Nov. 6, 2012 Commentary: Veterans Day honors a truly elite group Because we are Airmen, and are surrounded by the military on a daily basis, it can sometimes be easy to forget how incredibly significant it is to be a veteran. The approximately 22 million living veterans in this country make up only about 7 percent of the population. And less than 1 percent of
July 23, 2012 Commentary: My job is prosecuting sexual assault Here's a simple truth...sexual offenders reject our core values of integrity, service and excellence, in favor of following their own base, undisciplined, criminal desires. Most sexual assaults committed by Airmen are "blue on blue," or Airmen victimizing other Airmen. So in addition to rejecting
June 22, 2012 Commentary: Be proud of your role this Independence Day On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, starting the colonies on the path to freedom. The next day, John Adams wrote to his wife, describing the time as "the most memorable epoch in the history of America" and saying he was "apt to believe that it will be
May 18, 2012 Commentary: Reflection, gratitude befit Memorial Day As I prepare to retire, I once again find myself reflecting on what it means to serve. Foremost in my thoughts are those who have risked their lives to preserve freedom and democracy. Even as we are hosting barbecues this weekend, or just enjoying extra time with our families, brave men and women
March 23, 2012 Commentary: Hold the line on timeless leadership Before I transferred from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., I had an incentive ride in an F-16. At 15,000 feet, the view of Rogers Dry Lake Bed was surreal.The moment made me reflect on history, and I considered the many changes since the birth of the Air Force in 1947: the advent of personal
Jan. 9, 2012 My educational journey: No excuses When I joined the Air Force in April 1985, my goal was to do four years and return back home with a college degree. My older brother had already set the example for me when he joined the Air Force a decade earlier. His four year enlistment led to him achieving a four year degree. So, if it worked
Dec. 16, 2011 Hold the Line: Goals -- the key to success When goals are mentioned at this time of year, most people think of hockey or football games, or maybe even dreaming up a New Year's resolution. So why do we even need goals? Why should we write them down? Goals are things you want to accomplish sometime in the future. Goals are great -- they
Dec. 5, 2011 Commentary: 2011 a time of successes, 2012 will bring change As the holidays draw close and the year winds down, we have an opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months and think ahead about what's to come. I would like to thank our team of more than 85,000 hard-working Airmen--military and civilian. As a result of your talents and professionalism, we have
Dec. 5, 2011 My educational journey: When the light bulb comes on I never thought I would be an advocate for higher education since my educational journey most certainly did not begin with what I would consider a "scholar's start". Nonetheless, here I am preparing to begin my first semester as a full-time college student, 11 years after graduating from high
Dec. 5, 2011 My educational journey: If I can do it, anyone can! Air Force Materiel Command's "2011 Year of the Community College of the Air Force" campaign has been a smashing success. Over the past twelve months, more than 700 volunteer mentors sought face-to-face contact with 10,009 Airmen to encourage education. Their efforts resulted in 1,685 graduates at