strong Air 

Force family means that we each share a commitment to our fellow 

Airmen and treat them in ways that reflect this commitment.

I believe that we are all leaders because leadership is influence; we 

all have the ability to influence the people around us. I challenge you 

to be a leader in our family. You can influence others to build a stronger Air Force family by treating our fellow Airmen as family members. How? Consider the following thoughts:

A family laughs together. Our profession is serious business, but 

there is no reason that we can’t have fun while we work together. 

When we smile and laugh with each other, we communicate a very 

powerful message: I enjoy being with you. Who doesn’t want to feel 

like others enjoy their company? Laughing together goes a long way 

toward building a sense of family (as long as we are not laughing at 

someone’s expense).

Having fun and playing together are behavior traits that we should 

extend to our natural families too. If your unit is not having parties, 

picnics, or play dates together with the families, go to your commander and volunteer to organize a fun outing or a get-together. I 
82 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

have found that the squadron, branch, division, or directorate that 

plays together stays together, especially when the times get tough.

A family cries together. When bad things happen to our family 

members, we are there for them. In our lives, all of us have issues such 

as aging parents, sick children, and financial difficulties. Moreover, 

our profession involves unforgiving activities such as flying or driving in convoys through a war zone; we will almost certainly know 

someone who is injured or killed while on duty. When these bad 

things happen, family members are there for each other.

For example, in AETC we have a squadron commander whose 

eight-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. 

Since word of this got out to the commander’s Air Force family, the 

commander’s personal family has been overwhelmed with support. 

Here’s what they had to say when asked about how the Air Force family has helped:

Since this whole ordeal started last August, our family has been blessed by 

every area of the Air Force family imaginable—AFROTC [Air Force Reserve 

Officer Training Corps] friends I haven’t spoken with in 20 years, former 

F-117 drivers I didn’t even know, civilian contractors and GS [general schedule] employees who are acquaintances at best, squadron and group friends, 

and lastly leadership all the way to the 4-star level. The Air Force family is a 

living, breathing entity that we are all a part of. You just don’t get this kind of 

support outside of the Air Force or military!

This is not extraordinary—this is what families do, which leads to 

the next thought: 

A family sticks together and takes care of each other. On the day that 

an Airman raises his or her hand to take the oath of service, he or she 

is part of the Air Force family. Airmen remain part of our family until 

we lay them to rest with a flag draped over their casket. During the 

time in between, we try our best to take care of each other by offering 

a warm welcome when a new person arrives on our base, by listening 

to someone who is lonely and far from home, by offering practical 

help to those left behind when their spouse is deployed, and in many 

other ways.

Last week, I had dinner with a senior Airman who had been injured in the war. As we talked, I found out that he had grown up in 

foster care. He had been separated from his siblings, so when he entered the Air Force, he was alone. I couldn’t help but think to myself 

that we are the only family he has now. We must make sure that he 

gets the care he deserves because no one else will. In fact, we should 
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 83

go above and beyond to take special care of those who made big sacrifices in the line of duty.

We should also give special treatment to the natural families of 

those who gave their lives in service to the nation. I believe that when 

Airmen are killed or wounded, the units to which they were assigned 

should consider them “members in perpetuity.” If they have been 

wounded, they should be invited to unit functions, and for those who 

have died, their next of kin should get a call from the unit on special 

days. It’s the right thing to do.

You never know when you are going to make a difference in someone’s life, so we should all live in a way that maximizes our ability to 

touch the lives of others. This means that we should have a healthy 

focus on others, not on ourselves. To paraphrase a wise person: we 

should not think less of ourselves; we should think of ourselves less.

Our profession is all about service to others. We serve our fellow 

Americans by keeping them safe and free. We serve our fellow Airmen by caring for them and their loved ones. To me, that is the essence of “service before self ” and it truly sets us apart.

PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 85

Leading in Lean Times

3 March 2009—“Be prepared.” This old motto is still relevant today. As leaders, we must be prepared to face many kinds of potential 

challenges. Some challenges are so serious that, if they catch us by 

surprise, our mission and our people may suffer. I want to discuss one 

of those challenges with you now.

You don’t need to do more than pick up a newspaper to know that 

our nation and our Air Force face challenging economic times in the 

months and years ahead.

Leading in lean times requires making tough choices, but it’s important to realize that this is what leaders do. If you’ve ever heard me 

discuss leadership, you have heard me say that leaders must learn the 

art of balancing shortfalls because we never have enough money, 

manpower, or time. This is true in our personal lives as well as our 

professional positions.

We balance shortfalls of money by choosing to spend some now, 

saving some for later. We balance shortfalls of time by attending the 

school play instead of golfing. Supervisors balance shortfalls of manpower by prioritizing some jobs today and putting off others until 

tomorrow. This is normal because we will never have enough money, 

manpower, or time to do everything. We have to prioritize.

We often use tools to help us. A budget is a tool that helps us prioritize our spending. Another common tool is a schedule, which is 

really just a time budget. To prioritize jobs for our people, we use 

tools like staff meetings and “to do” lists. I trust you are using these 

tools already.

One tool I have found to be indispensible is the “unfunded requirements list.” This list includes all of the projects and upgrades for your 

organization that are not in the budget. If you are a flight commander, 

this list may include new computers or furniture. If you are a wing 

commander, it might include a new hospital or parking lot. This list 

must be comprehensive and part of a multiyear plan for improvement. 

Most importantly, it must be in priority order. Your goal is to work 

down the items on the list one at a time, focusing on the top priority 

until you get the resources required before going to the next item.

You should be ready to execute the top priority at any moment 

since you never know when the resources will come. If the item is 

complex, such as a new building, it needs to be designed and ready to 
86 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

be contracted. Then, when your commander asks what you need, 

don’t make the mistake of asking for many things at once. Focus on 

the top item on your wish list. Show your commander a vision (maybe 

a picture or model) along with the plan, explaining the requirement 

and logic behind it, and tell the exact dollar amount required to make 

your dream a reality. Remember this: money goes to winners, and 

winners do their homework.

All of these are things you should do whether resources are plentiful or not. While it is much more fun when you can knock many 

things off your list over the course of a year or two, in lean times you 

may go many months without getting a new item. This can be frustrating, but it highlights the importance of correctly prioritizing things.

To help with that, I recommend you go through this exercise. 

Think of it as a tool for leading in lean times.

Take a blank sheet of paper or a white board and write down all of 

the things your unit does. Begin with the mission statement and write 

down all of the tasks required to accomplish the mission. Additionally, write down the tasks that may not be captured in a mission statement. It’s best to do this as a group exercise, and it is worth taking 

some time.

When you have reached the 80 percent solution on this list, draw 

three concentric circles. Label the inner circle “core,” the middle circle “sustainable,” and the outer circle “enhanced.”

Now here is the big challenge. Match the tasks you have written 

down to the three circles. The core tasks are things you have to do to 

accomplish your mission. They are the foundation of what you do. 

(For example, if you teach pilots how to fly, you need to have some 

minimum number of sorties to accomplish this.)

Sustainable items are things that allow you to accomplish the mission with a high expectation for success and a comfort margin. In 

AETC the majority of our direct training courses have a mix of core 

and sustainable items in them. It is usually difficult to separate the 

two, but it is critical to do so.

The enhanced items are those that could be dropped without appreciable degradation to the mission, even if it might be painful for 

some.

When you have matched your tasks to these three circles, go back 

and examine your wish list. Is it really in priority order? If an enhanced item is your number one priority, then you should have taken 
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 87

care of all of the items that enable your core and sustainable tasks. If 

not, you need to reexamine your list.

In lean times, we must protect the core tasks. This means ruthlessly cutting the enhanced items first, then figuring out workarounds 

when sustainable items have to go. Sometimes we may have to implement a workaround that is uncomfortable, but we must in order to 

protect the mission and core tasks.

This has happened before. Our nation’s military was cut to the 

bone in the years preceding World War II. When the war came, there 

was not enough equipment to train the large numbers of new recruits. Soldiers trained with wooden rifles and drove jeeps in maneuvers with signs reading “tank.” I don’t think we will see that again in 

our lifetime, but our forefathers left us a good example.

When tasked to mobilize for World War II, our military was able 

to call upon the skill and knowledge of superb military leaders such 

as Gen George Marshall, Gen Henry “Hap” Arnold, FADM Chester 

Nimitz, and Pres. Dwight D. Eisenhower. In lean times, these men 

spent long hours studying and thinking about their profession. They 

stayed in the service when they could have pursued more lucrative 

opportunities elsewhere. Their core task was to prepare for the day 

when their country would need them to build up the force and defend the nation. When the time came, they were prepared.

If we go through a lean period, our country is going to need men 

and women to do the same thing. Will you be one of those that lead 

us through the lean times and prepare for the future? I hope so.

PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 89

Creating Candor

23 March 2009—If you ever have the chance to observe a flight 

debrief after a training sortie, you should jump at the opportunity. 

You will witness something special.

Everyone makes constructive comments in the debrief—positive 

and negative—regardless of his or her position or rank. If the flight 

lead did something that was incorrect or dangerous, the wingman is 

expected to say something about it. This is true even if the wingman is 

a lieutenant and the flight lead is a lieutenant colonel (or a lieutenant 

general). In the debrief, learning is more important than saving face.

In the flying business, it’s imperative that the truth come out, even 

if negative, and the best ideas are heard. That is why frankness in the 

debrief is so important. Perfection is the standard, and although we 

will never get there, we must always strive for it. This is why we are 

tough on each other. We discuss our shortcomings and make constructive suggestions on how to correct them.

However, when the debrief is over and the door opens, we move 

forward as members of the same team. Should it be any different for 

our other operations? I don’t think so, but it takes a strong leader to 

create this atmosphere of candor.

In order to encourage our people to voice their alternative ideas 

and criticisms, we have to be confident enough in our people to listen 

to negative feedback and dissenting opinions, find the best way forward, and then lead in a positive direction. We all like “warm fuzzies” 

when people agree with our ideas and give us positive feedback. We 

naturally dislike “cold pricklies” when people disagree and point out 

our shortcomings. As leaders, we have to be mature enough to deal 

with negative feedback without punishing the source; the best leaders 

encourage frank feedback, especially when it is negative.

We all have blind spots—areas where we think things are better 

than they are—and to correct these, we need to be aware of them. 

This means that we need to encourage dissenting opinions and negative feedback. We should ask open-ended questions. What are we 

missing? How can we do this better? What’s the downside? What will 

other people say? When our people answer, we should welcome their 

inputs, even when those inputs don’t cast our leadership in the best 

light. In the end, our time as leaders will be judged by the quality of 

our decisions and the accomplishments of our people. The personal 
90 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

price we pay in the short term for creating candor in our organizations is well worth the long-term professional and institutional benefits of hearing the best ideas and eradicating our blind spots.

As followers, we must work at creating candor as well. While the 

leader must set the tone for open communication, it is important that 

those of us who voice dissenting opinions or give negative feedback 

should do so in a way that it can have the most effect. We can’t expect 

superhuman leaders. This means we should speak in a way that 

doesn’t turn them off immediately.

Practically speaking, this means that we should avoid using superlatives and personalizing an idea or position. For example, which critique would be easier to accept? “Boss, your decision is really stupid,” 

or “Boss, this decision could have bad consequences for our folks.” 

Remember that your goal is to influence your boss to do the right 

thing. You don’t want to close the line of communication before you 

begin.

When giving an alternative view or dissenting opinion, the more 

objective you are the more effective you can be. You should avoid 

emotional arguments. Instead, use facts and logic to back up your 

position. The more homework you do beforehand, the more likely 

you will win the argument.

In addition, when voicing your disagreement, be prepared to propose a solution or alternative path. This allows you to stay positive 

during a critique. If you can’t come up with a solution, at least be honest about that up front.

If you are pointing out a blind spot to one of your leaders, strongly 

consider doing it in private. This is especially true if the issue is more 

personal in nature. It’s much easier for a leader to listen to a criticism 

made in private; you want to avoid embarrassing your leader in public if at all possible.

We should also remember that the leader is ultimately responsible 

for the direction of the organization. If he or she decides to do something that you disagree with, you should voice your opinion but be 

ready to accept the leader’s decision. Remember, most decisions are 

decided based on personal experiences and are not right versus 

wrong but right versus right. So long as the boss’s decision isn’t illegal 

or immoral, you should carry it out as though the idea were your 

own. That’s the mark of a professional Airman.

Within our organizations, candor makes us stronger, and there are 

things we can do to create this openness while maintaining a sense of 
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 91

teamwork. As leaders, we should strive to set an atmosphere where 

dissenting opinions are welcomed. As followers, we should explain 

dissenting opinions with respect and objectivity. For both leaders and 

followers, the payoff will come as your organizations improve and 

grow. Consider it part of the price we pay to be the best.

PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 93

Today’s Airmen

13 April 2009—Recently, I had the distinct honor to attend the 

Airman’s Coin Ceremony at Lackland AFB, Texas. It is always a privilege for me to meet the terrific men and women who train and are 

trained in what seems like a timeless setting.

That day, the crystal blue sky melted into the field of blue-suited 

trainees who proudly marched onto the parade field. They were surrounded by thousands of family and friends—all who had traveled to 

Lackland to witness something special. Everyone in attendance sat, 

buttons busting with pride, with eyes straining to catch a glimpse of 

their son, daughter, brother, sister, husband, wife, or friend. The 

American flag presided, waving prominently on top of the pole.

Like everyone else, I sat at the ceremony marveling at the 745 

trainees ready to become Airmen in the world’s greatest Air Force. 

This scene replays itself every week, year-round at Lackland. For 

trainees that afternoon, however, it was their day, and I felt it as soon 

as the first flight marched onto the pad. Everyone felt it—pride and 

eager anticipation were written all over their faces; these trainees 

knew they had accomplished something absolutely amazing.

I was especially proud of these Airmen. They decided to join 

something bigger than themselves and to defend our nation and its 

ideals. Within months, many of these Airmen will be sent forward 

into harm’s way. I have no doubt that they will succeed. You see, our 

Airmen, noncommissioned officers (NCO), and senior NCOs are the 

finest in the world; it doesn’t happen by accident. Our recruiters fill 

our ranks with members from all walks of life, and our training and 

education systems are second to none. We are a reflection of American society, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Basic military training (BMT) is a terrific example of our Air 

Force’s pursuit of excellence. The training builds upon the foundation 

influenced by mothers, fathers, grandparents, and teachers across the 

nation, emphasizing the Air Force core values: integrity first, service 

before self, and excellence in all we do. It transforms young Americans into members of the Air Force family, a motivated team of warrior Airmen.

Why is our enlisted force the best? In a single word: trust. When an 

NCO from security forces tells me that the base is secure, I know 

without a doubt that all is safe. Before flying, I always review the 
94 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

forms documenting maintenance actions on that aircraft. The senior 

NCO’s signature at the bottom of the forms is all I need to see to have 

complete confidence in the safety of that airplane. I liken it to the cell 

phone commercial many of you have probably seen on television. Although there may be a single man or woman standing in front, he or 

she speaks with the voice of thousands standing behind. A successful 

team is one that works together, enabled and empowered by trust.

Where does the trust come from? It starts with our integrity, which 

is tested daily, and without which a team cannot operate successfully. 

Basic training reinforces it with the discipline, initiative, and competency essential to defend our nation and its ideals. Technical training 

continues the theme and is the next journey for these Airmen, where 

they will develop respective core competencies that fit into the overall 

Air Force machine. Later, these Airmen will become NCOs and senior NCOs, and the Air Force will depend on them to make difficult 

decisions—the “tough calls” that years of experience and training enable them to make. The Air Force machine relies on them and trusts 

them to make the right call.

All of us have a job to do, and no job is more important than another. One terrific example is TSgt Matt Slaydon. In October 2007, 

while leading an explosive ordnance disposal team to investigate a 

suspicious road sign in Iraq, Sergeant Slaydon sustained extensive injuries when a bomb exploded two feet away from him. As he later 

said during his Purple Heart ceremony, “It’s a rare thing for a person 

to find a job and career that gave them great, great joy. Every day I 

loved coming to work, and after a short period of time, I gained a 

great sense of purpose from what I did. I know that those days are 

coming to an end for me . . . I think probably what I’ll miss the most 

is this Air Force family and this great sense of purpose.”

Sergeant Slaydon gets it. All tasks have purpose and, even the least 

glamorous, are mission essential. We must all follow his lead and embrace our function—our purpose.

On our Air Force team, everyone’s ability to perform his or her 

function is what builds trust and makes the machine run so smoothly. 

Ultimately, we all share the same goal: the defense of our nation and 

its ideals. That’s the common denominator, regardless of rank, where 

trust and mutual respect are paramount. At every base and in every 

shop and office, Air Force leadership—both officer and enlisted—

consistently sets the example. We are all role models and always on 

the job. Our Airmen live up to these expectations every day.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 95

Back at Lackland, the coin ceremony concluded with the Airman’s 

Creed. All 745 spoke with a single voice—“I am an American Airman. I am a warrior. I have answered my nation’s call.” It was absolutely captivating, and the crowd hung on every word. As the newly 

coined Airmen finished the creed, their voices rose in unison for the 

last line, “. . . And I will not fail!”

The last words echoed across the field and stayed with me. I knew 

all of the new Airmen stood that afternoon wondering if they were 

ready, eager to be tested. In reality, they had just passed their first big 

test with flying colors. Other tests and challenges will follow, but 

these new Airmen will face their challenges as members of the Air 

Force team. I have unwavering trust in our team. Together, we will 

not fail!

PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 97

Greeting Carmen

30 April 2009—If you haven’t seen the AETC headquarters building, you’re missing out. It is a grand, historic building that was built 

in the 1930s, nestled under age-old oak trees. Although initially used 

as an academic hall for new Air Force aviators, the building has had 

many uses over the years. Today it, along with sister buildings of the 

same era, houses members of the headquarters AETC staff. For those 

in the main building, standing every morning on the red-tiled sidewalk that leads to the front doors is Carmen.

Carmen is an important part of my morning routine. You see, each 

morning I park my car in front of the headquarters building and walk 

up that wide, red-tiled sidewalk to the front doors of the building. 

There she stands, working with a mop in hand, water pail nearby, and 

a bright smile that stretches from ear to ear. I always stop and talk 

with Carmen; she makes a difference in everything she touches.

Carmen is an unassuming, humble woman with a sparkling, energetic outlook that can make even the darkest day feel brighter. 

Through the years, she has worked to help support her family and has 

successfully raised two sons, now grown and on their own.

Although Carmen has held many different positions at military 

locations around San Antonio, she has made Randolph shine for the 

last eight years. Today, she isn’t just responsible for the headquarters 

building. Carmen can be seen all over the base. You’ll find her at the 

99th Flying Training Squadron, the chapel, and even at the base fitness center. Carmen is everywhere, greeting dozens of people every 

day, and this base is better because of her.

Carmen works to ensure that her labor achieves the right effect—

that everyone who drives past, visits, or works in the building feels a 

part of something special. The headquarters building routinely hosts 

foreign ministers of defense, air chiefs, and American civic and military leaders and represents the nearly 90,000 men and women worldwide that belong to AETC. The building is an integral part of the organization and is everyone’s first impression at work every day. It all 

starts with Carmen’s attention to detail.

Carmen’s professionalism is evident all over the base, and it stems 

from pride. She never complains about her responsibilities and relishes the opportunity to make a difference. If she sees the flag in the 

front of the building rolled up by a gust of wind, she unfurls it. Dust 
98 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

on a ledge doesn’t stand a chance. She’s never idle, always taking the 

initiative to exceed expectations and set a higher standard. Everything she touches is better as a result.

You must realize that in Carmen’s line of work, a job well done is 

rarely noticed or lauded. We, as a people, don’t notice clean, but we do 

notice dirty. Carmen understands this and quietly creates a positive 

impact on the headquarters staff. Others instinctively and unknowingly follow her lead in their areas of responsibility and push for the 

same standard of excellence that Carmen sets daily. Such excellence 

becomes ingrained in the organization’s culture. After all, people are 

far more likely to pick up a lone piece of trash on the floor than a floor 

littered with many. This adage goes for all things, not just trash.

What has impressed me most about Carmen, however, is her positive attitude. There is a lot to be said about someone who sees the 

world as being a “glass half full.” True, we must guard such optimism 

with realism, but it is far easier (and more fun) to follow a positive, 

energetic leader than one who exudes negative gloom. Such a positive 

attitude is contagious to the entire organization and has a positive 

impact both up and down the chain of command. It is a key element 

of any successful team.

The one problem is that Carmen is so effective and efficient that 

her work begins to blend into the building. After awhile, it can be 

easy to forget the importance of her labors. I get accustomed to seeing her on the red-tiled walkway, and the routine becomes an expectation. I sometimes forget to appreciate her impact.

We must not forget that everyone in the organization makes a difference. No one person or position is of greater value than another; 

all are equal in the pursuit of excellence, and all contribute to the Air 

Force mission. We cannot afford to take anyone for granted—military, civilian, or contractor. The mission and our culture would suffer 

as a result.

All of us know people like Carmen, those at your base who quietly 

make a difference in people’s lives. Take time to recognize and appreciate everyone. The next time you find yourself at headquarters AETC, 

take time to greet Carmen on the red-tiled sidewalk. She’s made a difference in my life, and I know she’ll make a difference in yours.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 99

Develop Your Vision

2 June 2009—Try to imagine an adaptive training environment 

that sits inside a bare room. This environment can be manipulated to 

simulate any task, from simple to complex. With the flick of a switch 

or push of a button, the bare room transforms into a living, breathing, 

interactive experience. Sounds and smells abound; people appear and 

interact; and objects can be held and manipulated. Once the training 

is complete, the same switch or button disengages the system, making 

the entire simulation disappear, leaving the original stark, bare room.

In the “Star Trek” series, such an innovation was part of its daily 

routine. The “holodeck” permitted personnel aboard the Starship Enterprise to experience an interactive learning simulation. Imagine 

how such an innovation could help members of our Air Force. Not 

only would it save space, but it would also help manage risk, reduce 

training costs, and permit personalized learning programs built specifically for the individual. The holodeck would revolutionize all aspects of how we operate in the Air Force.

The holodeck is my vision of the perfect training and education 

aide. In fact, I wish every installation had hundreds of these interactive rooms throughout the base. The possibilities are endless. Sadly, I 

must temper my vision with reality and the realm of the possible. 

Although my vision may not be feasible today, it doesn’t mean that I 

should give up. Our job is to make dreams come true each and every 

day. I know you all have similar dreams, visions that could benefit our 

Airmen both today and tomorrow. Such visions must be pursued—

you should never, ever, ever give up.

In order to realize a vision, several things need to happen. First, 

you must align the vision with one of our core service functions. The 

closer to the core, the easier it will be to gain support and, eventually, 

resourcing. Next, take the vision and develop a strategy. Depending 

on your vision, the strategy may involve acquisition, implementation, 

execution, modification, or one of many other aspects. Let your strategy start at the 40 percent solution and then let it evolve to 80 percent 

and eventually to 98 percent. Realize that the process is continual—

you will never get to 100 percent.

With the strategy in place, you can start socializing the vision. Socialization will also help your vision progress and grow roots through 

increased organizational support and understanding. The support 
100 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

will help you champion the concept for resourcing. After all, your vision must have resourcing in order to come true. Those resources will 

go to winners, not to losers; invest the time and energy to be a winner.

In life, and especially in the Air Force, priorities and personnel are 

always changing. Over time, your vision will need to adapt to the realities of change. It will require even greater persistence and objectivity. Giving your vision roots and aligning it with core functions will 

create something that can be handed off and sustained through 

change. The best ideas, sustained by hard work, can be carried forward by any leader.

You may also find yourself joining an organization and accepting 

someone else’s vision. In this situation, evaluate that person’s vision 

against current realities and resourcing priorities. If that person has 

done his or her homework, the project will be easy to move forward. 

If not, assess the vision to determine if it should move ahead or if its 

time has passed.

Last month, while visiting Fort Dix, New Jersey, and the Air Force 

Expeditionary Center, I came as close as I’ve ever been to a functioning holodeck. I watched in awe as deploying Airmen entered a series 

of rooms at the Medical Training Simulation Center. They fought 

through heavy smoke to reach bloodied bodies that littered the floor. 

Sirens wailed and explosions shook the room, all interrupting their 

efforts to save the simulated wounded.

Once their training was complete, instructors activated a switch 

that disengaged the simulation. In this situation, the switch did not 

make the entire interactive experience disappear. Although the 

smoke cleared and sirens stopped wailing, the “original stark, bare 

room” still held the medical training dummies. It was more than 

enough to get my heart racing.

My vision still needs some time to evolve and mature. This doesn’t 

mean I’m going to give up; I simply need to work a little harder. Our 

Air Force needs you to champion your vision as well. Develop it along 

our service core functions and socialize it, let it grow roots, and 

evolve. Don’t let your vision disappear like the end of a holodeck simulation exercise. Do your homework and the resources will follow. 

After all, it is your initiatives that fuel the positive change that makes 

our Air Force the finest in the world.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 101

The Art of Objective Decision Making

29 June 2009—Making decisions is something we all do every day. 

Most decisions are made without much thought, almost unconsciously and, in many cases, automatically. Others, however, are decisions that involve time and thought and can impact more than just 

ourselves. These are the decisions where the process is an art—it defines who we are as leaders.

Saying this isn’t a stretch. As leaders, we do things in order to create a desired effect. Making the “best” decision hits at the core of creating that effect and, in turn, is an essential aspect of being an effective leader. Now, these aren’t decisions that involve “right versus 

wrong” or lying, cheating, or stealing—we must never compromise 

our integrity. In fact, most of these decisions involve “right versus 

right,” and the decision may be different today than it was yesterday. 

This is what can make them so challenging. Let’s take a moment to 

look at the elements involved in making the “best” decision.

Effective decisions require objectivity. The old adage “the more objective you are, the more effective you are” has never been more accurate or applicable than it is today. It can be tempting to look at decisions through the lens of a small straw. Effective leaders must step 

back and gain a much broader view; they must open their aperture. 

I’ve always advocated looking at issues and decisions from the viewpoint of your boss’s boss. This approach helps to open the aperture 

and maintain objectivity.

In order to gain the broad, objective view, leaders must work to 

gather a complete picture of the situation. Some call this situational 

awareness; others call it a 360-degree view of the issue. In either case, 

that awareness involves considering all of the variables weighing into 

the decision, the competing interests involved, and the potential consequences. The potential consequences must include possible secondand third-order consequences. Tough calls like these can involve individuals, organizations, and issues beyond those initially thought. 

Weigh the consequences against unit missions and organizational 

goals. Investigate how the decision will move things forward in the 

near, mid, and long term. This will provide the context for the decision and, although it will involve a lot of work, will result in the 

broadest view of the entire process.
102 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

Tough decisions can be very emotional. Don’t let emotion play 

into the decision-making process. Emotion only serves to cloud the 

issue and can potentially result in a decision where near-term happiness fades quickly into mid- and long-term unintended challenges. 

Leaders must look at decisions from the outside, unattached to the 

emotional influence from within. Leaders must rise above such distractions in order to maintain their objectivity.

Leaders use decision making to define reality. Decisions made 

within context and with the benefit of situational awareness will position future issues for success and establish tomorrow’s realities for our 

subordinates, our boss, and, ultimately, our boss’s boss. In the end, 

objectivity will ensure that decisions result in the desired effect and 

will keep you and your organization headed in the “best” direction.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 103

It’s All about Service

16 July 2009—SSgt Sarah Price worked diligently as a radar approach control (RAPCON) controller within the 71st Operations 

Group at Vance AFB, Oklahoma. If anyone had asked her what she did, 

her response would have been simple and quick: “I control aircraft.”

No one would have argued the importance of her job, especially 

since it directly enables the student flying training that Vance conducts on a daily basis. Had you asked, Sergeant Price would have told 

you that her ability to make a difference in our Air Force was directly 

related to her capability to expertly control Vance’s aircraft. Her perspective, however, was about to change.

On Sunday, 8 June, at one minute after midnight, the collective 

bargaining agreement between an Air Force contractor and its labor 

force at Vance expired, and student flying training stopped. Nearly 

800 people went on strike—that’s over 40 percent of the base’s labor 

force! These were all key and essential people who not only ran aircraft maintenance operations, but also enabled most base support 

operations. Suddenly the base was without people to run the child 

development center, base supply system, environmental management 

programs, transportation, mail delivery, communication systems, 

civil engineering operations, and many other services the base’s population depends on every day.

The leadership at Vance had to make some immediate changes to 

reallocate limited resources based on new priorities and realities. Services that had long been taken for granted were now in jeopardy. Student flying training was no longer the most important operation on 

the base. One minute after midnight on 8 June, Sergeant Price ceased 

working as a RAPCON controller and became the base’s lodging detail 

noncommissioned officer in charge. When she returned to work, Sergeant Price began training in a brand new capacity to learn the intricacies of military lodging operations and even spent time learning how 

to handle hazardous waste! She and her team worked every day of the 

strike, including weekends. Lodging, a base service function with 100 

percent occupancy at the outset of the strike, could not fail.

Being an Airman in the US Air Force is all about service. For many, 

when we start serving in the Air Force, this is simply something we 

do. As time passes, military service becomes central to who and what 

we are. This transition happens at different times for all of us, the 
104 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

sooner the better. When the Air Force is who you are, then you have 

internalized its core values. You’ll spend the extra time to finish the 

job right. You’ll stop and pick up the lone piece of trash along the 

road while jogging. You’ll put the needs of others ahead of your own.

Is Sergeant Price’s story unique? It certainly isn’t in the 71st Flying 

Training Wing. The entire base population shifted responsibilities to 

keep the wing running. When the strike eventually ended more than 

two weeks later, the base was ready to return to its traditional allocation of responsibilities. Sergeant Price, her lodging detail teammates, 

and the rest of the wing returned to their normal duties.

Student flying training is once again a top priority for Vance AFB. 

Tranquility is defined by the sound of aircraft engines above. Vance’s 

reallocation of responsibilities during the strike helped the base gain 

an important lesson in priorities. Base support services provide the 

foundation for Vance to conduct its primary mission: student flight 

training. This is just as applicable at every installation across the entire Air Force and not just at Vance AFB. Our daily base support activities can never be taken for granted. From Sergeant Price’s perspective, “even the smallest jobs play their part in sustaining the mission.”

Stories like Sergeant Price’s happen every day across the Air Force: 

service-focused Airmen helping each other to get the mission accomplished, even if it means moving away from their comfort zone. 

In her wildest imagination, Sergeant Price never would have expected to have the opportunity to make such a positive difference in 

people’s lives and in her organization while working for base lodging, not as a RAPCON controller. As Airmen we are all united by 

our commitment to integrity first, service before self, and excellence 

in all we do. Through our core values, Sergeant Price made a difference for Vance AFB.

If you ask Sergeant Price today what she does, her response, still 

simple and quick, sounds a little different—“I am an Airman.” You 

see, serving in the Air Force is who she is. The sooner all of us follow 

her lead, embracing service and the other core values, the better our 

force will be.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 105

Building a Winning Team

4 August 2009—On 4 July, I was fortunate enough to represent our 

Air Force at NASCAR’s Coke Zero 400. I joined over 100,000 Americans, undeterred by the summer heat, at the Daytona International 

Speedway. The energy at the speedway was as thick as the humid air, 

and the excitement was contagious. Motor homes covered the infield, 

and racing fans were everywhere. This was my first NASCAR event, 

and I knew it would be a treat.

My first stop at the speedway was the Air Force recruiting stand, set 

in the middle of energy drink booths and race team merchandise trucks. 

Our stand was clearly a hit as race fans swarmed over the different displays. I watched in awe as members of the 333rd Recruiting Squadron 

managed the crowds with ease. The recruiters’ enthusiastic smiles said it 

all—they were there to inspire. I was so proud to stand with them.

The crowd asked questions. They thanked everyone in Air Force 

blue for the service he or she provides every day. The recruiters reciprocated, engaging everyone with the Air Force story. They taught the 

public what the men and women of the Air Force do every day. You 

see, these recruiters were the first introduction many Americans 

would have to our Air Force; they weren’t going to let any race fan 

leave with a bad impression.

The recruiters were also at the race to find new recruits to fill our 

ranks. Accessing more than 32,000 new Airmen each year doesn’t 

happen by itself and isn’t a process to be taken lightly. These new Airmen will be joining our team, enabling our mission for many years to 

come. We will depend on them to lead our Air Force through the 

next 35 years of challenges.

The recruiters looked for young, confident Americans ready for a 

challenge. I found out later that they found more than 700 potential Airmen that afternoon. I also learned that finding potential Airmen is just 

half the battle—only a handful of the 700 will eventually attend basic 

military training for various reasons. Before they get to BMT, it will be 

the recruiter’s responsibility to invest significant time and effort educating them on opportunities within the Air Force and evaluating their 

potential to serve. It is the recruiter who will lead them through the upcoming months and set them up for success at both BMT and beyond. It 

is challenging work, but all of our recruiters volunteered for this duty and 

have a passion for telling America about our great Air Force.
106 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

From the recruiting stand, I transitioned to the speedway infield 

where NASCAR had set up a mobile stage on pit row. More than 

100,000 race fans gathered to witness something special: a swearingin ceremony for 65 new recruits. For the recruits, it was another step 

in their journey to BMT. They all raised their right hands and repeated as I recited the oath. The crowd roared in response as they 

finished, and each recruit’s eyes beamed with pride. They knew they 

were joining a winning team.

NASCAR immediately transitioned pit row for the race, and the 

crowds moved toward their seats. When the race began, the crowd’s 

attention turned from the booths and information stands to the battle 

on the oval giant. The recruiters didn’t pause to enjoy the race. Instead, they attacked the displays, tearing them down and loading 

trucks that would drive to the next race.

While watching the event, I realized that the race teams competing 

on the speedway share many similarities with our Air Force. Our nation loves auto racing, drawn by the rare mix of competition, danger, 

and teamwork. It is this teamwork that ties the Air Force to NASCAR. 

The drivers, much like the operators in our service, stand in front as 

the face of the organization. Their success, however, is completely dependent on the hundreds of people that support from the wings. Like 

our operators, the NASCAR drivers would never make it to the track 

if not for the combined efforts of crew chiefs, engineers, logisticians, 

administrators, and many others both at the track and team shops.

However, one big difference between our Air Force and NASCAR 

drivers is how the teams are built. NASCAR builds a team that will 

compete for a season. It invests time, money, and manpower into 

training and race day execution—all with the ultimate goal of being 

the first to reach the checkered flag. There is nothing seasonal or static 

about our Air Force team. Without the ability of our recruiters to inspire the nation’s finest to serve on a daily basis, our Air Force team 

would never be able to sustain its impressive record of excellence.

The race ended after a final lap crash sprung the eventual winner 

through the checkered flag. The crowd rose to its feet as the winning 

driver spun his wheels in jubilation. His pit crew stood tall, arms high 

in the air, congratulating each other on the team’s victory. The Air 

Force achieves victories each and every day but rarely gets the chance 

to congratulate its recruiters. Take the time to thank them, for without these professionals and so many other support personnel like 

them, we would never even make it to the track.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 107

Technological Change

31 August 2009—I am a digital immigrant. You see, in the summer 

of 1972, as a senior at the Air Force Academy, I spent $125 on a small 

personal computer. At roughly $650 in today’s dollars, the small unit 

was able to do four things: add, subtract, multiply, and divide. It was 

a cutting-edge calculator. Although we were permitted to use it only 

while checking our work, essentially it was my introduction to the 

world of computing.

Today, we cannot accomplish our mission without technology and 

computing. Unlike me, those entering the Air Force today are digital 

natives. These natives don’t remember a time when green military 

identification cards rarely left your wallet, the Military Personnel 

Flight wasn’t virtual, and blackberries were just a seasonal fruit. This 

got me wondering. Has our leadership style adapted to take full advantage of the technology through the years? Has technology improved a leader’s ability to make a difference?

Let’s start by looking at how technology has changed the workplace. Beyond the most noticeable and tangible aspects—like e-mail, 

PowerPoint, and cell phones—I contend that technology has transformed the workplace in three main areas: collaboration, automation, and personal accessibility.

Collaboration includes our ability to network, collect, and share information. Getting the right information to the right people when they need 

it isn’t always as easy as it sounds. After all, accurate information is a key 

element in making objective decisions, and objectivity is what keeps our 

organizations headed in the best direction. Today’s challenge, however, is 

managing the sheer volume of available information. Technological advancements will only make this challenge greater in years to come.

By automation, I’m talking about technology’s impact on the tasks 

we do every day. Historically, automation has been one of the enablers for doing “more with less.” Our most expensive asset is our 

people. Technology gives us the ability to energize certain efficiencies 

by replacing manpower. Maintaining the balance of technology and 

manpower will continue to be a daily leadership challenge.

Accessibility applies to our ability to contact anyone, anywhere, 

anytime through voice and data communication. There are two key 

aspects of accessibility: (1) how leaders make themselves available to 

others and (2) how you, as a leader, take advantage of the availability 
108 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

of others. It is important that commanders, while making themselves 

available at all hours of the day, don’t foster an environment where 

subordinates are afraid to get decisions from anywhere but the top. At 

the same time, leaders must guard against exploiting the availability 

of others, especially subordinates. Such exploitation will reinforce to 

subordinates that decisions can come from the top only.

Accessibility has also changed how we make ourselves available to 

others. Many commanders like to say that they have an “open-door 

policy.” Don’t fool yourself into thinking that issues will always walk 

through the open door. Leaders still need to escape the electronic accessibility, namely e-mail, and seek human interaction. A new Airman in the squadron isn’t going to raise a concern by walking into a 

commander’s office, but the Airman might if the commander is able 

to interact in his or her work environment. Leadership by walking 

around will always be a positive leadership principle.

I like to think that there are three kinds of people when dealing with 

technology: pessimists, optimists, and realists. The technology pessimists are those people who resist any change due to improved technologies. Technology optimists jump at the earliest opportunity to 

implement any technological advancement. The last category, the technology realist, makes up the lion’s share of us all. The realist accepts 

that change is necessary and works to integrate improvements but 

doesn’t continually search for and implement emerging technology.

Our organizations need all three technology types to run smoothly. 

It is necessary for each of us to understand what kind of technologist 

we, and those whom we work around, are. This is simply another 

medium where one size won’t fit all. Leaders must adapt their style 

depending on whom they deal with and the nature of the task to be 

performed. The pessimist might not “hear” the things communicated 

electronically. By the same token, resist the temptation to send all 

correspondence electronically to the optimist, even though his or her 

response might be within seconds. Always push for the personal 

touch and realize that your approach will be different for each person.

In essence, leadership is the challenge of inspiring the people in an 

organization on a goal-oriented journey. Technology enables that 

journey, and we, as leaders, must successfully manage both the benefits and detriments of that evolution. Ultimately, leaders are still responsible for themselves, their people, and the results of their units. 

It’s how they can make a difference in both the lives of their people 

and in the unit’s mission. It is one thing technology will never change.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 109

A Tale of Two Instructors

21 September 2009—Students and instructors primarily make up

AETC. On the surface, the instructors simply teach certain skills so 

that students are ready for new challenges. In reality, they contribute 

so much more. Instructors make us better Airmen and continually 

raise our level of performance by enforcing the standards. They make 

a difference by tailoring their message and connecting with every student. I cannot tell you the number of times senior officers and NCOs 

have shared stories about an instructor who made a difference in 

their lives—I know you can think of instructors that had a positive 

impact in your life. I am no different. Let me tell you about two instructors that helped shape who I am today.

The first instructor who made a difference in my life was Capt 

Leonard J. “Chicken” Funderburk. He flew OV-10s in Vietnam and 

was awarded the Air Force Cross for heroism. He flew hard, played 

hard, and, at six foot five with a black belt in karate, was larger than 

life. Numerous stories about his heroic feats in Vietnam and phenomenal instruction in the T-37 “Tweet” were passed down from 

class to class. Even before my class left academics to start flying the 

T-37, we were awed by Chicken’s reputation.

After graduation, I was assigned to “D Flight” in the 43rd Flying 

Training Squadron at Craig AFB, Alabama. Along with two other 

classmates, I sat at a table next to Chicken’s. Every day, I had a front 

row seat to Chicken’s postflight debriefings; it was a sight to behold. 

Chicken dissected every element of the training sortie and demanded 

that his students were well prepared and flew their best. His students, 

with nervous smiles trying to feign confidence, always started the debrief sitting straight up in their chairs. This posture never lasted long, 

for after two hours of continuous critique, smiles quickly vanished, 

and bodies eventually melted towards the floor. I was so thankful 

Chicken was not my instructor.

I flew training sorties with my assigned instructor and had some 

good days; other days I’d rather forget. Unfortunately, one of those 

not-so-good days was my “pre-solo” sortie. I “busted” the ride and 

wasn’t cleared to solo like my other classmates. I was absolutely 

crushed. My flight commander decided that I needed a change and 

called me into his office. He told me he was shifting me to a new in-
110 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

structor. I’m sure he watched the color leave my face when he told me 

my new instructor would be Chicken.

I begged him not to do it, especially after just having busted a ride. 

I started to doubt that I would make it through the program. The next 

day I sat across from Chicken, mortified. I knew he could see right 

through my feigned smile. I tried to focus on my sortie as his deep 

voice stepped through the elements of the upcoming pre-solo mission. He told me one thing over and over again—“Always be hot and 

be high; never be low and be slow!” He must have said it 10 times. He 

took me out to the flight line and told me to climb into the T-37. Since 

I had busted the previous pre-solo ride, I knew this sortie really 

counted.

We took off, and he set me up first for a straight-in approach, followed by a single engine and then a no-flap landing. As I look back, 

each one of these approaches was average to slightly below average. 

After the last planned approach, Chicken turned to me and yelled, 

“Lorenz you are going to kill me. Put her on the deck!” With those 

words, I knew I was finished and probably going to wash out of pilot 

training. I landed, and he then told me to “shut down the number two 

engine.” All of a sudden, I realized he was going to let me solo. I was 

elated. As Chicken stepped from the aircraft, he once again said, “Always be hot and be high; never be low and be slow.”

I took off and had a very uneventful solo sortie. Chicken realized 

that I lacked a little confidence and just needed the right kind of instruction and motivation to succeed. Over the next few months, 

Chicken’s demanding teaching style gave me the confidence not only 

to complete pilot training, but also to face subsequent challenges in 

both my professional and private lives. I have never forgotten him or 

how he made a difference in my life.

I encountered the second instructor who made a difference in my 

life much later in my career. In 1986 I was stationed at Castle AFB, 

California, and was selected to upgrade to instructor pilot in the KC135. In order to upgrade, everyone had to complete a six-week program called Central Flight Instructor Course. It was a very demanding course that trained upgrading instructors how to teach aircraft 

systems and flight procedures. It emphasized the many ways students 

could unintentionally back into harrowing situations and helped instructors to correct the errors before everyone on board became another safety statistic. I didn’t bat an eye when Capt Rusty Findley 

(now Lt Gen Rusty Findley, Air Mobility Command vice commander) 
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 111

and I were teamed with the most famous KC-135 Central Flight Instructor Course trainer in the fleet at the time—Lt Col Earl Orbin.

Colonel Orbin was famous for being straightforward, thorough, 

relentless, and demanding. We had both heard horror stories about 

how his level of instruction was challenging. Rusty and I had been 

flying the KC-135 for years; we were long on experience and confidence and looked forward to the course. After all, we knew the KC135 and its systems inside and out. For us, the instructor course was 

going to be a breeze.

Through a series of Colonel Orbin’s challenging training sorties, 

including grueling prebriefs and debriefs, one thing became clear: I 

was too overconfident in my existing abilities and systems knowledge. My overconfidence had led me to become complacent. During 

flight operations, much like other career fields, complacency can kill. 

It can lead one to overestimate his or her own abilities while not paying enough attention to the student’s lack of ability.

I quickly changed my approach, increased my level of preparation, 

and arrived each day on top of my game. I left the course with the 

instructional skills I would need during each upcoming mission. 

Colonel Orbin was fair, firm, and demanding. He pushed Rusty and 

me—forced us both to grow as aviators and instructors. He reminded 

us that flying is an unforgiving business where everyone’s limits vary 

from day to day, sortie to sortie. We needed to balance our own limits 

with those of the student. Since then I have learned to apply this lesson in other areas of my life as well. I think it has made me a better 

aviator, officer, husband, father, and friend.

Instructors like Captain Funderburk and Colonel Orbin make a 

difference every day and are the backbone of our Air Force’s excellence. Although my instructors employed different techniques, they 

looked at me through a clear lens, saw where I needed improvement, 

and tailored their instruction specifically for me. When you have the 

opportunity, follow the lead of Chicken, Colonel Orbin, and all the 

instructors that have made a difference in your life. Take the time to 

make a positive impact in each of your student’s lives—regardless of 

whether those students are found at work or in the community. It’s 

what I strive to do each day, and it’s the only way that our Air Force 

will remain the best in the world.

PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 113

Cherish Your Spouse

20 October 2009—Just last week, while walking past the base chapel, I witnessed a scene that caused me to pause and reflect. I turned 

and watched as people, dressed in their Sunday best, flowed from the 

chapel doors, smiling and casually chatting. They slowly split into 

two lines, creating a path that led to a waiting limousine. The crowd 

stood and waited, fueling my anticipation. Suddenly, a photographer 

burst from the doors, then turned and captured a bride and groom as 

they ran outside. The crowd erupted with cheers. The bride—white 

gown flowing as she ran—paused to hug a friend. The groom immediately tugged at her hand, pulling her toward the waiting limousine. 

Without pause, they hopped in the limousine, and the crowd again 

cheered as they sped away.

I couldn’t help but smile as I watched the newly married military 

couple start their new life together. It made me think about our spouses 

and our military families. The secretary of the Air Force and our chief 

of staff named 2009 as the “Year of the Air Force Family.” In doing so, 

they hoped to bring more attention to the sacrifices our families endure and the service they provide our nation. I couldn’t agree with 

them more; our families, especially our spouses, are the foundation 

that enables each of us to serve in the world’s greatest Air Force.

I don’t think anyone would argue the importance of having such a 

foundation. Our lives need balance, and our spouses help provide 

that stability. I like to use the analogy that such balance is similar to 

the spokes of a bicycle wheel. You see, a bicycle needs balanced spokes 

to provide a smooth ride. Our lives are no different. I think of the 

spokes as the different priorities in our lives. If one of the spokes—

such as the relationship with your spouse, the needs of your children, 

or the responsibilities at work—gets slighted, the wheel no longer 

rolls the way it should. It might even get to the point where it stops 

rolling altogether.

We must balance each of our life’s spokes very deliberately and 

carefully. When we are balancing shortfalls and managing a limited 

amount of time, money, and manpower, our spouses often are the 

ones who get shortchanged. We can’t afford to let that happen and 

must always make time to tell our spouses how much we appreciate 

them. When you’re tired from the challenges at work, take a deep 

breath, walk in the door with a smile, and tap your energy reserve to 
114 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

make a difference with the time that you have. It only takes a minute 

to let them know how much you care—a simple squeeze of the hand, 

rub on the shoulder, or a phone call during the day. Think about the 

things that make you feel appreciated and loved, do those things for 

them in return, and always strive to give more than you receive.

Maintaining the friendship, trust, and energy in a relationship isn’t 

an easy thing to do—it’s a full-time job. It’s up to you to make it a fun 

job, for both you and your spouse. In a recent article, I talked about 

the danger of complacency in our professional lives. The same goes 

for our personal lives too. Many people confuse complacency with 

comfort. Although comfort can help build stability in a relationship, 

complacency can cause a relationship to drift apart. Never, ever take 

your spouse for granted.

Our spouses make significant sacrifices daily. There are countless 

stories of spouses who go above and beyond—stories of men and 

women who volunteer in the local community and pursue their own 

successful careers despite long days and the deployments of their 

military spouses. There are even more untold stories about spouses 

who quietly make a difference every day: the story of the wife who, 

after a long swing shift, returns home to wake her family, cooks everyone breakfast, and sends them all out the door before collapsing 

herself; the story of the husband who stays up all night taking care of 

sick children so that his wife can go to work rested and ready. Resist 

the temptation to become accustomed to such acts of sacrifice and 

kindness.

These tremendous examples are often interrupted by the “other” 

stories. We’ve all done “boneheaded” things—forgotten important 

occasions, not paid enough attention to our spouse’s concerns, or 

tried to solve their challenges for them (instead of just listening sympathetically). Work hard to avoid these thoughtless acts in the first 

place. Be critical of yourself and the things you do. Your standards of 

excellence at work should be no different when at home. When you 

feel your spouse has neglected you in some manner, it is best to forgive without pretense. Put past grudges aside so that you can move 

forward together. After all, forgiveness is what you hope for after 

apologizing for those boneheaded things I just discussed.

As I turned to leave, the crowd had already forgiven the bride and 

groom’s hasty departure and started to dissipate from the front steps 

of the chapel. The couple was starting their life together, as a military 

team. I thought of my spouse, Leslie. We made a commitment to each 
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 115

other more than 34 years ago. We knew that our lives would be better 

if spent together and have learned through the years to depend on 

each other in order to accomplish our goals.

For me, Leslie has been the key to keeping my wheel balanced. I’ve 

worked hard through the years to make each day with her better than 

the one before, to keep my wheel rolling smoothly. Our individual 

strength comes from the foundation that our spouses provide at 

home. By cherishing our spouses and making sure they know how 

much we appreciate them, our wheel can continue to cruise happily 

through life as well.

PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 117

Spotting Disasters

23 November 2009—“I can hear that train coming down the tracks.”

If you’re like me, you’ve heard people use this analogy to describe 

an inbound issue or challenge. We all face daily challenges; they are 

nothing new. The challenges range in significance and in their ability 

to impact our organizations. Although the potential challenges do 

have unique characteristics, all have one thing in common: the sooner 

leaders can spot them, the more they can do to manage how the challenge will influence their organization.

In reality, it’s pretty easy to know when a train is coming down the 

tracks. It is big, makes a lot of noise, and is accompanied by warning 

lights and bells. Trains typically run on a schedule, making it even 

easier to know when to either step to the side or hop on board. We 

rarely get the same notification from an impending crisis in the workplace. More often, it appears, seemingly from out of thin air, and immediately consumes more time than we have to give. Through frustrated, tired eyes, we wonder where the crisis came from in the first 

place. Even though we vow never to let it happen again, deep down 

we know that it’s only a matter of time before the next one hits our 

organization by surprise.

Such an outlook is what helped create an entire school of thought 

called crisis management. We have crisis action teams, emergency 

response checklists, and other plans that describe how to effectively 

deal with the train that we never saw coming. These impacts can be 

hard to absorb and typically leave casualties behind. Wouldn’t it be 

better to prepare for specific contingencies and not rely on generic 

crisis response checklists? Wouldn’t it be better for the organization if 

a leader knew about the train long before it arrived?

So how does a leader get the schedule for inbound trains? In many 

cases, just getting out of the office and talking to the organization’s 

members can help a leader identify potential issues and areas of risk. 

By the same token, if you are a member of an organization and know 

of an upcoming challenge, it is your responsibility to research and 

report it. Candor within an organization is critical to success; information must flow in all directions to maintain efficiency and effectiveness.

In addition to cultivating a culture of candor within an organization, a successful leader must be able to maintain objectivity to spot 
118 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

inbound trains. After all, allowing emotion to creep into a leader’s 

perspective may provide short-term success but will eventually create 

mid- and long-term unintended challenges. Rising above the issues at 

hand makes it far easier to hear the potential challenges and competing interests before they arrive.

Candor and objectivity alone will probably help catch 90 percent 

of the issues before they impact an organization. In order to achieve 

100 percent, a leader must work hard to avoid complacency. When 

things get quiet within an organization, it doesn’t necessarily mean 

that everything is being handled successfully. In fact, the hair on the 

back of every leader’s neck should start to stand up when things get 

quiet. After all, it probably means the leader isn’t involved enough in 

the daily operation of the unit and that the first two elements, candor 

and objectivity, are being overlooked. This is the time to be even more 

aggressive about candor, information flow, and objectivity.

Leaders who work hard to enable candor, remain objective, and 

discourage complacency, get a unique opportunity to steer their organizations in the best direction when challenges or crises loom. As 

they identify the inbound trains, leaders can decide whether to maneuver clear or to hop on board. You see, each inbound train is an 

opportunity. It is a chance to fight for new resources—money and/or 

manpower—and to unify their team toward a common objective. 

Leaders should anticipate inbound trains as a means to improve their 

organizations.

Crisis action teams and emergency response checklists certainly 

aren’t bad things. After all, no matter how hard you try, there will always be something that catches your organization by surprise. When 

you see a train coming down the tracks, don’t just stand in front and 

brace for impact. Be ready to take full advantage of the opportunities 

it creates. Not only will you be more efficient and effective, you will 

ensure that your organization will continue in the best direction to 

achieve short-, mid-, and long-term objectives.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 119

Jessica’s Legacy

15 December 2009—There are certain times in our lives when a 

single moment or significant event causes us to pause and reflect. 

These moments can catch us after both happy times and sad—after 

accomplishments of our own or those of others. Sometimes they 

catch us off guard—by surprise. More often, though, these moments 

sit out in front of us, and we either run into their embrace or are 

drawn toward them despite struggles to avoid them.

This holiday season, I found myself at one of those moments. I was 

hosting a tour through the Center for the Intrepid (CFI) at Fort Sam 

Houston in San Antonio, Texas. The CFI is an amazing facility that 

helps rehabilitate military members who have suffered significant injury. I love walking through the CFI; it is a bright, airy building filled 

with hope. On the top floor of the circular building, there is a windowlined hallway with pictures of those injured Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, 

and Marines whose lives were touched by the CFI team. It was there, 

looking at the large photos, that a particular pose caught my eye.

The photo took me back to last June to a memorial service for one 

of our Airmen who, at 24 years of age, left our ranks far too soon. SrA 

Jessica Tarver stared from the photo, a smile beaming from ear to ear. 

Her story is one of perseverance and strength. A rare infection that 

she contracted during her second tour in Iraq tragically led to two 

years of challenges that, along the way, took both of her legs and, 

eventually, her life.

Jessica’s memorial ceremony at the CFI had seating for 75, but 

twice as many stood around the perimeter to attend. Such a crowd is 

one of the simplest and strongest compliments anyone can receive. 

She was an inspirational person, and I, along with so many others, am 

better for having known her.

During the ceremony, many people stood to talk and reflect on 

their special relationship with Jessica. Her squadron commander, Lt 

Col Raymond James, had flown to San Antonio from Hurlburt Field, 

Florida. Jessica’s battle began right after he took command of the 1st 

Special Operations Helicopter Maintenance Squadron. In fact, he’d 

been on the job for only two weeks when Jessica first went into the 

hospital.

His words resonated, someone who had been forced to deal with 

a challenging situation from the very first days of command. Through 
120 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

Jessica, Colonel James grew into the seasoned, well-respected leader 

that he is today. All of the members of the squadron and the Air 

Force at large benefited from Jessica’s courage, inner strength, and 

perseverance.

One of her doctors stood to reflect on her memories of Jessica. 

While most double amputees work hard to walk in athletic shoes, Jessica told the doctors and physical therapists that she wanted to walk 

in six-inch heels. A tear fell from the doctor’s eye while remembering 

the moment when Jessica strutted down the hall on four-inch stiletto 

heels with her prostheses. She had been an inspiration.

The others who flowed past the podium to tell their story and reflect on their relationship with Jessica shared a similar theme. Although their interactions varied, in each case they described a woman 

who challenged them to be better than before. She made a difference 

in their lives, and they were there to say “thank you.” Through her 

example, Jessica left them wiser, stronger, and more able to handle 

future challenges. She was their wingman.

The caregivers from the CFI stood around the ceremony, embracing the sadness. These are selfless heroes who meet the unknown 

each day with a steadfast confidence and compassion. Their approach 

instills hope and enables otherwise impossible opportunities for their 

patients. They, too, make a difference in people’s lives.

I could still feel the warmth of that embrace standing in the circular hallway last month, gazing at Jessica’s portrait. She taught everyone so much, challenged all to grow, and strengthened our Air Force 

family. It is now our duty to pay this forward and push everyone to be 

better Airmen, teammates, and wingmen.

Such a message must never die. Standing in that hallway, I found 

myself feeling so thankful for having known Jessica Tarver and the 

way her smile could brighten any room. I also felt thankful for the 

members of the CFI team and all the good that they do. Lastly, I was 

then and am forever thankful for each of you, the service you provide 

our nation, and the difference you make every day. May we never 

forget the positive example and spirit of those Jessicas in our lives.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 121

A Mentor’s Influence

2 February 2010—Mentors touch our lives and help shape us into 

the people that we are today. We value mentorship in the Air Force 

and develop it in our subordinates while seeking it from our supervisors. One cannot have enough mentors, nor can one mentor enough. 

I’ve had many through the years, but one sticks out above the rest. 

This particular mentor touched my life in two important ways—separated by nearly 40 years.

While a cadet at the Air Force Academy, I struggled to keep my 

grades up. I was on the dean’s “other list” six of eight semesters. In 

the end I managed to defeat my academic demons and graduate with 

a commission in 1973, but I certainly didn’t do it alone. I owe my 

success, in large part, to my academic advisor and mentor Col Joe 

Henjum.

Colonel Henjum wasn’t what I expected when I met him for the 

first time in 1971. To be honest, I don’t think I knew what to expect. 

He had been awarded the Silver Star for heroism while flying helicopters in Vietnam. I quickly learned that Colonel Henjum was the kind 

of person who was easy to look up to and even easier to follow. When 

he took me and my academic worries under his wing, I was proud to 

be there. I knew that his guidance, combined with persistence and 

determination on my part, would lead me through the challenge. In 

the end, it most certainly did.

When I walked across the stage with the rest of the class of 1973, I 

strode with the confidence that Colonel Henjum had helped build 

within me. He had been a crucial part of my Academy experience 

and, in many ways, part of who I am today. I kept in touch with Colonel Henjum over the years, often thanking him for making a difference in my life. I never imagined that Colonel Henjum would impact 

me all over again, especially at this point in my career.

The second time Colonel Henjum touched my life began with 

tragic news. On 1 January of this year, Colonel Henjum passed away 

after a long illness. His son Mark asked if I would speak at his father’s 

memorial service. I was touched by his request and spent hours trying to find the right words to convey how great a person had just left 

our earth. I wanted to make sure that everyone understood the lasting difference he made in the lives of others.
122 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

When it was my turn to speak, it came from my heart. I told the 

crowd about a man who dedicated his life to serving and helping others. When I finished, Mark rose to speak. While listening to Mark’s 

story, I found Colonel Henjum leading me on another journey. I was 

touched and wanted to share the story with you.

A few months ago, Mark accompanied his father to the hospital, 

and they both knew what was about to happen. The doctor was going 

to tell Colonel Henjum that he only had three months left to live. It 

was an appointment they both were dreading. While riding up to the 

doctor’s floor, Colonel Henjum greeted the janitor sharing the elevator with them. He complimented the janitor for keeping the building 

so clean. The janitor was shocked—no one had ever thanked him before. Colonel Henjum noticed the building and took the time to notice the janitor. It resonated with me. That janitor would never forget 

Colonel Henjum.

When getting off the elevator, Colonel Henjum introduced Mark 

to the receptionist. He told Mark about the receptionist’s son who was 

a Marine and currently flying combat missions in Afghanistan. He 

reassured the receptionist that her son would come home safely; Marines are excellent pilots. Not only had Colonel Henjum met and 

talked with the receptionist before, but he also remembered her and 

took precious time to introduce his son. He even thought to reassure 

her fears with a son deployed to combat operations.

Now, think about it. Colonel Henjum was riding the elevator to find 

out that he didn’t have much time left. Instead of lamenting his fate, he 

was concerned about others. That day, he made a difference in their 

lives. Almost 37 years after I had graduated from the Air Force Academy, Colonel Henjum was once again making a difference in my life.

I always like to tell people that they should strive for two things in 

life: making a difference in people’s lives and leaving the campground 

better than they found it. Colonel Henjum certainly did that throughout his 75 years. He mentored me as a cadet at the Air Force Academy 

and once again just this last month. I couldn’t ask for a better mentor 

and friend.

Go and thank those who have guided you through the years and 

take time to make a difference in the lives of those you mentor. Our 

Air Force is only as good as those of us who serve. Let’s all work hard 

to make each of us a little better every day, just as Colonel Henjum 

did for me and many others.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 123

A Dynamic Tradition

23 February 2010—Our Air Force has many traditions. Some we 

inherited from other services; others are more recent and will take 

time to fully develop. Traditions are positive things, deeply rooted in 

our heritage and pride. Traditions are things we don’t easily give up.

One of our traditions, however, isn’t often recognized as positive 

and doesn’t get the applause it deserves. That tradition is one of our 

strongest and most resilient. You see, our Air Force is dynamic—always adapting to meet new missions and to counter new threats. 

With our world and its realities continually evolving around us, living 

in a culture of change is inevitable. This creates a level of uncertainty, 

and people generally don’t like uncertainty. Such change, however, is 

vitally important and allows us to maintain our efficiency, effectiveness, and relevance.

So then, what is the best way for a leader to guide people through 

change? There are certainly many methods to do so, and each one 

depends on the type of change expected. In all cases, however, the 

principles that underlie the preparation for change are the same. 

Preparation builds confidence, helps a leader’s organization be less 

fearful of approaching uncertainty, and ensures the organization is 

much more effective once change arrives.

This is where education and training come into play. We educate in 

order to prepare for uncertainty. Education helps us understand why 

the change is necessary. It also helps us objectively assess the environment and rationale necessitating the change. With objectivity, we can 

unemotionally assess the benefits and drawbacks of the different potential courses of action.

Education is a never-ending self-improvement process. The different levels are predicated to occur at specific spots in our careers—

opening doors and creating opportunities. Because the Air Force 

lines up education programs with future levels of responsibility, it can 

be difficult to adequately catch up on education. Never pass up the 

opportunity to further your education.

While education helps us prepare for uncertainty, training programs are designed to prepare for certainty. After all, it’s those things 

that we expect that fill our syllabi and lesson books. We train for them 

over and over until recognizing and reacting to them are second na-
124 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

ture. This is one reason why we use checklists so often in the Air 

Force. They help lead us accurately through challenging times.

Through experience, our collective list of certainty grows. It shapes 

the evolution of our training programs. You see, when we react to a 

challenge, we create a certain result. Positive results reinforce the action and make us more confident. Although the positive result trains 

us to use the same response next time, it typically doesn’t teach us to 

handle anything but the exact same challenge. When we make mistakes or experience negative results, we truly have an opportunity to 

learn. Even though it may not be as much fun to investigate our failures, we are more apt to critically assess the challenge and develop 

other, more successful, potential courses of action.

This is why our integrated safety programs, after-action teams, and 

lessons-learned archives are so valuable. They are an effort to take advantage of the experiences and mistakes of others and avoid having to 

learn the same lessons over and over again. In essence, such programs 

help us prepare for future uncertainty and help bridge our learning 

programs from the training arena into our education enterprise.

As a leader, you must ensure your people have the education necessary to prepare for uncertainty and the training to guide them 

through certainty. As an individual, you must aggressively pursue 

these opportunities to further develop yourself as well. Such preparation will instill the confidence necessary to embrace change.

Implementing new ideas in your organization can be challenging. 

It takes careful thought, skilled execution, and the full support of 

your team. It can also take time. It is always important to be evolutionary with change and not revolutionary. That way, your changes 

will have a much better chance to succeed over time.

Sometimes it is hard to take pride in a culture of continuous 

change. But within uncertainty is opportunity, and opportunity helps 

fuel growth. Today, we must all adapt to change more rapidly than 

ever before. It is one of our oldest and most important traditions, and 

one that I hope will never change.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 125

The Solid Foundation

27 February 2010—Our Air Force has more than 175,000 civilian 

employees spread across the globe. In fact, they make up more than 

25 percent of our authorized total force end strength. The civilian 

force fills an ever-increasing role in daily mission accomplishment, 

especially as we’ve experienced personnel reductions over the past 20 

years and, many would argue, no decrease in operational requirements. In reality, we are busier than ever, and our civilian workforce 

makes it all possible.

Each of you knows many civilian employees. They are the glue that 

holds our Air Force together and the stability that our organizations 

rely on. Through the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to depend on 

the counsel and wisdom of hundreds of civilians. Time won’t permit 

me to reflect upon all of them, but let me highlight three senior service civilians that made a positive difference in my life.

The first one I’ll tell you about is Art Sarris. I first met Mr. Sarris 

when I was a captain at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. A veteran of the 

Army Air Corps during World War II, Mr. Sarris began his civil service career in 1946 and worked his way through the logistics ranks 

until he became the senior civilian employee in Air Force Logistics 

Command in 1974.

Despite his significant responsibilities, Mr. Sarris took time to 

mentor me. He explained current issues and challenges and helped 

me see them through his eyes. Not only did I have an immediate respect for his tenured wisdom, but understanding his senior perspective early in my career proved invaluable throughout mine. Mr. Sarris 

also helped me gain a newfound appreciation for the thousands of 

civilians working at the air logistics centers across the country. After 

all, their efforts directly enabled the daily combat capability of our 

force then, just as they continue to do today.

I met many more amazing civilians during the next 30 years, but 

the next I’d like to discuss is Roger Blanchard. When I met him, he 

was the assistant deputy chief of staff for personnel at the Pentagon. 

Mr. Blanchard started his civil service career in 1973 as an intern at 

Kelly AFB, Texas, and diligently worked his way through the personnel ranks. When our paths crossed, I was the director of the Air Force 

Budget and marveled at how many sought his counsel, including service secretaries and chiefs of staff.
126 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

You see, Mr. Blanchard had no personal agenda, and his advice 

always reflected deep thought. He worked problems, not personalities. Not surprisingly, Mr. Blanchard was a quiet person. As a result, 

whenever he spoke, people turned their heads to listen. They knew 

that they were about to hear something thoughtful, relevant, and 

valuable. Through him, my respect for those personnelists throughout our force increased every day. After all, it’s their expertise (in an 

often thankless field) that supports our greatest resource—all of us.

The last civilian I’ll highlight is Bob Stuart. Bob was my deputy director of the Air Force budget during my most recent time at the Pentagon. When I got to the job, I was in need of some help. My Air Force 

experience up to that point focused mainly on aircraft operations, not 

the budget process. I was the fourth director he had worked for as a 

deputy. He had worked in finance at the Pentagon for more than 30 

years, providing the stability the organization relied on every day.

Bob was always thinking ahead. In fact, it was his vast knowledge 

that helped guide the budget office. I’ve often thought that Bob’s influence far exceeded what it would have been had he been the boss. In 

the end, Bob did as the others had done. He left me with a great respect for all those financial managers and an appreciation for their 

daily impact on the Air Force mission.

These three civilians are examples of the thousands who make up 

our Air Force team today. They are invaluable experts whose hard 

work and good, honest feedback help us to learn and improve. Although the advice may not always be something we want to hear, 

such counsel is what everyone should expect. After all, in most cases 

our civilian force has probably seen the pitfalls and potential secondand third-order consequences of our well-intentioned decisions before. Such vision only helps all of us make better-informed decisions 

for our organizations.

We can’t be the finest Air Force in the world without our civil servants. They are the foundation that we rely on each day to do our 

jobs. Take time to appreciate their impact and thank them for making 

such a positive difference for our Air Force team.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 127

Motivation

14 April 2010—These are challenging times for our Air Force. We 

have been engaged in combat operations since 1990 and are balancing limited resources against an aggressive operations tempo. We are 

once again adjusting to maintain our authorized end strength while 

juggling priorities within a leveling budget. Many of our aircraft are 

beyond expected service lives, and current operations are aging them 

even faster. Handling all these demands will be challenging—it will 

not be fun.

This is where leadership comes into play. Whether at work or at 

home, everyone has issues. As some issues are resolved, others are 

always waiting in line to take their places. The “pay me now or pay me 

later” mind-set is exhausting. It is up to each organization’s leadership 

to set the tone, motivate the workplace, and create a sustainable culture of success. After all, we want our Airmen to invest themselves in 

our service and our mission.

So how can a leader attack such challenges and create sustainable 

excellence? We all know that it isn’t easy to do. It will take dedication, 

objectivity, and a lot of patience and perseverance. Along the way, 

tough decisions will be required, and each will call for a tailored approach. In other words, leaders must adapt differently to each situation. Situational leadership is how we keep our organizations motivated and headed in the best direction.

We all have unique leadership styles. Some of us probably smile a 

little too much while others don’t smile quite enough. We all fit somewhere along a leadership continuum, where the ends are defined by 

the extremes. Although you may feel most comfortable in one region 

of that continuum, realize that every leader will have to utilize approaches from the full range of the continuum in response to different challenges. A career brings many leadership challenges, and leaders must adapt to meet each one.

After all, some challenges will require leaders to soften their approaches. For example, someone in the organization may be directly 

affected by our end-strength reductions. Maybe the unit will suffer 

the loss of one of its members. Other situations will require a stern 

approach. This may be necessary when accountability and disciplinary challenges confront the organization or some of its personnel. 
128 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

Effective leaders must be able to approach difficult decisions or situations with the entire continuum at their disposal.

In the end, leaders must approach a challenge with an eye toward 

crafting a solution to meet organizational needs. They should consciously select a leadership style or customized approach to create a 

certain effect. For most situations, mission accomplishment will be 

the effect—the end goal. However, before one can achieve such an 

effect, situational leadership must be used to motivate others toward 

success. After all, a motivated force can move mountains.

Motivation is an interesting concept. In some situations, motivation is more spontaneous and flows from the heart. In others, motivation is far from intrinsic and needs a little added emphasis from the 

top. I call it added emphasis because sometimes your organization 

won’t be too thrilled with the changes after they’re announced. It may 

feel like you are marching your team uphill and into the wind.

Leaders must look at each challenge, develop a plan, and push for 

success. As part of their plan, they must develop the motivation necessary to assist their organizations through the challenges. In the end, 

people don’t quit their jobs (despite all the challenges we face every 

day)—they quit their bosses. The art of motivating organizations 

through challenges is one of the keys to any leader’s success.

Today, more than ever before, we need intellectual leaders who 

value the power of thought and innovative approaches. After all, having leaders who think, assess challenges objectively, and motivate 

their teams to succeed is what makes us the formidable fighting force 

we are today.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 129

Sustaining a Wingman Culture

11 May 2010—On 20 April, a 22-year-old man with a history of 

violence walked into a bookstore in Wichita Falls, Texas, and started 

shooting. He wounded four women, then drove to a bar and killed an 

employee outside before he drove home and took his own life.

This tragedy sounds like so many we hear about on the news every 

night. We’ve almost become desensitized to the horror and emotional 

aftermath, but this type of violence is something we cannot ignore, 

especially this event in Wichita Falls. You see, this time it wasn’t just 

a news headline. It was an event that touched our Air Force family 

directly.

Wichita Falls is home to Sheppard AFB and to much of our Air 

Force’s technical training. This particular bookstore offers a quiet environment that provides a peaceful and relaxing place to browse bestsellers. For some of the Airmen going through training, it offers a 

quiet place to do some evening studying. On that April night, three 

staff sergeants sat in that very store reviewing study materials for an 

exam the next morning. Two were former security forces members; 

one was a former F-16 crew chief. They were all at Sheppard to crosstrain into the medical field. These Airmen were three of our best. 

They competed against thousands just for the chance to transition 

into aerospace medicine. That evening, the silence of their exam 

preparation was shattered by a man with a shotgun who barged into 

the bookstore yelling derogatory racial remarks.

His remarks shocked them, and the shooting that followed terrified everyone. They scattered and tried to protect themselves. It happened quickly, although the moment would be frozen forever in their 

minds. As suddenly as it began, the gunman was gone. The bookstore’s peaceful silence, however, would not return. Four people had 

been shot, and two of them were Jade Henderson and Deondra 

Sauls—our staff sergeants. Police and emergency medical personnel 

were on the scene within minutes. Both sergeants were transported to 

a local emergency room and later to Dallas’s Parkland Memorial Hospital for care. Thankfully, although their wounds were severe, Jade 

and Deondra will recover and return to training.

This is where the story ends for the local news media, but there are 

actually many lessons that can be learned from this tragedy. Although 

not wounded in the shooting, the third Airman, SSgt Tanya “Taye” 
130 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

Jesser, avoided the gunfire by hiding under a desk near the shooter’s 

feet. She watched his car drive away and yelled to the other victims 

that the gunman was gone. She was one of those who had the presence of mind to call 911, provide a description of the gunman, and 

request ambulances for the wounded.

Sergeant Jesser then followed the screams to different parts of the 

bookstore and provided care. She directed first responders to the 

wounded while applying pressure to slow the bleeding from one of 

her fellow Airmen. After emergency medical personnel were caring 

for the wounded, she contacted family members, reassuring them 

that all would be all right. Sergeant Jesser called a fellow student not 

at the scene and asked for help contacting Sheppard AFB, the security 

forces, and her first sergeant. After filing her report with the authorities, she gathered the personal belongings of her classmates and traveled to the local emergency room.

Sergeant Jesser didn’t get back to her room that evening until almost 3 a.m. She woke before sunup and was in class at 7:15 a.m. Despite her lack of sleep and all that she had just been through, she took 

the exam as scheduled. Taye Jesser scored a 94 percent on the test.

The next day, I flew to Dallas to see our injured staff sergeants at 

the hospital. I wanted to make sure they understood that the Air 

Force family stood with them. Although Sergeant Henderson was in 

surgery, I was able to see Sergeant Sauls. I asked her if there was anything I could do—whether it was helping to notify friends, getting 

family members situated nearby, or even assisting with medical issues. Deondra Sauls looked me square in the eye and said, “Sir, don’t 

let them take my training slot. I don’t want to lose it.” I was really 

touched. With everything that she’d been through, Deondra was most 

concerned about her future in the Air Force.

These three Airmen were among the many heroes of the evening. 

Jade and Deondra were worried about their classmates and their 

ability to complete training. Taye acted with a determined professionalism that facilitated immediate care and added stability to a 

horrific tragedy. When we talk about a wingman culture, these three 

Airmen personify such an ideal. They were concerned for others; 

they were selfless.

The lives of many were forever changed that evening. It’s not only 

the individuals who were directly attacked—it’s their friends and 

families too. In this disaster, it doesn’t stop with the wounded. You 

see, the shooter also killed one individual that evening—even more 
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 131

tragic for his family and friends. The man killed was an Army veteran 

and the son of one of our civilian employees at Sheppard. He had his 

whole life ahead of him. Witnesses that evening said that his actions 

may have saved the lives of others.

No matter how hard we try to avoid or prevent it, this type of violence can occur at any time in almost any location. We must all do 

what we can to stay aware of how our family members and friends are 

doing. Look for times that they need a little more support or encouragement. Be there for them, even when they don’t think that they 

need you. There are many heroes at Sheppard AFB and the surrounding community currently supporting those affected by this tragedy. 

Being a good wingman is something all of us need to try to do every 

day. Knowing that you’ll be there for others should give you the comfort of knowing that others will be there for you, whether you think 

you need them or not.

PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 133

The Study of Leadership

7 June 2010—Everyone has hobbies. Some people like to work in 

the yard, while others paint, fish, or travel. Hobbies are those things 

that entertain us when we need an escape, a chance to unwind. For 

me, I’ve always found leadership and its associated principles to be 

intriguing; studying leadership is my hobby.

I am drawn to leadership for many reasons. Most importantly, leadership is heroic to me. It is based on one person’s ability to overcome 

interpersonal challenges and move a team of individuals toward a 

common goal and objective. It is all about moving the ball down the 

field. As military professionals, we all strive to do this every day.

Good leaders must be able to operate at three different interpersonal levels: a peer, a subordinate, and a supervisor. Most people focus only on the supervisory aspect of leadership, but the ability to 

work effectively within a peer group benefits all associated organizations. In fact, learning how peers handle their challenges can help 

leaders more effectively guide their people and organization. A leader’s peer group can also help work challenges on his or her behalf. 

After all, having several people pushing a particular issue or solution 

makes the argument much more powerful and persuasive. Such symbiotic relationships help all organizations move forward toward 

achieving their goals and objectives.

To the leader’s boss, those goals and objectives are called results. In 

our business, a leader is responsible for results, and results matter. A 

leader must also be flexible and adapt to his or her boss’s likes and 

dislikes while keeping the boss informed. When mistakes are made, 

leaders must be open, honest, and transparent. Of course, they should 

tell their bosses about the good things, too, but shouldn’t focus on 

them for too long. If something is important, they’ll know; plus, good 

results are what they expect in the first place.

Still, the most important aspect of leadership involves those we 

lead. Leaders continually need to hear their input and opinion, realizing that their opinions may be fraught with bias and emotion. A 

leader’s ability to stay objective will help screen out the bias and emotion to get the information needed. Remember that the people within 

the organization need to hear from the leader too. It is important that 

the feedback not favor any particular person, opinion, or organization, including his or her own.
134 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

Let the feedback act as a tool to mentor and shape future expectations. When listening to the challenges others face, don’t try to solve 

it for them. Instead, ask what help they need in order to find a solution. Realize that 95 percent of the time they already have a solution 

in mind. If the leader always provides the solution, the team will 

cease looking for creative solutions and lose a certain degree of efficiency. In addition, the leader will not have as much time to spend 

working the issues that truly need his or her attention.

Your people need a guide who can provide overarching direction 

for the work they do every day. A leader’s ability to know when to 

guide and when to stay back is invaluable. There is a fine line between 

a leader who is “hands on” and one who is micromanaging. After all, 

sometimes the best action is to do nothing at all. Trusting your people can be a very difficult thing to do. It might make things more difficult in the near term but will create a more efficient and effective 

team in the long run.

One word of caution—it can be very easy to lose perspective as a 

leader, to forget our own humility, and to gain a greater sense of selfimportance. Never, ever lose sight of the people you lead. A leader 

must advocate for his or her people from behind the scenes, both 

personally and professionally. Your advocacy in support of the issues 

that you’ve asked them to work gives their effort more strength.

Being a good leader is a challenge. It requires each of us to understand the nuances of operating as a subordinate, peer, and supervisor. 

I read in order to better understand such challenges. In fact, I’m often 

reading two to three books at any single moment. To study leadership, I focus on biographies. The challenges we all face today are no 

different than those faced by the men and women who went before 

us. Learning how they handled challenges helps me be more effective 

with those I face every day. In many cases, it has helped me avoid the 

same pitfalls others found along the way.

As leaders, we all approach things differently. This is a good thing 

and is what makes it such an intriguing hobby to me. I encourage 

each of you to take time to study leadership. Not only will it make you 

better at what you do each day, but it also will further strengthen our 

great Air Force.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 135

The Intellectual Resource

6 July 2010—Today, we are approaching nine years of sustained 

combat operations. Many could argue that our Air Force has been 

involved in continuous combat operations since the original Gulf 

War in 1991. Even more challenging, today’s combat operations are 

being conducted while the rest of the nation fights its way through a 

recession, making resources extremely constrained. Such an environment demands a unique blend of innovation and intellect—looking 

for efficiencies at every corner in order to achieve our desired effect.

Sometimes it’s easy to focus on resourcing and new weapon systems as the “innovation,” the panacea for our challenges. Doing so, 

however, would cause us to overlook the most effective weapon at our 

disposal during such challenging times: the one between each of our 

ears. In many ways, investing in intellect—our ability to out-think the 

enemy—is the most cost-efficient way to prepare for future uncertainty and to combat a clever foe.

There are those that say there are three types of intellect, and we fit 

into a different category depending on the situation. There are those 

who come up with the innovative idea, those who understand the 

idea, and those who wouldn’t know a good idea if it hit them in the 

face. Now, my description of the last group may seem a bit harsh. At 

times I’m sure we all feel like we’re out of our element, but the times 

where you find yourself in the last category are also the times when 

you will have the best opportunity for self-improvement.

You see, we each bring a unique set of skills, experiences, and intellect to different situations. Although we would all like to be the “idea 

person,” the individual who always has the innovative ideas, not every situation or challenge is suited to our intellectual talents. These 

are the times when we can be most critical of ourselves and take advantage of the opportunity to improve. In today’s world, the easiest 

and quickest way to self-improve is to increase our individual levels 

of education. Remember, education is how we prepare ourselves for 

the uncertainty of tomorrow.

I know that increasing our education levels isn’t always as easy as 

it sounds. Thankfully, the Air Force helps with one of the limited 

resources we balance every day: money. Scholarship and tuition assistance programs help pay for many advanced degrees and education programs.
136 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

Another limited resource that most people struggle with is time. 

Our challenge is making the time to find beneficial education programs and then completing them. After all, if it was easy, then time 

wouldn’t be an issue, and everyone would have multiple degrees.

Think back five years ago and then 10 years ago. Were you any 

busier then than you are now? Chances are no. Do you think you will 

be any less busy five or 10 years from now? Again, probably not; the 

truth is you won’t be any less busy or have any more time than you do 

right now.

Making a commitment to complete education and self-improvement 

programs may move other priorities to the side. When you’re weighing 

the relative importance of each, remember that education and selfimprovement are activities that will help you no matter where life 

takes you. If you decide to stay in the Air Force, it will help better serve 

the nation. If you decide to shift into another career outside the Air 

Force, higher levels of education and study will help translate into increased pay and responsibilities.

Either way, you win and are better prepared to successfully handle 

the challenges that life throws at you, especially when you least expect 

it. In the end, the better prepared that you are, the better the chance 

you could be the “idea person.” Tomorrow’s challenges will certainly 

be bigger than those we face today. Our Air Force—and our nation—

needs you to better prepare now. Your investment in education and 

intellect is the best weapon to combat the uncertainty that tomorrow 

will bring. After all, we can’t afford not to.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 137

Professional Advocacy

3 August 2010—As a service member, I have fought for programs 

and resources throughout my career. In many cases, these battles were 

a matter of advocacy—my opportunity to fight for things I believed in. 

I began facing these challenging moments within days of my entry 

into military service. As a result, I have come to embrace several principles of professional advocacy that I want to share with you.

We all have personal beliefs and individual opinions. However, as 

service members we are expected to support professional positions. 

You must establish what the issues are that require your professional 

energy and passion. These issues will vary as your careers progress 

from junior- to senior-level leadership, especially in the face of diminishing resources and ever-increasing global challenges.

A Vision without Resources Is an Illusion

You must possess a vision. This is both a personal and professional 

expectation. We all have goals or beliefs that we want to see come to 

fruition for our unit and mission. These ideas vary in complexity and 

range in purpose from tactical to strategic. As we advocate for our 

beliefs, we must establish a priority list. This dynamic list should be 

rank ordered from most desired to least desired. When one idea is 

fulfilled, the next one on the list moves up in priority. However, sometimes an item at the top of the list may find its way to the bottom 

without ever receiving the necessary resources. This is a reality. We 

live in a time of limited resources, and we must learn to balance 

shortfalls where resources are the most constrained. However, the 

first step is to prepare your vision and then go after it.

Exercise Practicality

When advocating for your top priority, take a practical approach. 

Each time I am called upon to offer my opinion on a military matter, I 

mentally walk through a checklist of “do’s” and “don’ts” that I have developed through previous experience and observation. First, do your 

homework. Understand what you are requesting, what resources you 

need (e.g., time, money, and manpower), and the risks associated with 

your position. Spend time researching your position thoroughly and 

reach out to functional experts for support as you organize your 
138 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

thoughts. It is also appropriate to know the positions contrary to your 

own. This means analyzing all sides of your argument. It is also imperative that you identify the end state. In other words, what is the desired effect you are seeking when offering your professional opinion?

Keep Your Ego in Check

In the battle of persuasion, inevitably your desired effect is not always achieved. In some cases, you must compromise for an alternative. In others cases, your opinion will be rejected entirely. Remember, you researched your position and know the facts, so now is not 

the time to let emotion enter into the equation. Emotion brings negative energy to the debate and takes an objective discussion and makes 

it personal. When it becomes personal, my experience tells me people 

stop listening. I think this is what great American military leader Gen 

Colin Powell meant when he adopted the following as one of his 10 

personal rules: “Avoid having your ego so close to your position.” 

General Powell writes that “when your position falls, your ego goes 

with it.” Passion for your position is good. Emotion tied to ego is bad.

You Won’t Achieve Everything You Advocate For

As professionals we have to recognize when our issues will not 

make the list or will be rejected. Sometimes this means knowing 

when to submit to a decision contrary to our position. Please understand I’m not talking about matters of principle. On those matters, it’s 

important that we stand and fight for what we believe in. Ethical debates must be carefully examined as “right” versus “wrong”—we 

should always stand firm and fight for the right and against the wrong.

The larger point I am trying to make is an acceptance of “right” 

versus “right.” When the final decision has been made by leadership, 

we each have a choice to make. As professionals we can accept the 

decision, salute smartly, and carry on as our leaders direct. Or we can 

lose our objectivity and resist the choice that was made. This moment 

is defining for us as professionals.

Leaders must cultivate a professional environment. If we center our 

conduct on each service’s foundational core values, we will establish the 

very environment the American public expects and service members 

must follow. We have been called to great responsibility in defense of 

our nation and must remain rooted in the principles of our oath as we 

move our mission forward. Therefore, when the opportunity presents 
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 139

itself to offer your professional military opinion, I encourage you to be 

objective, do your homework, advocate for your vision, and always be 

professional. If you do this, I guarantee that over the years you will end 

up achieving more than you ever thought possible.

PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 141

Spouse Wingmen

by Leslie Lorenz

19 August 2010—I recently met two young military wives. I was so 

happy to meet these bright, young, and eager new spouses as they and 

their husbands begin an exciting career in our wonderful Air Force. 

Randolph AFB is the first assignment for one of the couples. They are 

originally from the northeast and come from families with virtually 

no military connection. They’ve also just completed their first year of 

marriage. For the other couple, this is their second duty station. They 

previously had a wonderful experience at Columbus AFB, Mississippi, and have also been married a year. Both spouses had been here 

at Randolph for a short time. Unfortunately, their common experience was that no one had welcomed them yet. This made me sad.

I invited them to come to my house for a potluck salad luncheon 

with other spouses I’ve come to know since arriving at Randolph. Six 

spouses attended—my two new acquaintances and four others who 

were married to Airmen in training. The spouses of the trainees were 

busy, knew each other, and seemed happy and looking forward to 

their next assignment.

I opened the lunch by sharing my experience as a new Air Force 

wife 35 years ago. I differed from these military spouses in that I was 

an Air Force “brat”; therefore, I knew about the Air Force culture 

before jumping into it with Steve. I was also a bit older, having taught 

school for five years before we were married.

I told them that a couple of months into our marriage, I went 

through what we now call our “annulment period.” Steve was so busy 

sitting alert, flying at odd hours of the day and night, and going to 

school on the weekends for his master’s degree. I began to think it 

had been a mistake to get married. I missed my friends, my job, and 

my family, and I wanted to go home. Based upon my upbringing, it 

was assumed that I would simply adjust to the rigors of supporting 

my service member and everything he had to do. Over time, Steve 

and I worked through our initial struggles, and we’ve loved our Air 

Force life and all our assignments.

A version of this article was published by the AETC News Service. It was a part of the Lorenz on 

Leadership series.
142 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

A short time after our spouses’ luncheon, one of my new acquaintances sent me a thank-you note and said she felt like I did 35 years 

ago. I realized that if these young spouses were feeling this way, probably others were too.

So as military spouses what can we do? How do we respond to this 

inadvertent neglect? First, I implore active-duty members to be aware 

of the sacrifices their wives and husbands make. In the scenario of the 

two spouses I recently met, I’m talking about the beginning of the Air 

Force life for new families. I observed two young people who love 

their active-duty spouses but have left everything that is familiar to 

start their life’s adventure.

The staff sergeant or lieutenant is doing what he or she wanted to 

do—serving the Air Force. The servicemen go to work, meet people, 

learn new skills and, hopefully, step closer to their life goals. Meanwhile, their civilian spouses are in a new place, probably unemployed 

and seeking employment or perhaps enrolling in college. Worst of all 

is the lack of social support because they don’t know anyone. The 

active-duty members should be aware and supportive while their 

spouse is making this transition. I would also submit that finding another couple in their situation can make the transition much easier. A 

retiree I once spoke to put it poignantly, “The spouse needs a wingman too.”

This concept of wingmen transcends the active-duty force. I believe every member of the unit plays a role in supporting our 

spouses—especially commanders and supervisors. I ask you to please 

consider your own experience in your unit. Did you feel welcomed, 

cared for, and significant when you arrived? If the answer is no, think 

about what you can do. I understand the challenge with personal 

time constraints and operations tempo, but if your squadron, work 

area, or office isn’t welcoming new people, consider volunteering to 

lead this effort.

We owe it to each other to welcome and support our Air Force 

family members. This commitment involves creativity, persistence, 

passion, and, most importantly, a heart for service to others. Are you 

willing to become a spouse’s wingman?
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 143

Love Your People

30 August 2010—I have gained a wealth of knowledge during my 

career, but one point remains at the top of the list—love your people. 

Through “Lorenz on Leadership” articles and presentations, I have 

shared countless personal stories. While they always have different 

themes, one constant is the wonderful examples and lessons from 

people I have met. Our Airmen are priceless. They are what make our 

Air Force the most powerful in the world.

Loving your people is a personal tenet I fervently believe in and 

live to uphold each day. It is core to my passion and drive as a member of the armed forces and is an essential trait for leaders. Our military force’s diverse makeup of service members and their families is a 

powerful reminder of the special charge we have been given as leaders in service to our country.

A humbling example of this is the story of Bradley and Sara Sullivan. Eighteen months ago Brad, an Air Force captain, was preparing 

for his first deployment as an F-16 pilot. Amid the flurry of predeployment activities, his family received two life-changing announcements. First, he and his wife were pregnant with their first child. Second, Sara was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer at 

the age of 28.

Following a number of difficult choices, Brad and Sara moved to 

San Antonio to begin her chemotherapy, which would allow Sara to 

stave off cancer and still allow normal growth of their baby. To their 

delight, the treatment went as planned. However, during the third 

trimester, the pregnancy became increasingly complicated due to the 

effects of the chemotherapy, and Sara was placed on bed rest. On 8 

September 2009, Brad and Sara welcomed their daughter Chloe 

Grace into their family.

But their struggles were not over. Less than two weeks after Chloe 

was born, Brad and Sara were back in the hospital. Sara had suffered 

a massive stroke, thought to be a result of the physical ailments her 

body received from pregnancy and chemo. Within days of her return 

to Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Sara was on life support and declared brain dead. She passed away shortly thereafter.

One of the many constants that continue to sustain Captain Sullivan 

is the community and network of unit leadership, friends, and family 

at Randolph AFB. You see, Brad and Sara were warmly welcomed into 
144 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

a unit that accepted them unconditionally and lovingly met every challenge with them as a family.

From the day of Sara’s first hospitalization, their family was never 

alone as friends and family regularly visited. There was an even 

greater outpouring of support when Sara passed away. Now, as Chloe 

fast approaches her first birthday, Brad and his daughter are gifted 

daily with words of support, meals, and anything else required to help 

them walk in their new life. When difficult decisions had to be made 

after Sara’s passing, Brad had a family liaison officer present or a 

member of unit leadership who was fully prepared to present him 

with all options for his family. All of this is a result of a culture of 

community—one that begins within our Air Force and reaches out to 

every member of our families.

Critical to loving your people is knowing them, not just what they 

do or their reputation at work but genuinely knowing them. As leaders and peers, we must invest the time to determine what moves and 

motivates those around us. It is essential that we know names of 

spouses and children. It is also imperative we understand the perspectives our people share. We must see the view individuals maintain of the world around them. This dictates an investment of time 

spent with them to hear their stories and life experiences. This stands 

to strengthen the bond you share with fellow Airmen and allows you 

to lead effectively.

Inevitably the investment we make in our people is returned. Often the return comes at a time of crisis, as in the story of Brad Sullivan. It is during this time that we owe it to those around us to focus 

centrally on what is in the best interest of the member affected.

Loving your Airmen is not a catch phrase, nor does it mean passively asking someone how his or her day is going. Rather, it is an 

active process, an investment on the part of leaders and fellow Airmen. You never know when you are going to make a difference, so 

never pass up an opportunity to reach out to those around you and 

invest in their lives. Trust me; it is an investment that will pay dividends for the rest of your life.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 145

Ordinary People Becoming 

Extraordinary Airmen

23 September 2010—During my 37 years in the Air Force, I have 

served with many great Airmen. Recently, the Air Force announced 

the retirement of five of our very best: Gen Howie Chandler, Gen 

Kevin Chilton, and Gen Roger Brady as well as CMSgt Pam Derrow 

and CMSgt Rob Tappana. Each one of these Airmen has selflessly 

served our nation in positions of great responsibility over many long 

years—in fact, together they total over 173 years of uniformed service!

These senior Airmen are leaders of the rarest form. Each ascended 

to the highest officer or enlisted rank in the Air Force, demonstrating 

a combination of exemplary character, personal intellect, exceptional 

work ethic, and an unwavering commitment to our nation. They began their lives in different places and under very different circumstances, but they have one thing in common: they exemplify how our 

Air Force affords ordinary people the opportunity to do extraordinary things.

General Chandler grew up in Missouri. He is the son of two hardworking parents. His mom invested her life as a housewife, caring for 

and raising him. His dad spent his entire career in radio and television broadcasting as a writer and producer. As the future general approached high school graduation, he chose to apply to only one college, believing strongly that he was destined to fly. He was accepted to 

the US Air Force Academy in 1970. Four years later, he was commissioned and began his rise among the fighter community. To date, he 

has completed more than 3,900 flying hours, predominately in advanced fighter platforms.

General Chilton spent his early years in Los Angeles, California. 

His father served in the Navy during World War II, then spent a 

lengthy career as a program manager with McDonnell Douglas. 

When this future combatant commander was just 12 years old, he 

experienced the exuberance of viewing a cockpit for the first time and 

putting his hands on the controls of an airplane. Although it was a 

small private airplane, he was fascinated by his surroundings. In fact, 

at one point in the flight, he turned to the pilot and asked, “Do you 

get paid to do this?” That flight was the beginning of his passion for 

aviation. In 1976 he graduated from the Air Force Academy with a 
146 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

degree in engineering and then spent the early years of his military 

career flying fighter aircraft. He attended the Air Force Test Pilot 

School and later, as an astronaut, piloted two space shuttle flights and 

commanded one.

General Brady grew up on an Oklahoma farm that his grandfather 

homesteaded in 1889. He is the son of two schoolteachers; his father 

also served in the Navy during World War II. As a young boy, this 

future Air Force leader was given big responsibilities in helping run 

the family business. His after-school chores often involved rounding 

up cattle in the evening while his dad and brother spent time at football practice. In 1964 he received an athletic scholarship to the University of Oklahoma. Four years later he graduated, was commissioned, and was given the opportunity to complete his master’s 

degree. After a few years as an officer in the intelligence community 

and serving in Vietnam, he became a pilot.

CMSgt Derrow was the second of six children and grew up in Indiana. Her mother was fully employed raising the children, and her 

father was a factory worker. The future chief was working in a bank 

after graduating from high school when she and a friend decided to 

join the Air Force on the buddy system. After just the second week of 

basic military training, her friend left, but she persevered. She entered the Air Force in 1980 and spent her early career gaining expertise in a variety of communications assignments. An NCO Academy 

distinguished graduate, she earned numerous accolades during her 

years of service, including being named Federal Woman of the Year 

at MacDill AFB, Florida, in 1996. A leader of Airmen, she served as 

commandant of the Air Force Senior NCO Academy and as a command chief for nearly five years, culminating her career as the enlisted leader of a major command.

CMSgt Tappana was raised in the great state of Alaska. Early in life 

he developed a passion for outdoor activities. His inquisitive nature 

drew him to adventures as a hunter, fisherman, and explorer. His 

mom managed a doctor’s office, and his dad was a schoolteacher. 

Each of them encouraged him to act on conviction and explore his 

surroundings. After visiting a recruiter, he entered the Air Force on a 

quest to see the world. He enlisted in 1979 and spent his early career 

as a traffic management specialist. He received countless honors and 

distinguished graduate recognitions throughout his career. Additionally, he spent nearly one-third of his career as a command chief. He 
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 147

was the senior enlisted leader for three wings, a numbered air force, 

and a major command.

Many may know these professional Airmen by their duties and 

rank. But remember, they were once young adults with a drive to 

serve and an unconquerable zeal for life, much like the young Airmen who make up the bulk of our force today. Anyone who knows 

these ordinary Airmen understands one principle is central to their 

lives: our service’s core values. I have personally witnessed each one 

of these Airmen advocate and fight for what they believed was right 

for the defense of this great nation and for our Airmen and their families. They also each demonstrate skillful balance in their lives because they are guided by their faith, love for family, and true belief in 

the principles of freedom. Each leaves behind a legacy of public service, humble stewardship, and determined leadership.

While it is difficult to know how they, or any of us, will be remembered in the future, one thing is certain—we each have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, to prepare and posture 

our Air Force for the challenges ahead, and to serve in awe of the 

wonderful nation we are sworn to protect.

PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 149

Leaders Come in All Sizes

18 October 2010—Earlier this year, I wrote an article about the 

solid foundation on which our Air Force is so securely postured—our 

civilian force. Often, it is the continuity our civilian partners provide 

that enables our war fighters to project air, space, and cyberspace 

power when called upon. Without a doubt, our civilian force has direct impact on the lives of our total force team every day. One of 

those vital civilian components of the Air Force team is our worldclass group of nonappropriated fund (NAF) employees.

NAF services encompass most, if not all, of the morale and welfare 

functions at our bases. These services vary widely and include golf 

courses, auto skills centers, base gymnasiums, child development 

programs, and libraries, just to name a few. Each of these programs is 

provided as a service to you and me, allowing us to relax during our 

off-duty time, care for our families, and take care of our health and 

personal well-being. These programs enable us to return to duty refreshed and focused on the mission.

They are, however, perishable entities. The unique and essential 

programs offered by NAF services are funded by our interest and 

business. In other words, if we don’t support them, we face the reality 

of losing them. This brings me to a fundamental point regarding the 

critical importance of leadership in the ranks of our NAF partners. 

Leaders within NAF services have been called to serve and support 

Air Force members and their families. I have witnessed this firsthand 

as a member of the community at Randolph AFB.

Randolph is one of a few remaining installations that still operate 

separate enlisted and officers’ clubs. The sole manager for both of 

those facilities is a NAF leader named Merilyn Gove. She is a tenacious leader and the fuel that energizes one of the Air Force’s greatest 

base club systems.

What distinguishes Merilyn—besides being five-feet tall—and 

makes her unparalleled in her career field are several characteristics I 

have personally observed in my tenure as the AETC commander. 

First is her vision. Merilyn began her current role as general manager 

about two years ago. However, she has served within the Randolph 

club system for over 14 years. Her club team is now ranked no. 2 on 

the Air Force Consolidated Clubs Fiscal Sales list of 2009. She is 

driven by the goal of excellence and top performance in her craft and 
150 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

is fast approaching the no. 1 position. But her vision is not solely controlled by fiscal performance. Merilyn is motivated by a true concern 

for the people that she professionally supports—our Airmen. She 

passionately believes that what she does can, and will, have a profound effect on those around her. Such drive is personally motivating 

and is certainly permeating the Randolph community.

In addition, Merilyn daily demonstrates a genuine approach to 

servant leadership. It is not uncommon to see her fulfilling duties in 

a variety of positions within her own clubs. These include door 

greeter, server, cashier, and hostess. Her energy is contagious! In fact, 

I often wonder how she seems to be everywhere all at once. She firmly 

believes that there is no job too small and certainly no job insignificant to accomplishing her mission. This alone is one of the most powerful tools any leader possesses—leading by example. Merilyn demonstrates to her staff and customers that she is fully committed to 

them, her clubs, and the marvelous people she works with. This is 

evident in the exceptional staff and impeccable clubs they operate.

As military members we receive world-class benefits that we sometimes overlook. Throughout my years of service, I have come to 

greatly appreciate the variety of low-cost services that focus solely on 

caring for our Airmen and easing the stresses placed on our families. 

I am deeply indebted to our NAF civilian partners. They selflessly 

serve our military families so that we may continue serving our nation. And within the ranks of NAF employees are servant leaders like 

Merilyn Gove, those who believe passionately in their purpose and 

mission and have a direct impact on our Air Force mission.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 151

Thank You

04 November 2010—This month I will officially retire and end my 

time as an active duty Airman in our beloved Air Force. Forty-one 

years ago, I stepped off of a bus at the Air Force Academy, although it 

feels like only yesterday. Every day since then has been a true joy—a 

chance to share adventures and tackle challenges with each of you.

When I stepped off that bus at the Academy, the Air Force was 

only 21 years old. To me, the Air Force didn’t seem so young; it had 

always been there. I studied Air Force senior leaders of the era with 

awe. They had been through so much—World War II, Korea, Vietnam—and some even had old green Army Air Corps uniforms hanging in their closets behind the newer blue ones.

Now, I look at each of you with the same awe. The Airmen in today’s Air Force have been given challenges like no other during this 

time of unprecedented regional conflict. And you all hit the ball out 

of the park each day; I couldn’t be more proud or more impressed.

As I step away from active service in the long blue line, I want to 

leave you with three ideals. These are three unwritten rules I’ve approached with each assignment. They’ve helped me maintain a 

healthy perspective during the daily challenge of balancing limited 

time, money, and manpower, and they complement our Air Force 

core values of integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all 

we do. I hope that these three principles will help you just as they 

have aided me.

The first rule is critical—we must all cherish our families. Make 

sure you thank your spouse, children, and immediate family every 

chance you get; let them know how much you appreciate and love 

them. After all, our ability to serve the nation depends on their support and understanding. In many ways, their service to the nation is 

much more difficult than ours. High operations tempos, combined 

with our deployment culture, only add stress to everyone. Be understanding and invest time in their lives, no matter how busy or tired 

you may feel.

Next, we must try to always leave the campground better than we 

found it. I often tell people to pick two to three major issues to tackle 

during an assignment. Prioritize them one through three and integrate the challenges into a long-term vision. Now, it may take several 

people and more years than you anticipate for the beneficial effects to 
152 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

take hold. Be patient and let your organization get involved. After all, 

it always takes a team to truly improve the campground.

Last, we must attempt to daily make a difference in people’s lives. 

Remember that each moment is important. Occasionally, you will 

find that people will come up to thank you for things you’ve done for 

them in the past. You may not have realized the significance of that 

moment, but it really made a difference in their lives. I am continually 

amazed at the emotions I experience when someone thanks me for 

words that I shared with them or something I did for their family 

many years ago. This only further reinforces the value of each moment and how important it truly is. Always speak and act with a purpose; always set the example.

I certainly hope that more often than not I have been able to leave 

fewer issues for others and help make our Air Force a better place 

today than it was yesterday. I hope that I’ve been able to make a positive difference in as many lives as possible, and that while treasuring 

my family, I’ve helped others to better appreciate theirs.

As a final thought, I want to express my deep thanks to the American public. It is humbling to know that our country entrusts us with 

its two most important treasures, the first being its sons and daughters. These young Americans serve gallantly in the face of adversity 

and are continually postured to carry out military operations across 

the globe. The Airmen in today’s Air Force continue to persevere 

while challenged with a dynamic and evolving global environment. I 

can say with the utmost confidence that the future of our nation is 

bright because brave young people raise their hand to voluntarily 

serve each day.

Our fellow countrymen also have entrusted us with our national 

treasury. Public funds are the contribution and earnings of hardworking American families and, as Thomas Paine wrote more than 

200 years ago, “ought to be touched with the most scrupulous conscientiousness of honor.”1

 Knowing this fact has compelled me to honor 

the trust our fellow Americans have bestowed upon members of the 

US military. We must never, ever do anything to violate this sacred 

obligation.

Of course, the things that I’ve done through the last 41 years are, as 

I like to say, interesting but irrelevant. What is important are the 

things each of you will continue to do as servant leaders for our force 

long after I’ve hung my blue Air Force uniform in the closet. If you 

live the aforementioned ideals—cherishing your family, leaving the 
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 153

campground better than you found it, and making a difference in the 

lives of others—then tomorrow’s Air Force will remain the premier 

air, space, and cyberspace fighting force in the world. Thank you for 

serving our great nation and thank you for making a difference in my 

life. Aim High—Fly, Fight, Win!

Note

1. Thomas Paine, Rights of Man, part II (London: J. S. Jordan, 1791), 331.

PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 155

Preventing Violence

18 February 2011—Air Force leadership must collect isolated bits 

of information, like disparate points of light, to concentrate into a 

single beam focused on preventing violence.

The other night I was watching the evening news when the story of 

the 50-year-old wife of a deployed US service member stationed at 

US Central Command headquarters at MacDill AFB, Florida, was 

reported. The report stated the military spouse had been arrested for 

allegedly shooting and killing her two teenage children for “mouthing” back to her.

A TV cameraman filmed the mother being escorted by local police 

to the waiting patrol car. She was in a white jumper and stood stiff as 

a board while shaking like a leaf. As the camera focused on her face, 

her eyes were wide open, and she had a thousand-yard stare.

The reporter interviewed a couple of neighbors who talked about 

how nice a person the mother was and that she even shared in carpool duties while taking local children to sporting events. Later, it 

was reported that several weeks prior to the shootings, the daughter 

had called police telling them that her mother had hit her twice before. On another occasion, the mother had been in a car accident and 

had “shown signs of drug impairment.”

This tragic story touched me greatly. In 1967 my family had similar 

issues. That year my father, an Air Force officer, went off to serve in 

combat in Vietnam for a year. No one died in my family while my dad 

went off to war, but he had to leave my mother, who had known medical and mental issues, and three children ages 15, 12, and eight.

In those days there was no e-mail, Twitter, Facebook, or Skype, so 

communication between service member and family was infrequent. 

To call to Vietnam from the States was very difficult and time consuming. A letter took almost three weeks to make a round trip to 

Vietnam. My mother was under the strain of taking care of our family, and she worried a lot about my dad in Vietnam. At times she took 

prescription drugs and self-medicated with lots of alcoholic beverages. Several times she made suicide gestures and took many of her 

frustrations out on us three children.

I was the oldest at 15, so many of the responsibilities of helping 

keep our household running and taking care of my younger siblings 

fell on my shoulders. I remember when my 70-year-old grandfather 
156 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

died; my grandmother and mother were so distraught that I had to go 

to the funeral home, pick out the casket, and make the funeral arrangements. My mother, now deceased, was a good person but was 

very ill. In those days there was some support for military members 

and their families but not like today. We are much better off as a military in taking care of our families, but as recent events have shown, 

we can and should do better.

During the last year of my active duty Air Force career, I had the 

privilege to serve on the DOD Independent Review into the 2009 

Fort Hood shootings and then on the Air Force Follow-on Review 

(AFFOR) titled “Protecting the Force: Lessons from Fort Hood.” We 

reviewed more than 20,000 pages of documents and surveyed more 

than 2,000 total-force military and civilian leaders. We ended up 

making 151 recommendations. (To view the complete AFFOR report, go to http://www.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100930 

-060.pdf.)

While all of the recommendations in the AFFOR are important, 

one stands out above the rest: the importance of information sharing. 

With so many deployments in the last 10 years, internal violence 

shows many faces. These include radicalization, harassment, sexual 

assault, domestic and workplace violence, and suicide.

Today we have many outstanding people at various venues who 

are working these issues, like those at installation-level working 

groups, community action installation boards (CAIB), and threat 

working groups.

However, as more stress is put on the force, we have to do better. 

We have to be able to connect information from many different entities in a timely fashion to shine a light on those people who need help 

and assistance. We need a process that forces increased discussions 

among unit leaders, care providers, lawyers, chaplains, law enforcement officers, and intelligence personnel.

The AFFOR recommended establishing a new installation-level 

forum called the Status of Health and Airmen Resilience Exchange, 

which would be linked to the CAIB. This forum would better support 

local commanders and leaders in identifying those experiencing difficulties. We need better ways to build a family and the whole-person 

picture. We need a faster process to get the right information to the 

right person—commander, doctor, chaplain, and so forth—at the 

right time.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 157

I realize that, even if we implemented all 151 recommendations of 

the AFFOR, we will not stop all violence. However, we must continue 

to improve our systems. If we stop just one violent act in our Air 

Force through these recommendations, then we will have been successful in building a better and safer service.

I can still picture the mother in Tampa, her two dead children, and 

the victims at Fort Hood, and I remember vividly my mother trying 

to hold it all together while my dad was in combat some 44 years ago. 

We owe it to our military members and families to do everything 

possible to ease the strain and the violence.

PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 159

Widows and Children Left Behind

30 May 2011—On 27 April in Kabul, Afghanistan, eight US Air 

Force Airmen were shot and killed in the same action while serving 

our great nation and our Air Force. On that same day, three other 

Americans from our sister services also died in other actions around 

Afghanistan. These eight Airmen, two Soldiers, and one Marine who 

died that day in Afghanistan are American heroes who were doing 

their duty to protect our country while trying to help the Afghan 

people. They gave the ultimate sacrifice for all of us.

Those service members who gave their lives that one day in April 

were also individuals who left behind hundreds of people who loved 

and respected them. I was fortunate to know three of the eight Airmen. 

One was a member of the Academy class of 1999 when I was commandant at the Academy; one worked for me at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, in 

our commanders action group (CAG); and the third had been one of 

my instructor pilots while flying T-1s at Randolph AFB, Texas. 

I was honored to attend memorial services for two of those who 

died that day: one at Langley AFB, Virginia, and the other in the Cadet Chapel at the Academy. Both ceremonies, which I am sure represented those held all over the country for the others killed that cold 

day in April, were professionally accomplished with tenderness. All 

the people who attended were sad but proud of the lives these great 

Airmen had led.

One of the most touching moments at one of the funerals was 

when the flag of our great nation was presented to the widow. She let 

out a cry of sadness that cut straight into everyone’s heart, and then 

the missing man formation flew overhead with such a great roar. 

There was not a dry eye in the crowd.

At the receptions following the funerals, we all talked about these 

great Americans. We reminisced and told stories about these Airmen 

whose lives had ended so abruptly.

As the food was served after the Academy memorial, I noticed the 

little seven-year-old daughter of my former cadet who had grown up 

to fly F-16s and had become a husband and a father. His daughter, 

dressed in her Sunday best, was sitting all alone in the corner of the 

room playing with a small toy. She looked so small and all alone but 

was deeply engrossed in her game. She had read a beautiful prayer at 

the funeral service, and everyone in the chapel sat and listened to her 
160 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

read with great pride and sadness. As I watched her, I realized that 

she did not know how her whole life had changed because of the 

events of that cold, dark day halfway around the world in Afghanistan. She never again would be able to talk to her Daddy. He would 

never be able to tuck her into bed at night. Forevermore, for the rest 

of her life, when asked about her father, she will have to say that “he 

died fighting for us in Afghanistan.”

At the other memorial service at Langley, I was honored to present 

the Purple Heart to the widow of my deputy CAG chief at Maxwell. 

He was somewhat older since he was enlisted before he became an 

officer. As I presented the medal to his widow, also an Air Force officer who has served overseas in harm’s way, I saw before me her son 

who was born just a month before his father was killed. This young 

baby, who bears the name of his father, will never know or be held by 

the father who loved him very much. This young baby will know his 

dad only by the stories that others who knew his father will tell him 

in the future.

We all have a responsibility and duty to celebrate the lives of our Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who have paid 

the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. However, we also must remember 

that for every one of them we celebrate, they each left behind moms, 

dads, wives, husbands, and many, many children. In the years to come, 

please take the time to help those who are left behind. It is the ultimate 

way to remember those who have sacrificed so much for us all.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 161

Leaders, Stress, and People of Faith

19 July 2011—Recently I was at a military base when two Air Force 

chaplains invited me to join them for lunch. We had a nice conversation on many subjects to include stories about leaders they had met 

over the years. One of the chaplains had just returned from his third 

tour in Afghanistan where he worked with the Army. The brigade he 

was assigned to was responsible for 18 forward operating bases 

(FOB). During his year-long tour, he experienced many great examples of leadership in very stressful combat situations. However, one 

example made a particularly lasting impression on him.

Late in his Afghanistan tour, he was scheduled to forward deploy 

to a FOB. As the troops were preparing to board the helicopters to a 

FOB that had recently been under attack, several Soldiers asked the 

chaplain if he could lead them in a prayer. A lieutenant colonel happened to be with the group, and the chaplain, who was a captain, 

thought as a common courtesy he would ask the senior officer for 

permission to say a prayer for the troops about to enter combat. The 

lieutenant colonel replied to the chaplain that “it would not be necessary” and walked away. The chaplain followed this senior officer’s 

guidance and did not lead the men in a prayer.

This story touched me. The senior leader’s own spiritual basis is 

irrelevant; he could have been Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, 

atheist, or agnostic. It does not matter. What bothers me is that the 

leader appears to have ignored the spiritual needs of his troops. True 

leaders who have a mission to accomplish, especially in stressful situations, must take into account how different people under their command react during those stressful situations. They must get out of 

their own heads and into others. They must know that different people need different types of reassurance. For many of the people they 

lead, faith plays a large part in their lives and affects how they react in 

times of stress.

Our government recognizes the importance of free exercise of religion in the military as guaranteed by the US Constitution and so 

employs chaplains specifically to assist commanders in discharging 

their leadership duties. In fact, DOD Directive 1304.19, Appointment 

of Chaplains, states, “Within the military, commanders are required 

to provide comprehensive religious support to all authorized individuals within their areas of responsibility.”
162 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

This leader lost a golden opportunity to show his troops that he 

cared so much about the mission and the people under his command 

that he respected their spiritual needs as they went into battle. The 

way he handled the situation left the chaplain, and I am sure the Soldiers who asked for the prayer, focused not on the mission at hand, 

but on his refusal to let a prayer be said. He also lost an opportunity 

to stand up for the constitution and our freedoms that the military 

fights so hard to protect.

To be truly effective leaders, we must respect the diverse people we 

lead. Each one of them is different, and that makes the units of our 

armed forces the strongest in the world today. We must be true to our 

own beliefs, but as leaders we also have a responsibility to the people 

we are sending in harm’s way.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 163

Life’s Experiences: Luggage or Baggage?

28 November 2011—Recently, I was invited to speak at the US Air 

Force Academy’s class of 2013 commitment night dinner. Commitment night is usually scheduled the day the third classmen (sophomores) return to the Academy and become second classmen (juniors).

Up to the very moment they begin their junior year academics, 

they can resign from the Academy and owe no commitment to the 

Air Force. However, once they start junior academic classes, they are 

committed for the next seven years—two as a cadet and five as an officer in the US military.

The night before the presentation, I could not sleep and tossed and 

turned thinking about what I was going to say to the 1,000 plus newly 

minted second classmen. At two a.m. I suddenly remembered an old 

suitcase that had many of my cadet papers in it. The suitcase was buried beneath piles of clothes in our closet and had not been opened in 

years. I got up and scrounged around in the closet until I found the 

35-year-old beat-up brown suitcase. Unfortunately it was locked, and 

I had no idea where the keys were. The next morning I took the dilapidated suitcase to our building custodian, who was a retired chief 

master sergeant, and he had it opened in about five minutes. Chiefs 

continue to make things happen even in retirement!

As I rummaged through the suitcase and found many of my old 

cadet papers, waves of nostalgia came over me. In the suitcase were 

copies of my appointment to the Academy from 1969 and my silvercolored class nametag that was placed outside my cadet room and 

identified the rooms I lived in over the four years I was a cadet. There 

was a form 10 that I got for signing in late one Christmas and a copy 

of the cadet punishment I received for the infraction. There were also 

copies of all my grades, including the three F’s I earned and the letters 

from the academic board giving me a second chance to graduate 

from the Academy. I also found a faded “Dear John” letter from an 

old girlfriend. Finally, in the bottom of the suitcase was my commission as a second lieutenant. The suitcase contained four years of my 

life’s experiences, and not all of them were good.

That night, as I stood in front of the class of 2013 to give my presentation, I told them the story about the suitcase and dramatically 

opened it and displayed the contents in front of them. I explained 
164 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

that four years of mementos—both the good and the not so good—

were in there. I told them how the contents of the suitcase had helped 

shape my entire life and that I could have used the contents as luggage 

that would help propel me on my life’s journey or as baggage that 

would hold me back.

You see, life’s experiences, like my bad grades, could have taught 

me that I was not as smart as the rest of my classmates and that I 

would always be behind. Instead, those momentary setbacks taught 

me to never give up and that lifelong learning can help you achieve 

just about anything, including becoming a university president.

The quality of your contributions to our armed forces and the nation as an officer, noncommissioned officer, or civilian is not determined so much by your individual successes or failures as it is by 

what you learn on the journey. It matters what you learn from both 

your good and bad life experiences; you should use them as a positive 

springboard into your incredible future. Your life experiences can either hold you back as baggage or help you along the journey as luggage. It is totally up to you.
PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES │ 165

Passing the Baton of Service 

to the Next Generation

4 June 2012—On 7 May a friend and classmate, retired Lt Col 

Doug Dick, passed away after a six-year battle with cancer. Doug was 

commissioned in 1973 after graduating from the Air Force Academy 

and earned a master of business administration degree from UCLA.

Following pilot training at Craig AFB, Alabama, he flew KC-135s 

and later served as a staff officer at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, and 

Andrews AFB, Maryland. After 20 years of service, he retired but 

continued to serve others as an elementary school teacher and principal in California.

During this entire time, Beverly, his wife of almost 39 years, was by 

his side, including those very tough six years Doug fought to stay 

alive. Bev was there during the radiation treatments, the chemotherapy, and the many surgeries.

The Dick family held the memorial service in California, where 

Doug had served as an elementary school principal for the last nine 

years. A week later a graveside service, attended by seven of his classmates, was held at the Air Force Academy cemetery. The chaplain 

said all the appropriate things, but it is hard to express the totality of 

a person’s life that made such a difference in our Air Force and to 

thousands of young children as an elementary school teacher and 

principal. Also, it is hard to find the words that truly tell how he inspired all those around him during his six-year battle with the cancer.

The day of this solemn interment ceremony at the Academy was 

also the Academy class of 2013’s ring dance day. My wife Leslie and I 

had been invited to attend the dance because our class of 1973 had 

been designated as 2013’s legacy class. When Bev heard that Leslie and 

I were going to the 2013 ring dance that very night, she asked if she 

could also attend. She explained that almost 40 years ago to the day, 

she was Doug’s date to attend our class’s ring dance and that it represented the real beginning of their shared service in our Air Force.

That night, Leslie, Bev, and I got dressed up in our Sunday best and 

drove to the Academy to attend the class of 2013’s big night—the 

night they were awarded their class rings. We arrived to the sight of 

General Lorenz now serves as the US Air Force Academy Endowment president. A version of 

this article was published as “Passing the Baton to the Next Generation,” Academy Spirit, 8 June 

2012.
166 │ PART 4, MONTHLY RELEASES

more than 2,000 cadets and their dates, eagerly anticipating a memorable evening. The women were young and beautiful and the men 

were young and handsome in their formal attire. The cadets had set 

up a World War II United Service Organization (USO) theme for the 

evening that included reenactors dressed in period uniforms, military jeeps, and trucks. The Air Force Academy band played nostalgic 

period songs, including tunes from Frank Sinatra.

After the rings were presented to the class and the cadets were beaming with pride, I watched Bev’s reaction. From time to time, I could see 

tears well up in her eyes as she reflected back to her time as Doug’s date 

some 40 years ago. You see, on that special evening long ago, Doug and 

Bev had their whole lives together ahead of them, just as the class of 

2013 now has their lives ahead of them. We thought we were immortal 

back then, just as they do now. As the three of us watched the cadets 

and their dates get into the spirit of the evening and begin to dance, Bev 

reminisced about all the fun and challenges that Doug and she had 

during their 20 years together in the Air Force. She talked about all the 

places they had lived and the friends they had made.

As the evening came to a close, I too reflected on Doug and Bev 

and thought about our friendship and our service together. Over the 

years, we have been fortunate in so many ways. We had the honor to 

serve our nation and form lasting friendships.

I also thought about how fortunate the American public is. It is 

fortunate because there is a new generation represented by the class 

of 2013 who is continuing the great tradition of service to the nation. 

The class rings the cadets were awarded that night are a symbol of 

passing the baton of service from one generation of Airmen and 

spouses to another. I also know that not only the class of 2013, but all 

our men and women around the globe serving their country are taking that baton and will never let it drop. It made me feel good to know 

that the United States of America is in such good hands. When we left 

the dance, I thought Doug would have been proud.
PART 5

Other Articles

Linking Resource Allocation to Performance 

Management and Strategic Planning: 

An Air Force Challenge

Maj Gen Stephen R. Lorenz

Lt Col James A. Hubert

Maj Keith H. Maxwell

Abstract: As a service, the Air Force fights much better than it buys 

things. In fact, our service—the world’s most powerful and capable 

air force—would probably fail quickly as a business corporation. 

We must do better, and this article raises some thought-provoking 

ideas about how to improve.

In late 2000, the service chiefs testified before Congress that the 

US military required upwards of $100 billion per year of additional 

spending (a 30 percent increase) to maintain readiness and modernize the force. But the recent tax cut, a slow economy, and spending 

increases needed for nonmilitary priorities make a 30 percent increase in defense spending unlikely. Without the needed funds, the 

military will face many difficult decisions concerning allocation of 

the remaining resources. The question is and always has been—what 

is the best way to allocate those limited resources? 

The approach to allocating resources throughout the DOD at the 

beginning of the twenty-first century has several deficiencies. It 

doesn’t provide connections from where we are (performance), to 

where we want to go (strategy), and to how we get there (resources). 

In addition, the process identifies shortfalls but not the sources to pay 

for them.

It rewards advocates who are the most adept at articulating increases in spending but sometimes punishes programs that can produce savings. Even worse, it lacks fundamental measures of value on 

which to base decisions. Eliminating these deficiencies may not solve 

the shortfall in resources, but it can ensure that we spend the money 

we have more wisely.

A version of this article was published as “Linking Resource Allocation to Performance 

Management and Strategic Planning: An Air Force Challenge,” Aerospace Power Journal 25, 

no. 4 (Winter 2001): 34–45. It was written before 11 September 2001 when General Lorenz was 

the USAFE/XP and resources were very tight, just as today. 
170 │ PART 5, OTHER ARTICLES

The key to enabling Air Force leaders to make better resource decisions lies in implementing three major changes in the way we do 

business. These three management functions must work in unison to 

ensure consistent direction. First, we must link resource allocation to 

performance management and strategic planning. Second, we need a 

process that is simple, transparent, and reproducible. It must be simple enough to be implemented quickly and improved upon; it must 

be transparent to identify the trade-offs and provide incentives for 

cost reduction; and it must be reproducible through a structured 

planning framework that relates capability to cost. Third, we must 

deliver the best value to the war fighter over time and with the resources available. This requires measuring Air Force capabilities and 

relating them to resources and operational effectiveness for the near, 

mid-, and long terms.

Such changes are within reach; however, getting there requires a 

cultural change. The Air Force management processes currently in 

place provide little incentive to reduce costs and only limited accountability for those costs. Gen Gregory S. Martin, commander of 

US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), recently observed that “the only 

way we’re going to get anywhere in the Air Force today is to develop 

the tools and performance measures which will allow our people to 

have control and accountability for their resource and mission performance. And then we can push decisions hard and fast to the lowest 

level possible. . . . That’s the only way we’ll really make major progress 

in the future.”1

The Air Force has recognized the need for change and is making 

the transition. Under the leadership of F. Whitten Peters, the former 

secretary of the Air Force, and Gen Michael E. Ryan, the former chief 

of staff, Headquarters Air Force created a team to reengineer the Air 

Force Resource Allocation Process (AFRAP). Led by Maj Gen Danny 

A. Hogan, the AFRAP team recommended a capabilities-based process for allocating resources.2

 As a result, Headquarters Air Force 

chose a new approach for building the budget for fiscal year 2003 (FY 

03) as an initial step to implementing the AFRAP recommendations. 

Each major command received a top-line dollar amount along with 

the direction to present a balanced, capabilities-based input to the 

amended Program Objective Memorandum (POM) for FY 03.

The USAFE team responded by developing a resource allocation 

model (RAM) that produced a balanced program and at the same 

time provided tremendous insight into the command’s capabilities. 
PART 5, OTHER ARTICLES │ 171

The purpose here is not to wave the USAFE flag but to use its experience as a case study. The USAFE RAM not only works for an operations and maintenance command, but also offers promise towards 

improving resource allocation for the entire Air Force.

We’re on a Journey

Throughout history, military spending has been based on available 

resources that the citizens of a country were willing to spend in 

peacetime and war. At the macro level, we won the Cold War by engaging in a long-term expenditure of resources while maintaining a 

large standing military. Today, with our vision of global vigilance, 

reach, and power, significant technological advantages have changed 

this equation. Vigilance has progressed from scouts and spies taking 

days or weeks to provide information to satellites and remotely piloted aircraft producing results in minutes. Reach has progressed 

from the walking pace of horse-drawn wagons to moving millions of 

ton-miles per day (thousands of tons halfway around the world every 

day). Technological advances in precision and stealth have significantly changed the nature of power in battle from using numerous, 

large munitions to destroy a target to using fewer, more precise weapons to achieve desired effects. Beginning with Operation Desert 

Storm and progressing further during the air war over Serbia under 

the leadership of Gen John P. Jumper, then the commander of USAFE, 

the goal has now become “effects-based” operations.3

 Technology has 

enabled us to pick and choose which of the enemy’s centers of gravity 

to affect and to strike them with crippling speed.

In the past, military spending drove the pace of technology. Militaries were both technology and resource limited. Over time, technology became profitable enough so that the private sector now takes 

the lead in many areas. As a result, we are faced with more technological choices than we can pursue with our available resources. Being resource constrained puts a premium on planning that is compounded by a rapid increase in system complexity. Automation and 

computers have resulted in systems of systems interdependent with 

other systems of systems. For example, satellite navigation, radio 

communications, precision weapons, and aircraft form complex systems of systems used to perform many attack missions.
172 │ PART 5, OTHER ARTICLES

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and his “whiz kids” responded to the increasing difficulty in 

allocating resources with the Planning, Programming, and Budgeting System (PPBS).4

 Until that time, each department received fiscal 

spending limits along with direction on how to spend the resources. 

Today, the major force programs and associated program elements 

provide the PPBS framework. Each program element is programmed 

with funds for five to six years in advance of the current budget. DOD 

went from little involvement in how the services spent their resources 

to detailed programmatic insight.

At the time of PPBS development, the military planning system 

was considered the best ever. But we have since realized that military 

planning has two broad categories: operational planning and force 

planning.5

 Although military operational planning and the associated logistical planning have proven extremely capable, force planning has never been highly developed. Even today, the Quadrennial 

Defense Review (QDR) is part of an informal process used by the 

DOD to establish force structure.6

In 1993 Congress passed the Government Performance and Results Act, which requires government agencies to take responsibility 

for effectively allocating and expending resources through strategic 

planning and performance management.7

 It also spawned the National Partnership for Reinventing Government, which, over the last 

eight years, has fostered numerous studies, experiments, and reforms 

in government planning and management.8

 In response to the Government Performance and Results Act, the DOD published its performance plan and captured its strategic plan through the QDR. Until recently, DOD and Air Force reforms have failed to address the key 

deficiencies in the PPBS process.

In 2000 the AFRAP process reengineering team developed a 

capabilities-based approach for resource allocation, reviewing 

PPBS and the related processes in place to establish requirements, 

make acquisition decisions, manage execution, and perform 

analysis. The recommendations included significant enhancements to the planning portion of PPBS by combining programming and budgeting and adding execution management.9

The fundamental key to implementing AFRAP is development of 

an Air Force capabilities framework to tie the elements of resource allocation together and serve as a basis for making decisions. Once the 

capability relationships are established, the AFRAP solution develops 
PART 5, OTHER ARTICLES │ 173

numerical capability objectives and projects them over time. These 

objectives are validated through the rest of the process by planning 

the capability solutions and associated resources over an 18-year time 

frame. Finally, accounting and performance-management systems 

provide feedback directly to the capabilities assessment in order to 

judge progress.

But We Have Miles to Go

The DOD and the Air Force have transformed in many ways recently, but, until AFRAP, neither adequately addressed the overarching issue of affordability. As a result, we still don’t really know whether 

we are spending our resources effectively and efficiently. A recent 

acquisition-reform effort first identified affordability as the missing 

link. In 1995 Dr. Paul G. Kaminski, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and technology, created an initiative called “Cost as an Independent Variable.”10 A team, formed with the objective of treating 

cost as importantly as performance, concluded that the key lay in establishing “affordable cost targets” for acquisition programs.

Since one can define “affordable” only in relation to the total budget, the solution lies not in acquisition reform but in improving the 

resource-allocation process. Our entire culture focuses on stovepiped 

portions of resource allocation, producing a system that sometimes 

encourages self-serving resource-allocation behaviors instead of a 

cross-functional capabilities approach.

The root cause of this behavior within our process is that we manage by shortfall. Dr. James G. Roche, secretary of the Air Force, said, 

“Given the demands on the forces, . . . the demands for situational 

awareness, and a great deal of technology, . . . you can’t do the stovepipe game the way you used to.”11 In our current process, we direct 

the participants to identify their shortfalls and bring them to the table. The result is a process designed to spend more money. Those who 

are successful in funding their shortfalls are the winners. In addition, 

since everything we do in the military is very important—life or 

death issues—cutting back or canceling a program is extremely hard. 

A process of managing by shortfall provides no information on where 

we can afford to make those cuts. A lack of information increases the 

impact of opinions. In other words, personalities fill the vacuum.
174 │ PART 5, OTHER ARTICLES

Management by shortfall also leads to a tremendously inefficient 

process for resource allocation. Because individual shortfalls tend to 

differ each year, the majority of the information needed by the process must be generated anew. Also contributing to this busywork is 

the fact that the relative priority of the shortfalls changes as well. 

Adding a 30–50 percent turnover in personnel every year to these 

conditions has the potential for disaster.

Ultimately, we are trying to determine how much of each capability to invest in relation to maintaining readiness of the forces we have. 

But how can we do this without knowing the relative value of each 

capability? All the new business practices coming out of for-profit 

industry could help the Air Force if it weren’t for one detail—we don’t 

make a profit! As Secretary Roche has said, “We recognize this is not 

a business. We don’t have a product, as in the open market.”12 All 

tough business decisions are based on the relative value of the choices. 

The new process improvements coming from the commercial sector 

are designed to help industry leaders find a balance between shortterm profitability and sustained health of the business. Without profit 

as a value measure, the military must develop standards of value to 

improve resource allocation.

Building a Balanced Program

In August 2000 USAFE began creating its RAM in response to the 

Air Staff ’s direction to develop a balanced, capabilities-based input to 

the Amended POM for FY 03. USAFE’s approach entailed dividing 

the initial top line into groups of capability by assigning each program element to a cross-functional capabilities group. Formation of 

the groups was based on the relationships between the command’s 

mission-essential tasks and goals, with the scope of responsibility defined by the synergies between the products of these tasks, their relationships to the command’s goals, and efforts to minimize the resources that cross group boundaries.

Because USAFE is an operations and maintenance command, 

management of day-to-day resources drove the definition of capability groups. The command created five groups—information superiority, aerospace operations, logistics support and infrastructure, people, and medical—tasked with assessing the capability provided by 

each program element and developing a balanced capability within 
PART 5, OTHER ARTICLES │ 175

the assigned top line. Each group also had to provide information for 

USAFE’s leadership to balance resources across the groups.

A simple rating system facilitated comparisons among diverse capabilities. Each program-element monitor was tasked to quantify the 

capability provided by his or her program element. The maximum 

usable and minimum acceptable capabilities were defined and assigned scores of 1.00 and 0.70, respectively (fig. 1).13 Each monitor 

was also tasked to assign a dollar amount to the maximum and minimum capabilities and define what the resources would purchase. 

Once the scale was established, the monitor was then tasked to assign 

a capability rating to the initial top line (fig. 2). Although in many 

cases data were not available to assign a truly objective rating, each 

program-element monitor had to defend his or her assessment under 

the scrutiny of peers and to the group.

Although the capability ratings provided a means for portraying 

the health of each program, they did not form the basis for decision 

making. Balancing resources within a group or between groups is a 

process of making trades—taking from one program to help another. 

1.1=Exceeds maximum mission

1.1=capabilities

1.0=Maximum usable

1.0=capability

0.9=Fully mission capable, with

0.9=minor shortfalls

0.8=Mission capable, with

0.8=signicant shortfalls

0.7=Minimum acceptable capability

Below 0.7=Not mission capable/

Below 0.7=unexecutable program

Low Risk

Moderate Risk

High Risk

Very High Risk

Figure 1. Capability rating scale (Figure courtesy of USAFE/Plans and 

Programs [XP] office.)
176 │ PART 5, OTHER ARTICLES

To facilitate balancing resources, program-element monitors were 

tasked to identify trade-ups and trade-offs of capability with the associated resources for their programs. In this way, the group could 

compare the value of a given trade-up for one program with a tradeoff for another and develop an understanding of where the balance 

lay. Each group identified trades that achieved improved balance 

across its programs and then prioritized trade-ups and trade-offs for 

the group as a whole. The groups presented this information to the 

USAFE leadership, who used it to balance capabilities and resources 

among the groups. Assuming that the overall command is capable of 

performing its mission beyond the bare minimum, the goal of making trades was to ensure that each element of capability had enough 

resources to earn a rating greater than 0.70.

This simple methodology resulted in vastly improved understanding of the capabilities and needs within the command. During the 

trading process, over $50 million moved among programs to correct 

imbalances. This amount represented only 2 percent of the command’s total resources, but the movement represented 65 percent of 

those resources within USAFE’s control, indicating how unbalanced 

the program had become without meaningful participation from the 

major commands.14 Implementing this process also highlighted several improvements needed within USAFE, along with information 

the command required from the Air Force to improve the balance 

1.1

1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

200 300 400 500 600 700

Program Resources (millions of dollars)

Capability Rating

Maximum Usable

Top-Line Performance

Minimum Acceptable

Figure 2. Capability versus resources (Figure courtesy of USAFE/XP.)
PART 5, OTHER ARTICLES │ 177

further. The command used these lessons to make improvements for 

the next cycle.

Doing It Again—Only Better

One key to successfully implementing a process change is to include continual process improvement in the design. A good example 

of preplanned improvement comes from software developers as they 

actually define processes. In the software industry, the incremental 

approach for continual improvement is called spiral development, 

where a spiral includes the development and fielding of operational 

code.15 The first spiral might field 60 percent of the desired functions, 

with succeeding spirals learning from the previous one and fielding 

increased functionality. In this light, USAFE’s RAM for the amended 

POM of FY 03 is spiral 1, and the command’s approach for the POM 

of FY 04 is spiral 2. The improved RAM/spiral 2 is the result of lessons learned during the FY 03 Amended POM and the desire to tie 

the model to strategic planning and performance management.

One lesson learned was that managing five groups requires too 

much manpower from headquarters. In addition, several changes to 

the group structure were needed to align complementary capabilities, 

resulting in three groups: command and control, aerospace operations and logistics, and people and infrastructure. The realignment 

added logistics to aerospace operations, where it is needed most. It 

also put medical and people together with the infrastructure that 

supports them and operations.

Another lesson was simply that more time, more training, and a 

more rigorous process were needed to better implement USAFE’s 

RAM. Following the submission of the amended POM for FY 03, 

the process was refined, with detailed work sheets provided to the 

program-element monitors. They were tasked with defining the capabilities and supporting measures for each of their programs during 

the summer of 2001 in advance of the command’s effort to balance 

resources. These definitions were documented and available for continual improvement during each cycle of the process. In addition, 

USAFE held a capabilities workshop with Air Force Materiel Command personnel who were involved in performance-based budgeting. The workshop also received support from the Air Force Studies 
178 │ PART 5, OTHER ARTICLES

and Analysis Agency, which shared techniques for assessing programs and tying their performance to higher-level capabilities.

A major change implemented for spiral 2 came from aligning the 

processes for strategic planning and performance management with 

USAFE’s RAM. During a two-day workshop in March 2001, the command’s senior leaders created the integrated-management construct 

for the USAFE Strategic Vision Process (fig. 3), intended to define 

where USAFE is through performance management, where it wants 

to go through strategic planning, and how it is going to get there 

through resource allocation.

The integrated-management construct links the three process elements and ties them directly to resources, links capabilities to resources by defining the command’s total mission capability within 

three capability areas, and then breaks those three capabilities into 

14 subelements defined as new mission-essential tasks of the command. Assigning each program element to a mission-essential task 

aligns all command resources with the capabilities. The construct 

Mission Vision

Capabilities Goals

Mission-Essential

Tasks Objectives

Programs Milestones

Performance Measures

Resource

Allocation

Strategic

Planning

Performance

Management

Figure 3. Integrated-management construct for the USAFE strategic 

vision process (Figure courtesy of USAFE/XP.)
PART 5, OTHER ARTICLES │ 179

aligns strategic planning and resource allocation by identifying a command goal for each of the three capability areas. One achieves linkage 

between performance management and resource allocation by aligning the performance measures directly to the mission-essential tasks. 

The result is a simple framework for aligning strategic planning and 

performance management with resource allocation.

In addition to aligning resources to take USAFE from where it is 

to where it wants to go, the new construct will directly improve the 

resource-allocation process. Dividing the capability groups into 14 

mission-essential tasks increases the fidelity for making trades. The 

new capability groups and their mission-essential tasks used in spiral 2 

align the command’s 124 program elements (fig. 4). The approach for 

the FY 04 POM involves balancing the resources within each program 

element, balancing the program elements assigned to each missionessential task, and then balancing those tasks within each group. The 

approach is simple, but experience during spiral 1 proved that establishing capability measures and requirements is challenging. Few 

programs have useful measures of what is expected from the resources allocated. Comparing the health of each program element 

C1. Command

and Control

C2. Aerospace

Operations

and Logistics

M1. 1. Information

Infrastructure

M1. 2. Battle-Space

Picture

M1. 3. Decision

Superiority

M2.1.

Air Superiority

C3. People

and Installations

$2.6 Billion

Top Line USAFE Mission

Capability

M3. 1. Protecting

the Force

M3. 2. Quality

People

M3. 3. Installation

Readiness

M3. 4. Quality

Housing

M3. 5. Medical

Operations

M3. 6. Support

Operations 124

Program Elements

14 Mission-Essential Tasks

Three Capability Groups

M2. 2. Mobility

M2. 3. Global Attack

M2. 4. Agile Combat

Support

M2. 5. Developing

and Maintaining Relations

Figure 4. USAFE’s RAM (Figure courtesy of USAFE/XP.)
180 │ PART 5, OTHER ARTICLES

and its contribution to total capability requires measures of that capability that cascade down to the program-element level.

Another significant change during spiral 2 involves integrating the 

wings’ financial and manpower planning into USAFE’s RAM. The 

wings were tasked to create a capabilities-based financial plan for FY 

02. The groups reviewed the results of the plan along with manpower 

assessments to refine their understanding of command capabilities. 

For FY 03 the wings are using spiral 2 of the RAM to develop an improved capabilities-based financial plan and manpower assessment. 

Each subsequent spiral will repeat between the wings and command 

headquarters to develop affordable standards of performance across 

the command. Those standards will improve USAFE’s ability to provide balanced inputs to the Air Force’s POM.

The biggest change needed for full implementation of USAFE’s 

RAM will not occur until spiral 3 or beyond and must come from 

implementation of AFRAP. The required balance among capabilities 

within the command ultimately depends on having an Air Force definition of the relative value of each capability. As an operations and 

maintenance command, USAFE receives forces based on higher-level 

decisions on what capability each weapon system should have, how 

many systems to purchase, and whether to place them in theater or 

deploy them from the continental United States. Implicit in these decisions are value judgments based on each system’s contribution to 

national security. An operations and maintenance command has neither the resources nor the information to make such judgments. For 

this reason, USAFE is working to define what is required from the 

Air Force to enable the command’s resource allocation.

Application to the Air Force

Development of an Air Force RAM is consistent with the direction 

being taken by AFRAP and would enable the Air Force to balance its 

resources, based on capabilities. Building an Air Force RAM requires 

three crucial steps: dividing the resources among capabilities, determining the value of those capabilities, and implementing a process to 

balance them over time. Dividing our resources in a meaningful way 

requires development of a planning framework to categorize capabilities. Setting the values for those capabilities demands analysis 
PART 5, OTHER ARTICLES │ 181

coupled with continual process improvement, and balancing our capabilities over time requires adding another dimension to the RAM.

Henry Ford taught us that managing anything requires breaking it 

down into definable pieces. The key lies in making the pieces meaningful and useful for resource allocation. Over the last 20 years, the 

DOD, the Joint Staff, and the Air Force have developed many excellent planning frameworks. These frameworks were developed for 

many different purposes but not specifically for resource allocation. 

Consequently, they don’t include all resources, adequately address 

support functions, or provide distinct categories meaningful to operations. These characteristics are fairly easy to achieve, but none of 

the existing planning frameworks has them all.

Existing Planning Frameworks

US/DOD/Joint Planning Frameworks

•  13 Title 10 functions

•  2 DOD goals

•  8 tasks in the Universal Joint Task List

•  6 elements in Joint Vision 2020

•  12 areas for the Joint War-Fighting Capabilities Assessment

•  8 areas for the Joint Monthly Readiness Review

Air Force Planning Frameworks

•  3 aspects of the vision

•  6 core competencies

•  7 Air Force tasks

•  14 critical future capabilities

•  6 mission areas in Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) 2020

•  7 elements and 5 capabilities in the strategic concept

•  4 elements in the Expeditionary Aerospace Forces construct

•  7 focus areas in the Vision Force

•  3 Air Force goals

Since the purpose of the framework is to allocate resources, one 

must include all resources. Existing frameworks for visions or concepts 
182 │ PART 5, OTHER ARTICLES

of operations address operational functions, but they leave out the 

significant peacetime roles assigned by Title 10, United States Code. 

Balancing only a part of the budget will fail to provide the information that decision makers need.

Dividing the whole into manageable pieces is particularly important. Joint and Air Force task lists provide definition for operational 

tasks but combine all Title 10 functions under a single category. Title 

10 breaks “organize, train, and equip” into 13 functions, showing that 

greater detail is required to describe the roles. However, Title 10 does 

not address the operational roles of our forces.

Our customers are the joint operations we are tasked to support. 

Since the customer establishes value, the framework must relate our 

resources distinctly to operational effects. The Air Force’s core competencies provide an excellent list of the service’s unique functions, 

but the fact that they are unique keeps them from being complete. 

Resources cannot be cleanly divided between precision engagement 

and global attack. One approach puts weapons under precision engagement and platforms under global attack. But both are usually 

needed to engage targets, and the operational customer cannot possibly choose between them.

The Air Force Task List describes all the activities performed by our 

service.16 A thorough review of this list, along with application of the 

above characteristics, leads to a possible Air Force RAM intended to 

relate directly to effects-based operations:

•  Global Power is the key combat capability—the capacity to destroy or disable desired targets.

•  Global Reach is the capacity to move forces—an enabling capability for engaging targets and a primary capability for humanitarian missions.

•  Global Vigilance is the capacity to use information—an enabling 

capability for both reach and power and a primary capability for 

deterrence.

The Air Force’s core competencies provide an excellent 

list of the service’s unique functions, but the fact that they 

are unique keeps them from being complete.
PART 5, OTHER ARTICLES │ 183

These three areas encompass the capabilities that directly contribute to operational effects. The proposed RAM also provides coverage 

of all the Air Force’s Title 10 resources in sufficient detail: 

•  Agile Combat Support is the capacity to support forces, whether 

deployed or not.

•  Quality People provides a category for all our people programs.

•  Enterprise Management allows insight into the resources we 

spend on our immense management task.

•  Innovation and Modernization group those capabilities used to 

transform our force and keep it viable into the future.

Each of these four capability areas includes assets that deploy to support operations, along with many used only for Title 10 functions.

All seven of the proposed areas need to have direct costs allocated 

as much as possible. For example, if hangars are needed for globalattack platforms, the cost of construction and use should be captured 

under global attack. The costs of acquiring, operating, and maintaining the platforms and associated equipment need to be allocated as 

well. In addition, manpower and any specialized training attributable 

to global attack must be accounted for. This is the key to implementing activity-based costing. Secretary Roche said, “We start really 

hampered by the fact there’s not an activity-based costing system.”17

Accounting for costs of the products we deliver is the only way to assess their value.

Once a planning framework is established, the hard part becomes 

determining the value of the individual capabilities. To do so, one 

must define the optimum capability measures and associated requirements, which necessitates defining standardized or generic effects applicable to different operational scenarios. For example, we successfully use the ton-miles-per-day unit to help describe our ability to 

move materiel. Similarly, we need to address the number of meaningful targets per day of power. Then we must do the same for vigilance 

and the other capability areas. Finally, we must apply these effects to 

a variety of standardized operational scenarios to determine the driving requirements.

Repeated use of capability measures for allocating resources will 

result in standards of performance, some of which we can adapt from 

measures already available, such as combat or “C-ratings” for combat 

and support systems. We already apply C-ratings to our facilities. 
184 │ PART 5, OTHER ARTICLES

Over time, expectations will be generated for other peacetime services as well. As standards are developed and adjusted, the process of 

allocating resources will become simpler. These standards will flow 

directly down to the major command and unit levels through the capabilities framework. The three USAFE capability groups in spiral 2 

map onto the proposed Air Force RAM.

The step not yet addressed in USAFE’s spiral 2—which must be 

addressed for Air Force implementation—is addition of the time dimension. Today’s modernization-planning process is easily adaptable 

to AFRAP planning. After developing capability measures and values, one can then establish near-, mid-, and long-term objectives. 

Current imbalances, the environment, and the affordability of potential solutions will drive these capability objectives. Capability options 

will be established, and a robust set of options will be funded to ensure a reasonable level of risk.

Former Air Force chief of staff Gen Larry D. Welch said, “It’s all 

about balancing modernization, readiness, people, and infrastructure: balancing our readiness today with our readiness tomorrow.”18

Achieving this balance requires implementation of the planning portion of AFRAP. The proposed Air Force RAM enables this implementation by providing the capabilities-based planning framework and 

the value of those capabilities. Finally, if the Air Force integrates strategic planning, performance management, and resource allocation 

through a RAM, the result would be a truly “balanced scorecard” approach to management.19

Summary and Conclusion

Making the billion dollar decisions that we need to operate efficiently and effectively in the twenty-first century requires three key 

changes in the way the Air Force does business. The first involves 

The problem we are dealing with in allocating tens of 

billions of dollars every year across a nearly infinite 

series of needs is complex.
PART 5, OTHER ARTICLES │ 185

linking resource allocation to performance management and strategic planning. We developed the current processes without a unifying 

construct. Our experience shows that a management construct relating capabilities to mission-essential tasks and programs provides the 

needed linkage. The strategic goals align with each capability, and 

the organizational-performance measures align with each missionessential task.

The second key change is to create a process that is simple, transparent, and reproducible. The new process must be simple—both to 

implement and to use. The problem we are dealing with in allocating 

tens of billions of dollars every year across a nearly infinite series of 

needs is complex. We can’t afford to wait while sophisticated techniques for decision making are developed. We have to get started by 

tackling the whole budget, not just shortfalls. To do so, we will need 

to use an approach based on continual improvement. Our current 

promotion system serves as a good example of a simple process that 

is subject to continual improvement; it is also transparent and reproducible. As with any new process, it was not as good when first introduced as it is today. Over the years, improvements have made it a 

highly rated and fair promotion process.

To be successful, a resource-allocation process must also be transparent. Discussing the new DOD management councils for improving business practices, Secretary Roche said, “We are going to be extraordinarily transparent, and so when monies are saved in one area, 

those monies will then be . . . applied to another area. . . . This is the 

incentive that is healthy; it’s a win-win for everyone.”20

The process has to reveal the total capability provided by every 

program and lay the facts on the table for all to see. By defining both 

the trade-ups and the trade-offs, one can establish the relative value 

of each choice despite a lack of perfect knowledge. Only then can we 

agree on what is affordable and reward people for taking cuts for the 

good of the service.

Reproducibility, the key to the new process’s survival, must be 

based on standards of value that can be established, reused, and improved over time. A single planning framework will help develop the 

standards, record them as they are established, and clarify the links 

among programs and their intended operational effects. This framework is actually a categorization scheme. Genghis Khan used a decimal system to manage his armies in groups of 10,000 (called a tuman): “Whoever can manage his own house well can also manage an 
186 │ PART 5, OTHER ARTICLES

estate, whoever can keep ten men in order in accordance with conditions may be given a thousand and a tuman and he will also keep 

them in order.”21

The third key change entails developing capability measures that 

allow Air Force decision makers to deliver the best value to the war 

fighter over time. General Martin, then a lieutenant general and principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, said, 

“Tying our resources to our capabilities is the single most-important 

issue facing the Air Force today.”22 We have shown that in order to 

determine value, capabilities must be related to resources on the one 

hand and to operational effects on the other. After these relationships 

are established, we can assess the value of our investments over short-, 

mid-, and long-term planning horizons. Estimating the value of capabilities and investment options will require analysis, but, in the 

end, the proposed RAM is a tool for the decision maker—not the 

analyst.

Our warriors can embrace this particular revolution. It is based on 

the fundamental principles of establishing teamwork, ensuring capability for the war fighter, and following the money! The improved decision making that results will lead directly to real savings and increased performance by spending the resources where they are most 

needed. In addition to these direct savings, aligning our efforts will 

enhance the productivity of the entire Air Force. The biggest obstacle 

to motivation occurs when people don’t know what is expected of 

them. Sun Tzu said, “He will win whose army is animated by the same 

spirit throughout all its ranks. . . . But when the army is restless and 

distrustful, trouble is sure to come.”23 The ultimate improvement in 

the Air Force will come when our people can be rewarded for providing the war fighter the most “bang for the buck.”

Notes

1. USAFE council meeting, Ramstein AB, Germany, 20 April 2001.

2. AFRAP was created in January 2000 under Headquarters Air Force 2002, a 

major process-reengineering effort led by Lt Gen Joseph H. Wehrle, deputy chief of 

staff for plans and programs (AF/XP), and guided by William A. Davidson, administrative assistant to the secretary. Maj Gen Danny A. Hogan was the mobilization 

assistant to AF/XP.

3. Col John A. Warden III, “The Enemy as a System,” Airpower Journal 9, no. 1 (Spring 

1995): 40–55, http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj95/spr95_files
PART 5, OTHER ARTICLES │ 187

/warden.htm; and James A. Kitfield, “Another Look at the Air War That Was,” Air Force 

Magazine 82, no. 10 (October 1999), http://www.afa.org/magazine/1099eaker.html.

4. DOD Directive 7045.14, The Planning, Programming, and Budgeting System, 

22 May 1984.

5. Joint Publication 5-0, Doctrine for Planning Joint Operations, 13 April 1995, I-1.

6. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction 3100.01A, Joint Strategic 

Planning System, 1 September 1999, E-5.

7. Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, Public Law 103-62, 103rd 

Cong., 1st sess. (17 March 1993).

8. Vice President Gore’s National Partnership for Reinventing Government website, 2 October 2001, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/npr/default.html. 

9. The AFRAP process design consisted of four key subprocesses: determine capability objectives, develop capability options, allocate resources, and assess performance. The entire process was to be supported by end-to-end analysis.

10. Office of the Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Technology), to Secretaries of the Military Departments, memorandum, subject: Reducing Life Cycle Costs 

for New and Fielded Systems, 4 December 1995, attachment 2, Cost as an Independent Variable (CAIV) working group paper.

11. DOD news briefing, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz and service 

secretaries, 18 June 2001, http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2001/t06182001

_t618dsda.html.

12. Ibid.

13. Any scale could have been used, including green-yellow-red or A-B-C. However, allocation of resources favors a numerical system because the next step calls for 

relating the capability rating to dollars.

14. Dollars moved internally totaled $52 million. Total USAFE resources for the 

Amended Program Objective Memorandum of FY 03 were $2.6 billion. A $76 million trade space was calculated by subtracting the estimated discretionary funds required for minimum acceptable performance ($1,376 million) from the top-line 

discretionary funding ($1,452 million).

15. George Wilkie, Object-Oriented Software Engineering: The Professional Developer’s Guide (Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., 1993), 111.

16. Air Force Doctrine Document 1-1, Air Force Task List, 12 August 1998.

17. DOD news briefing.

18. Meeting, Headquarters USAFE, Ramstein AB, Germany, 2 July 2001.

19. Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton, The Balanced Scorecard: Translating 

Strategy into Action (Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press, 1996).

20. DOD news briefing.

21. H. G. Wells, The Outline of History (Garden City, NY: Garden City Publishing 

Co., 1925), 61; and Valentin A. Riasanovsky, Fundamental Principles of Mongol Law

(Bloomington: Indiana University, 1965), 200.

22. Tiger Team meeting, subject: Future Modernization Priorities and Process, 

Arlington, VA, September 1999.

23. Sun-Tzu, The Art of War: The Oldest Military Treatise in the World, ed. and 

trans. Lionel Giles, (Harrisburg, PA: Military Service Publishing Co., 1944), 33.
188 │ PART 5, OTHER ARTICLES

Contributors

Maj Gen Stephen R. Lorenz (USAFA; MPA, University of Northern Colorado) is deputy assistant secretary for budget, Office of the 

Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and 

Comptroller, Headquarters US Air Force, Washington, DC. He previously served as director of plans and programs, Headquarters US Air 

Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany. A command pilot with 

3,300 hours in eight aircraft, he has served as a staff officer at two 

major commands, the Air Staff, and the Joint Staff, as well as having 

commanded an air-refueling squadron and a geographically separated operations group. The general has commanded three wings—

an air-refueling wing, an air-mobility wing, and a training wing at the 

Air Force Academy, where he was also the commandant of cadets. 

General Lorenz is a graduate of Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, Air War College, and National War College.

Lt Col James A. Hubert (BS, Oregon State University; MS, George 

Washington University) is chief of the Strategy and Programming 

Branch, Headquarters US Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany. Recent assignments have included member of the Air Force 

Resource Allocation Process Reengineering Team, Washington, DC; 

chief of Acquisition Management Policy and Acquisition Strategic 

Planning, Washington, DC; electronic-warfare program manager, 

Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; and Air Force technology coordinator 

for identification of ground forces, Langley AFB, Virginia. The holder 

of two patents and the author of several technical papers, Colonel 

Hubert is a graduate of Squadron Officer School and Air Command 

and Staff College.

Maj Keith H. Maxwell (BS, University of Maine; ME, University 

of Florida) is senior military advisor to the commander for RheinMain Transition, Spangdahlem AB, Germany. Recent assignments 

have included chief of programs and legislative liaison, Headquarters 

US Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany; Peace Vector IV 

construction manager, Sakara AB and Gianaclis AB, Egypt; chief of 

the Geotechnical Division and assistant professor, US Air Force 

Academy; and electromagnetic project leader, Phillips Lab, Kirtland 

AFB, New Mexico. Major Maxwell is a graduate of Squadron Officer 

School and Air Command and Staff College.
Conclusion: Why Airmen Must Write!

As I wrote in the beginning of this book, there are many books and 

stories about many great deeds and leadership traits of our fellow Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen. They do have a longer 

history, but they also have a higher propensity to write things down. 

Go to the book store. In the history and biography sections, you will 

see the great number of books written by the members of our sister 

services. I enjoy reading and studying them—especially the ones on 

leadership.

Airmen also have great stories to tell. We just need to take the time 

to write them down. As an example, I recently attended the memorial 

service and funeral of Capt Ryan Preston Hall. He was a 2004 ROTC 

graduate of the Citadel who, along with three other Airmen, was 

killed in an aircraft accident in Africa. Ryan’s father graduated from 

the Air Force Academy in 1970 and had served as an Air Force officer.

As I stood watching his mother receive the American flag, she 

slowly brought her hand up to her mouth as if to muffle a faint cry of 

sadness. As the ceremony ended, the father came to attention and, 

standing there in a dark business suit, saluted the coffin that contained the remains of his beloved son.

After his squadron mates honored Ryan with a flyover, I noticed 

the sea of Airmen dressed in blue that were there to honor their fallen 

comrade. In the crowd of several hundred, there were at least 100 

captains and enlisted Airmen who stood at attention. They all had 

two things in common: they were all young and all combat veterans. 

Their youth and the many rows of ribbons on their uniforms reminded me that fighting wars is primarily a young person’s business.

These young American Airmen—along with their fellow Soldiers, 

Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen—are being served up hard 

balls by their political and military leaders and are hitting home runs 

time and again. They make me proud.

As the years pass, their great deeds and the leadership they have 

demonstrated must not be forgotten. There is an old saying, “We stand 

on the shoulders of giants.” Future generations need the wisdom and 

the leadership experiences of those who have served before them.

Another old saying is, “A wise man learns from the mistakes of 

others; a fool has to learn from his own mistakes.” Each of us has a 

responsibility to pass on to others what we have learned over the 
190 │ PART 5, OTHER ARTICLES

years. We have a responsibility to mentor those that come behind us. 

Please take the time to mentor and make a difference. Every one of us 

is a leader in one way or another.
Lorenz on Leadership

Lessons on Effectively Leading People, 

Teams, and Organizations

Air University Press Team

Chief Editor

Belinda Bazinet

Copy Editor

Sandi Davis

Quality Review

James Howard

Cover Art, Book Design, and Illustrations

Susan Fair

Composition and Prepress Production

Vivian D. O’Neal

Print Preparation and Distribution

Diane Clark