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29 Jan 2009
Get educated on being best Airman possible
We frequently hear the phrase "educate yourself" in the Air Force. When I say to my Airmen to educate yourself, I'm not referring to on-the-job training or off-duty education. Not that those aren't important, but I mean educating yourself on information out there pertinent to you as the lowest Airman, first-line supervisor, junior NCO, seasoned
19 Dec 2008
Lorenz on Leadership: At War in Cyberspace
"The stark reality is that the bad guys are winning and our nation is at risk." That's what retired Air Force Lieutenant General Harry Raduege, Jr., writes in an insightful article about cyberspace titled, "Evolving Cybersecurity Faces a New Dawn." As he describes our many challenges in cyberspace, General Raduege observes that "the list of
11 Dec 2008
Air Force Instructions are back to basics
As the 56th Fighter Wing prepares for the upcoming operational readiness inspection in May we will all review our inspection checklists to ensure compliance and mission readiness. One of the unstated benefits of higher headquarters inspections is getting back to basics; the inspection forces us to spend time reviewing the applicable Air Force
11 Dec 2008
Leadership is action, not position
I recently read an article that had a quote I believe defines a true leader. The quote, "Leadership is action, not position," is from Donald McGannon. This phrase epitomizes my leadership philosophy. I feel people are leaders by virtue of what they do, not the authority they are given or the duty title they hold. There are three basic principles
5 Dec 2008
A Matter of Choice: Enhancing the decision making process
It is believed that the more choices one has, the easier it is to make a good decision. However, current studies in leadership are finding that having too many choices can be overwhelming and complicate decision making significantly. For example, in the Paradox of Choice, Barry Schwartz indicates that choice can be both a blessing and a curse. The
4 Nov 2008
Lorenz on Leadership: The continuum of training
I believe we should work our boss' boss' problems. I have found that if we see the bigger picture -- if we understand the larger context of our challenges -- we will make better decisions. Since assuming command of Air Education and Training Command, I have been trying to understand where our challenges fit in the bigger picture. My boss, of
19 Aug 2008
Sight challenged: The importance of sunglasses
I'm in my early 40s and I'm sight challenged. On July18, I completed the eighth surgery on my eyes - that's number eight within the last 10 months. And, I've never worn glasses. The good news - I'm not blind. That's partly a joke, but, it was a real risk every time I got on the surgeon's table. To him, it was "routine" and no big deal. If it
31 May 2008
Uniform inspires act of honoring Airmen
On a recent trip to a bookstore, I was approached by a man in his late 30s to early 40s. He seemed nervous and upset - avoiding eye contact and shifting his weight from one foot to the other. My guard went up immediately. In 22 years of military service, I've heard some negative things said about the military, my branch of service, my choice of
25 Mar 2008
Lessons learned: find, be mentor
"I'm sorry to tell you that you haven't been selected for promotion." That one sentence strikes fear in almost every career Airman. Unfortunately for me, I have heard it twice in two years. The first time, utter devastation because it was completely unexpected. I knew what my Promotion Recommendation Form said and I thought I knew what my records
14 Mar 2008
Time for another “noise complaint”
Approximately 20 years ago, the 310th Fighter Squadron Top Hats began waking up the West Valley when most people were getting ready for bed. The low altitude navigation targeting infrared for night, or LANTIRN, was making its debut in the F-16 community. It was leading edge technology at the time, and it allowed F-16 pilots the capability to see at