7 Jul 2015

Transformational Leadership – Shaping leaders every day

People seek leaders who are willing to step-up and lead them to prosperity. One contemporary model of leadership is the Transformation Leadership Theory developed by James MacGregor Burns.According to Burns, transformational leaders engage their followers in a mutual process to raise each other to higher levels of motivation and morality. On the

7 Jul 2015

Swipe Left: should you really be "swiping" at all?

Younger Airmen know what I'm talking about. Older folks, your kids likely know what I'm referring to - I had to get that jab in there - as Tinder, the social dating app for smartphones. The premise is simple. Users create their accounts and based on geolocation, strangers' profiles pop up.Users can swipe to either the left or right. Swiping left is

19 May 2015

Unexpected development

A few years ago I found myself doubting the Air Force's ability to provide development and mentoring.  I was a new Master Sergeant and had just relocated to the Security Forces Academy.  During my first few months there I quickly realized training pipeline Airmen was the primary focus in the unit, and in my opinion, it was detrimental to the

13 May 2015

Leading from the middle

Have you ever heard of middle child syndrome?Psychologists have conducted studies on the behavior of individuals in correspondence to their placement in the family. The oldest child typically has the characteristics of a "leader" and is often "confident" in their role as leader, while the youngest tends to fit comfortably into the role of the

30 Apr 2015

Building leadership

My first weekend in Wichita Falls, Texas I joined a volunteer organization to help with a Saturday project. The experience taught me a great deal about leadership, service, and the Air Force.When I arrived to the site early Saturday morning, I introduced myself to a gentlemen standing to the left of the house. I explained I was taking the aircraft

23 Apr 2015

Change ... A love and hate relationship

What Does Everyone Love to Hate? Change! The more pressing question is why do most people hate change?There are some people who love change, and embrace it as an opportunity to break from the "norm." Those people are mature in the change process and are considered to have adaptability. Adaptability is the capability to adjust to uncertain

3 Dec 2014

Asking for help is sign of strength not weakness

Growing up I was a big fan of Muhammad Ali. He was the world heavyweight boxing champion and unashamedly referred to himself as "The Greatest." I vividly remember a reporter asking Ali, "When did you know that you were 'The Greatest?'" Before Ali could answer, the reporter offered, "Perhaps it was when you knocked out George Foreman in 1974?"Ali

17 Jul 2014

Airmen earn coveted spurs

Two 82nd security forces Airmen from Sheppard deployed at the 455th Expeditionary Base Defense Squadron, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, were inducted into the Order of the Combat Spur from the U.S. Army 1st Cavalry Division. Senior Airman Dustin Martin and Airmen 1st Class Carmen Pontello was part of the tradition of having to "earn your spurs,"

26 Jun 2014

LGBT Pride Month and a History of its Pioneers

A great American reformer and abolitionist of the 19th century, Theodore Parker, once wrote, "I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways; I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends

21 Mar 2014

Stormwater Pollution Control Measures

Stormwater runoff is the water produced by rain, snow and other forms of precipitation. It is absorbed by lawns and other unpaved surfaces. Construction activities often transform permeable surfaces into impervious ones, such as roads, parking lots and buildings. Rather than being absorbed as part of the natural water cycle, the stormwater runoff