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31 Aug 2009
Lorenz on Leadership –Technological Change
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 only permitted to use it while checking
18 Aug 2009
Fitness lies I told myself
As we prepare for the revised Air Force fitness testing program, I've spent the last couple of months educating myself on diet and fitness - subjects I thought I knew plenty about. I was mistaken. Throughout my career I've prepared for and passed each physical training test. Although I never scored high, I felt good because I always passed, and I
13 Aug 2009
Tuskegee Airmen honored at 2009 National Convention
Imagine being the only person of your ethnic background in a class of hundreds who refuse to speak or acknowledge your existence because you are different. Imagine scoring top marks on all your exams, only to retest, because people above you did not believe you were capable of achieving passing results. Imagine knowing you are smart enough to
12 Aug 2009
Leading learning innovation
The Air Force has a heritage rooted in technology and innovation. From our earliest days, Airmen have sought to find a better way to dominate the domains in which we operate -- air, space, and now, cyberspace. Developing superior capabilities which enable global vigilance, global reach and global power have proven vital to our nation's security.
17 Jul 2009
Lorenz on Leadership - It's all about service
A few weeks ago, Staff Sgt. Sarah Price worked diligently as a radar approach control (RAPCON) controller within the 71st Operations Group at Vance Air Force Base, Okla. If anyone had asked her what she did, her response would have been simple and quick, "I control aircraft." No one would argue the importance of her job, especially since it
7 May 2009
Security clearance not to be taken for granted
Most of us know that having a security clearance is very important to getting and keeping a job in the Air Force. Most Air Force career fields require access to classified information. Specific and stringent policies are established to determine whether a person is eligible for access to classified information or assignment to sensitive duties. The
25 Mar 2009
Lorenz on Leadership: Creating candor
03/23/09 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- If you ever have the chance to observe a flight debrief after a training sortie, you should jump at the chance. You will witness something special. In the debrief, everyone makes constructive comments -- positive and negative -- regardless of their position or rank. If the flight lead did something that
25 Mar 2009
How capable for combat are you?
A fighter squadron commander is writing an article for the base paper. Here we go ... jets, bombs, leather jackets, sunglasses, egos and, "There I was ...," stories. Nope, not this time! This short diatribe is about taking a self assessment of your ability to not only execute your specific job but also perform other combat tasks in support of our
12 Mar 2009
Right is right
Thunderbolts please bear with me for a moment while I get on a soapbox... There are accepted "right" things that we do in our profession like saying, please, thank you, yes sir and no ma'am, and saluting Old Glory at 5 p.m. We know it's right to be a good wingman ... to look out for each other. We know it's not right to be rude or to wait inside a
29 Jan 2009
'Join' ... for success
It's the New Year and many of you have made resolutions to make 2009 the best year of your life. Making resolutions and keeping them are two separate and distinct actions. While it's possible to make significant changes in your life, it's not easy - that's why they're called resolutions. You'll need a lot of resolve to see it through. Instead of