Node4 ’s Post

I found Donna Hicks’ book through the reading list of the United States Air Force. I think Craig Johnson, PMP got me started on reading from that list 25+ years ago. Yes, going on three years retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve & I’m still curious what we recommend Airmen read. JoAnne (Jo) Bass - was this book one of your adds? If so, thank you! So much in this book touches on how we can be better to each other. ⁉️ What if we were more open to learning about the experiences of others? ⁉️ What if we valued more the perspectives and experiences of those not like us? ⁉️ What if we approached feedback with curiosity on our impact on others? ⁉️ What if we cared more than we critiqued but also cared enough to correct others? ⁉️ What if we really acknowledged that we are better together? So many “what if” opportunities brought to mind with this book. #whendrreedreflects #elevatingpeoplework #leadersarereaders #usaf #leadershipdevelopment

The Air Force's top leaders emphasize unity and patience as the service undergoes significant changes to better compete with China. They urge airmen to trust the process and work together during this transition. Key initiatives include restructuring wings and enhancing readiness through new training exercises. Leaders acknowledge the challenges and mixed feedback but remain committed to supporting airmen and their families through these changes. #AirForce #Leadership #ChangeManagement #MilitaryReadiness #Teamwork #Airmen #USAF

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Yesterday, I was invited by CDR Jeremy (Jay) Huls, USN, Commanding Officer (CO), Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station (NCTS) Sicily, to present the November 2024 Creighton Cup to IT2 Alston Sanders, USN via Zoom. It was an incredible honor to be asked to present this award. Like most senior military officers, I have a passion for mentoring, but as an introvert, it didn’t come naturally. So, in 2008 enroute to my O5 (Commander) Command tour, I did a lot if thinking about the command climate that I wanted to create. I knew I wanted it to have “more carrot, less stick.”  Where leadership spends more time finding people doing things right and less time looking for things being done wrong. A command climate where when mistakes did occur, we'd focus on learning from it and not denying responsibility. I wanted to let my folks see my real personality and have direct interaction with them. I knew that affirmation (recognition) was a force multiplier.  I also knew that one of the most powerful things that I experienced during my early career was when a senior leader wrote me a handwritten note to thank me for my extra effort on an issue. My idea was a weekly award program where we would recognize one sailor a week for going above and beyond. The winner would receive a handwritten note from me, a certificate (obligatory in the military), a giant trophy to keep for the week and their picture would be placed on the quarter deck of the command. Best of all, the winner would interact with me on the loudspeaker system for the whole command to hear them thanking their chain of command for recognizing them. The program was called the “Warrior of the Week.” I used this program during the three tours when I served in command. My favorite part of the program was when I walked around the command, I would see handwritten notes taped to the wall above the former winner’s desks for the rest of their tour. The unintended consequence of Warrior of the Week was that my wardroom liked it so much that many of them went on to implement Warrior of the Week programs when they served in command. One of those officers was my Executive Officer, then LCDR J. Steve Correia, USN who encouraged me that the Warrior of the Week was a good idea, and he would help me sell it to the wardroom. Steve perfected Warrior of the Week during his three command tours as CDR and then CAPT Correia. Steve taught his wardrooms about the power of affirmation; one of those officers is CDR Jay Huls, USN who is now CO, NCTS Sicily. So, Warrior of the Week came full circle back to Sicily, and it is now named the Creighton Cup. I am immensely humbled and proud. There are many famous award programs in the military. I am not suggesting that this one is special or different. However, as I spend time thinking about mentoring, I have come to realize that not all mentorship is done intentionally. Sometimes, it happens through your example. People watch what you do and how you do it.

So yesterday my friend and #Vistage Chair colleague Jim Ristuccia posted a photo which brought me immediately back to my days as a #USNavy helicopter pilot. It also spurred me to post this observation which I have stated so many times about #Leadership. In the Navy, you can walk down the waterfront or along the flight line and see ship after ship or squadron after squadron of like ships or aircraft. These parallel ships/squadrons have exactly the same characteristics, the same exact budgets, access to the same pool of parts, materials, manpower, etc. They are basically indistinguishable from each other. Yet within the first 15 minutes onboard you can tell which unit is the best, and certainly which one is the worst - in nearly every category - performance, morale, readiness, culture, etc. The only difference is the #Leadership provided from the Commanding Officer on down through their wardroom, Chiefs Mess and individual Sailors. The leadership permeates every aspect of life within that ship or squadron and clearly separates the "Best" from the rest.

Jeremiah Eubanks, Grace Eubanks "I learned to embrace humility. There’s nothing quite like being in a debrief where every mistake is discussed—not to criticize, but to improve. That process taught me to leave my ego at the door and focus on becoming better for the team." This is a great attribute for anyone, leader or otherwise. The zeitgeist today is that everyone gets to have their "own truth" and no one is allowed to question it. And when facts come in conflict with this "truth," facts often lose out to the emotions of the one whose "truth" is being called into question. When we get to make our own "truth" about a matter, regardless of the actual facts, we are in a sense placing ourselves in a position of never having to be wrong. And when you are never wrong or can never be questioned, you are going to fail, and keep failing. Learn to embrace humility. Search for the truth. Never create your own "truth" to justify your mistakes, lack of knowledge, or emotional position. -Dad

Everyone wants candor until someone tells them something candid. Something Special Forces NCOs are great at! Leadership has almost nothing to do with how you feel as the leader. It has everything to do with ensuring your team has what they need to be successful…and that can’t be done from behind the desk. Major General Gil Ferguson is the Commanding General of 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) - US Army. He joined The Jedburgh Podcast for a conversation on why candor is important in high performing organizations. He also explains the culture of the Regiment, how the Special Forces Groups are preparing for regional conflicts with unknown enemies, at unknown times; and just how Green Berets are solidifying themselves as the go-to option in the deep sensor fight against our peer adversaries. General Ferguson also explains the SOF-Space-Cyber Triad, where he sees Special Forces in a decade, and as our units evolve, what needs to stay the same. Take a listen, watch, or read our conversation with America’s top Green Beret, then head over to our YouTube channel to watch General Ferguson share the lineage of America’s first Special Forces in the Jedburgh Media Channel’s first documentary, Unknown Heroes, Behind Enemy Lines at D-Day, the story of Operation Jedburgh.   Episode 142: https://lnkd.in/enckrg2s #SpecialForces #GreenBerets #1stSpecialForcesCommand #USArmy #SpecialOperations #MilitaryCulture #SpecialForcesGroups #RegionalConflicts #PeerAdversaries #DeepSensorFight #SOF #SOFSpaceCyber #MilitaryStrategy

This photo takes me back to my early days as a young A-10 pilot in my very first fighter squadron. I was new to the community, eager to prove myself, and ready to learn. What I didn’t fully appreciate at the time was just how much that squadron would shape me—not just as a pilot, but as a person and leader. I showed up to the 75th Fighter Squadron in 2001, we deployed to Afghanistan in 2002, and then to Iraq in 2003. We grew up together, forged relationships that would endure over the years, and left a lasting impression on one another. That was a defining time in my life. From the very beginning, I learned the importance of trust. Whether it was the maintainers who ensured our jets were combat-ready, the flight leads who led us through challenging missions, or the wingmen who had our “six” — success was built on a foundation of trust and mutual support. I learned to embrace humility. There’s nothing quite like being in a debrief where every mistake is discussed—not to criticize, but to improve. That process taught me to leave my ego at the door and focus on becoming better for the team. I learned the importance of accountability. We held each other to high standards because the mission—and lives—depended on it. The lessons I learned early in my career shaped how I approach leadership in every aspect of life. Building trust, embracing humility, and holding ourselves and others accountable are principles that make teams stronger and more resilient, no matter the mission. #aviation #leadership #FlyingInTheFaceOfFear

Several months ago, at a book signing in Colorado Springs, two elderly white women asked me if my book, “The Air Force’s Black Ceiling,” was still relevant. “Black Ceiling” was written in 2016 and followed by two sequels, “The Air Force’s Black Pilot Training Experience” and “The Air Force’s Black Pilot State of the Union.” There are other sequels in the works. But the publication date didn’t prompt the questions. Lieutenant General Richard M. Clark, Superintendent of the US Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, is black. Former Air Force Chief of Staff (CSAF) and current Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, General Charles Q. Brown, is black. Lt Gen. Clark was the first black USAFA Superintendent, and Gen. Brown was the first black CSAF. The implication from the women was that there was no more black ceiling in the Air Force. The Air Force became a separate Service in 1947. Gen. Brown became CSAF in 2020. The first blacks graduated from USAFA in 1966. Lt Gen. Clark became Superintendent in 2020. These overdue breakthroughs are very significant, but too many ”firsts” still have yet to happen. This year, Lt Gen. Adrian L. Spain became the first black Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations on the Air Staff in the Pentagon. There has never been a black general officer on the Tactical Air Command/Air Combat Command staff nor a wing commander at any of the “premier” fighter wings in the continental United States. #usaf #usafa #usairforce #airforce #military #militaryhistory #diverstiy #diversityequityandinclusion #airforcehistory #blackhistory365 #pilots #blackpilots #tuskegeeairmen #obap #obapexcellence #book #books #mustread #CSAF #CJCS #secaf #glassceiling (See link below/Also available on Amazon/Bookbaby) https://bubli.sh/2rXQd6w  

EPISODE 135 is now live with Command Sergeant Major WALT ZAJKOWSKI! 🔥 Command Sergeant Major Walt Zajkowski and I are two of the world’s biggest fans of the Best Ranger Competition. And since the 2024 competition is this weekend, we sat down to talk about what makes this endurance competition so great and so unique. We are both past winners, but Walt is one of the very few who have won it more than once, and he has competed an incredible 8 times! Aside from the competition, Walt has had a highly distinguished military career, where he has served the US Army since 1994 and has won numerous awards. You’ll hear: ✅ Why we started competing in the Best Ranger Competition despite initially feeling way out of our league ✅ Why this event is unlike any other endurance competition on the planet ✅ What goes through these world-class athletes’ minds in the hours leading up to the starting line ✅ What it actually takes to win (it’s not always the team with the most strength or speed) ✅ Lessons we’ve learned from this competition that you can use to get through life’s unknowns and difficulties Find out more about the Best Ranger Competition and follow along here: https://vist.ly/xsdv 📱Check out EPISODE 135 now ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gdckEdjq #Unbeatablepodcast