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  • Face-to-face communication key in knowing your people

    Recently, the new 11th Wing commander, Col. Jon Roop, shared his feelings about e-mail to members of his staff. The colonel said he is very much a person who believes in face-to-face communication. The colonel's comments reminded me of a commentary I wrote last year about the importance of

  • Terminating your lease

    You just moved to the National Capital Region. You found an apartment to rent, signed a year's lease and moved in. However, a year later you decide to live in a different neighborhood. You find a new apartment, sign a new lease and pack your bags. You hand your keys to your old landlord, say goodbye

  • Afghanistan experiences won't be forgotten

    The Kuchi girls walked across the trash-strewn ground where they lived. Their colorful clothing offered a bright contrast to the debris and the tan terrain surrounding their nomadic tribes' home on a former Soviet Army artillery range. This image exists now only in my memory and photograph, but this

  • Little Blue Book

    On my desk is a simple reminder of what it is that we, as members of this United States Air Force, are about. A small pamphlet titled, "United States Air Force Core Values, 1 January 1997." This is my technical order for providing Superior Service each and every day. On the first page it reads: "The

  • Season of Giving

    I want to thank all of the Airmen in the District for their contributions to the Combined Federal Campaign thus far. As of today, more than 99 percent of the Airmen within the Air Force District of Washington and our partner units have been contacted with the information necessary to make a

  • Connecting the World

    Twenty years ago when you needed a phone number you pulled out the base phone book. When you needed to type a letter, you walked over to the typewriter and painstakingly typed one up, and if you needed to send a message to another base, you typed a DD Form 173 and took it to the Base Communications

  • Do unto others

    Not long ago a young Airman asked for my thoughts on leadership. I figured he wasn't expecting a detailed explanation on what style or combinations of styles I use and why I use them. So, I searched for a concise answer to deliver maximum impact with the fewest words. I said, "Golden Rule." He gave

  • Getting your finances in order

    All too often we in the Air Force do not talk enough about money. As a first sergeant I am charged with ensuring the Airmen I serve are given the maximum amount of information as possible. As a part of my initial meet and greet with members assigned to my unit we discuss finances and not just, "Are

  • My Iraq vacation

    During the summer of 2005, I was given an offer I couldn't refuse. I had the opportunity to spend a fabulous vacation guaranteed to be filled with lots of sun and sand, all on my Uncle Sam's tab. The down side was that the location was more than 6,000 miles from my husband and two small children.

  • Bolling beautification -- a team effort

    As the commander of the 11th Mission Support Group, I have many responsibilities that support the variety of units and their missions here at Bolling Air Force Base. As "The Chief's Own" and host to numerous Air Force leadership events in the National Capitol Region, we welcome distinguished