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  • Farewell from the wing commander

    On the eve of my last day leading Dover Air Force Base, I am again reminded of Simon Sinek’s lesson in humility: I deserve a Styrofoam cup. Sinek says that the ceramic cup was never meant for me, it was meant for the position I held. I deserve a Styrofoam cup. I love this lesson, not just as a

  • Shouldering, shedding and sharing burdens

    The word burden often carries a negative connotation. The word burden often conjures up thoughts of hardship and despair. Years ago, my greatest source of inspiration for leadership, “The Book,” changed how I viewed the concept of burdens. My favorite chapter provides three major takeaways on the

  • Celebrating military children

    What is the origin of the Month of the Military Child? The Month of the Military Child is part of a legacy left by former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. Since his establishment of the Month of the Military Child in 1986, there have been an increasing number of campaigns, recognizing the needs

  • The Importance of Leading Up

    When I arrived at Dover for my command tour, I was coming off a year as an instructor at Squadron Officer School, followed by a year as a student at Air Command and Staff College, where I was introduced to a concept called meta-leadership. The concept was originally developed at Harvard and is

  • On hope … and trust … oh, and perseverance!

    This message’s intent is to provide a perspective on what it takes to move our jets nowadays, how the events of 2020 have influenced life on the road, and pass some thanks to the fantastic community that supports us.

  • Hidden treasure

    Serving in the military is a noble profession; however, it comes with many challenges. One of those challenges is moving to a new community every few years, feeling like a stranger in your own community and struggling to become meaningful amongst “people who grew up together.” I’m here to tell you

  • Challenge yourself … Get uncomfortable

    Team Dover … I hope the lights are back on by the time this prints! You’ve had a roller-coaster of a week, and you’ve earned some time off. Take the time for yourself to do nothing at all ... for a bit. Then, get back at it. Take the time to do what you love. Take the time to better yourself. Take

  • What is a "military family"?

    Each November, the president signs a proclamation declaring it as Military Family Month, so as we prepare to enter this family-filled month, I ask myself: What, exactly, is a “military family”? Our family members are right there with us, enduring the hardships military life brings. For this, our

  • Balancing operations in congested and contested environments

    Today’s complex security landscape, characterized by an increased rate of technological change and rising great power competition, means the Mobility Air Force (MAF) faces a unique set of challenges. While maintaining the underpinnings of our nation’s power projection is still our critical mission,

  • Who do you want to be?

    In any organization, people can feel pressured to conform to a certain mold in order to be accepted by the group. In the Air Force, this is a reality for many, regardless of whether or not their perceptions are founded. Personally, I have always ascribed to just doing my own thing and doing it