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  • A memorable 40th Memorial Day

    I was only five days old when I had my first Memorial Day 40 years ago. I certainly wasn't old enough to understand the depth of meaning of Memorial Day then , but now I do. On May 25, 1969, a lot was happening in the United States. In San Diego, the Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 1-0 in a

  • Passing the baton: Best leaders are ones who mentor their successors

    Timing is everything in a relay race. That crucial area where two runners pass the baton can make the difference between victory and defeat. Years ago I was running the third leg of a 4 x 400 relay team. I was no Carl Lewis, but I could hold my own. I was in the exchange zone, leaning forward. I

  • Freedom...at 24,000 feet

    Our air refueling mission bore the call sign "DUCE 01." It was printed in capital letters written with a red marker on a dry-erase board in the planning room for the 2nd Air Refueling Squadron. It was 3:47 p.m. on April 9. I sat in the room with seven aircrew members from the 2nd ARS as they went

  • A medal for grandma

    I was thousands of miles away when my grandmother Margaret Jeske died on March 17, 1993. It was the same day I was bringing my wife Bobbi and our new three-day-old daughter Ivy home from the hospital. At the time, I was stationed at Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal. I'd been in the Air Force for just

  • Some good advice from a senior enlisted leader

    My wife Bobbi and I approached his table slowly. It's a rare occasion to meet somebody of this magnitude in an Air Force career in passing, much less for an extended sit-down talk. We were at a dinner social on McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. In total, there were probably 30 to 40 people at this

  • Commander thanks 'Eagles' for 'great visit' with CMSAF

    Eagles, you nailed another victory in "selling" the Center to Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley. Although we've batted "1.000" when a distinguished visitor puts "boots on the ground," it's still each of you that turns the tide on a visit. Last Tuesday (Feb. 10) was no different.

  • Excellence -- not just a word

    Team Eagles -- shortly I will celebrate my two-month anniversary as your command chief and what an awesome experience it has been. Each day has proven to be one of humbleness and honor as I have witnessed your genuine effort to train, mentor, and lead expeditionary Airmen. Your professional approach

  • Closing the ‘Liberty’ circle

    All the way up to Jersey City, wet snow pelted our Jeep's windshield with some of the biggest snowflakes I've seen in years. The snow made traveling north on the Jersey Turnpike from McGuire Air Force Base a little slower Jan. 19, but I knew our destination would make the tougher traveling

  • Air Force Memorial: If I could only show Hank

    During an early December visit to Washington, D.C., and Arlington, Va., I stayed in a hotel overnight near the Pentagon in Arlington. From my fourth floor hotel window, I could see the new Air Force Memorial. The first thought that came to my mind when I saw it glimmering in the night was ... "I

  • AMC unveils new mission statement and focus areas

    This past June, I issued a call for all AMC personnel to "return to basics," and I thank you for the renewed attention you've given to our core values and our mobility mission while restoring the Air Force's good name with your daily, outstanding mission accomplishment. Today, we build on that