Personal Leadership Philosophy

First Commander's Call

-TODAY AFFORDS ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER WHAT MANY OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY BEEN ASKING AMONG YOURSELVES:  “WHAT’S THE NEW COMMANDER LIKE?”

-IN STANDARD SQUADRON OFFICERS SCHOOL FORMAT, I COULD GIVE YOU THREE MAIN POINTS:

        - -TELL YOU WHAT I GONNA TELL YOU,

        - -TELL YOU

        - -AND THEN TELL YOU WHAT I JUST TOLD YOU…

-BUT, THAT’S NOT ME.  SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY NOTICED IN THESE FIRST FEW WEEKS, THAT I SEEM TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYWHERE, ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

-THIS TOUCHES ON A LITTLE BIT ON WHO I AM AND MY STYLE OF LEADERSHIP.  [SHOW LEADERSHIP SLIDE: 

      “A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the  compassion to listen to the needs of others.  He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.  In the end, leaders are much like eagles...they don't flock, you find them one at a time."] 

-I AM SURE MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THIS SUCCESSORIES PRINT BEFORE.  IT SUCCINCTLY ENCAPSULATES MY LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVE. 

- AND, BEING A STRONG ADVOCATE OF USING GOOD IDEAS, I USE THIS AS A LAUNCHING PLATFORM TO ANSWER THE QUESTION:  “WHAT’S THE NEW COMMANDER LIKE?”  TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THIS.  <PAUSE> 

-THE POINTS THAT JUMP OFF THIS SLIDE ARE

         --‘COMPASSION TO LISTEN”,

         --“TOUGH DECISIONS”,

         --AND “INTEGRITY.”  [END SLIDE SHOW]. 

- LET’S DELVE INTO THESE POINTS A LITTLE MORE.

- DURING MY TENURE AT THE HELM OF THIS AWARD-WINNING UNIT, YOU CAN EXPECT A MISSION/PEOPLE FOCUS BALANCED ON A FOUNDATION OF INTEGRITY. 

-FIRST, THE MISSION.  EACH ONE OF YOU SHOULD CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THE LINKAGE BETWEEN WHAT EACH OF YOU DO DAY-TO-DAY AND ITS IMPACT ON THE OVERALL WING’S MISSION. 

- EACH ONE OF YOU PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE ON THE TEAM.  WITH THESE ROLES COME INHERENT RESPONSIBILITY. 

- MY EXPECTATION IS FOR EACH OF YOU TO CONTINUE TO MEET THE INTRINSIC CHALLENGES OF YOUR ROLES. 

-THIS TEAM HAS DEMONSTRATED A TRACK RECORD OF MISSION EXCELLENCE.  IT WAS THIS CALIBER OF PERFORMANCE THAT EARNED YOU RECOGNITION AS UNIT OF THE YEAR FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS!  AND, FROM WHAT I HAVE OBSERVED IN THE SHORT TIME THAT I’VE BEEN HERE, THIS RECOGNITION DID NOT OCCUR BY ACCIDENT.  IT TOOK EVERYONE’S COMMITMENT…FROM THE YOUNGEST AIRMEN, TO THE FIRST-LINE SUPERVISORS, TO THE CIVILIAN MANAGERS, TO THE OFFICERS…TO SUCCEED.

- SO, MANY OF YOU MAY BE THINKING “SINCE WE ARE SO GOOD, WHAT IS THE NEW COMMANDER GOING TO CHANGE?” 

- INITIALLY, THE ANSWER IS VERY LITTLE.  AS I PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS, I HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYWHERE, ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS.  THIS “LOOK, LISTEN, & LEARN” MODE HAS AFFORDED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE TRULY IMPRESSED BY THE UNIT PROFESSIONALS WHO MAKE THE MISSION HAPPEN. 

-IN THIS INSTANCE, THE “TOUGH DECISION” TO MAKE INITIAL CHANGES IS NOT TOUGH.  MY CONFIDENCE COMES FROM RELYING ON THE UNIT EXPERTS THAT I SEE SITTING IN FRONT OF ME NOW.

-THIS RELIANCE ON YOU--THE UNIT EXPERTS--CONNECTS ME TO THE NEXT CONCEPT:  THE PEOPLE.  IT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING THAT THE MISSION IS NOTHING IN AND OF ITSELF.  IT IS PERSONIFIED BY THE INDIVIDUALS, THE TEAM THAT ACCOMPLISHES IT. 

-MY EXPECTATION IS FOR EACH UNIT MEMBER TO MAINTAIN OVERALL FITNESS.  I AM USING “FITNESS” TO MEAN MORE THAN JUST ATHLETIC. 

- YOU ARE ONLY ABLE TO FOCUS ON THE MISSION, WHEN YOUR FAMILY, FINANCIAL, AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS ARE MET. 

-THIS ENTAILS SUPERVISORS POSSESSING THE “COMPASSION TO LISTEN.”  IT STARTS WITH ME SETTING THE EXAMPLE AND PROPOGATING IT THROUGHOUT THE UNIT.  I CAN NOT DO THIS ALONE.  THIS IS WHERE I ASK FOR EVERYONE’S HELP.  ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT IS THE KEY.

-I CANNOT BE EVERYWHERE.  I TRULY BELIEVE THAT HOW WE SUCCEED AS A TEAM/UNIT IS BY EACH ONE OF US TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR EACH OTHER.  FAVORABLE PEER PRESSURE IS A FORMIDABLE TOOL. 

-IF YOU KNOW ONE OF YOU UNIT MATES IS GONNA TRY TO MAKE A 24-HR DRIVE ON A 3-DAY WEEKEND WITHOUT TAKING LEAVE.  THIS IS WHERE THE PEER-TO-PEER SANITY CHECK ENGAGES TO PREVENT A POOR DECISION.  THIS IS WHAT I MEAN WHEN I REFER TO ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT.  IT IS AT THIS LEVEL THAT PROBABLY 99% OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WILL BE AVERTED.  AND, WE ALL ARE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE END OF THE DAY--BACK HOME TO OUR FAMILIES.  THE ESSENCE OF THIS IS THAT IF WE LOSE A WRENCH, PIPE, OR CHAIR, I CAN EASILY REPLACE THEM.  IF WE LOSE ONE OF YOU, YOU CAN NOT BE EASILY REPLACED, NOT TO MENTION THE EFFECT ON YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS.  COLLECTIVELY, THE PEOPLE ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF THIS UNIT.  YOUR IMPORTANCE CAN NOT BE OVEREMPHASIZED.

- NOW THAT YOU HAVE A FEEL OF THE IMPORTANCE THAT I PLACE ON THE PEOPLE AND THE MISSION, I WILL TURN TOWARD THE FOUNDATION THAT BOTH OF THESE ARE BUILT UPON:  INTEGRITY. 

-“COMMAND” IS A SACRED TRUST.  THUS, IT CAN NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.  ONCE A TRUST IS VIOLATED, IT CAN NOT BE RESTORED, SIMILAR TO THE CHILDREN’S STORY OF HUMPTY DUMPTY.  REGARDLESS OF HOW SORRY ONE FEELS ABOUT THE VIOLATION, “ALL THE KING’S HORSES, AND ALL THE KING’S MEN” CAN NOT PUT IT TOGETHER AGAIN. 

-THEREFORE, I PROCEED JUDIOUSLY WHEN IT COMES TO INTEGRITY.  MY EXPECTATION FOR EACH OF YOU WITHIN THE SOUND OF MY VOICE IS SIMPLE:  THE TRUTH.  NO SPLITTING HAIRS, NO QUIBBLING, NO LIES OF OMITTANCE ARE ACCEPTABLE.  IF THIS WAS THE LOCAL BRANCH OF QUICKY MART, THEN THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE ROOM FOR INTERPRETATION.  BUT, THIS IS NOT. 

-WE ARE ENGAGED IN A SERIOUS PROFESSION:  THE PROFESSION OF ARMS.  IN OUR PROFESSION, WE “BREAK THINGS AND KILL PEOPLE.”  IN THESE CRITICAL AREAS, THERE IS NO WIGGLE ROOM FOR INTERPRETATION.  THE TRUTH IS THE MINIMUM STANDARD FOR ADMISSION. 

- I ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REALLY CONSIDER WHAT I AM SAYING HERE.  <PAUSE>  MY MINIMUM STANDARD IS THE TRUTH--NO APOLOGIES.

-THE MISSION AND THE PEOPLE BUILT ON A FOUNDATION OF INTEGRITY. 

-THERE IS NO LIMIT TO THE GOOD WE CAN DO ONCE EVERYONE EMBRACES THESE CONCEPTS.  AS WE MOVE FORWARD OVER THESE NEXT FEW MONTHS, THERE WILL BE MANY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AS WE FEEL EACH OTHER OUT.  AS LONG AS WE KEEP TALKING TO EACH OTHER, THERE SHOULD BE VERY LITTLE THAT WE CAN’T ACCOMPLISH.  I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY. 

-HOWEVER, BEFORE WE WRAP THIS UP TODAY, I WANT TO AGAIN THANK A BUNCH OF FOLKS.  EVERYONE THAT HELPED SET UP TODAY’S COMMANDER’S CALL, PLEASE STAND UP. <PAUSE>  LET’S GIVE THEM A HAND.  <APPLAUSE>

-WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, SO LET’S ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND MAKE IT HAPPEN!

A Coast Guard Station Command Philosophy

Crew: Below are four points that I believe are the most important to making this unit the best in can be. This Station must function as a team with each person making a contribution everyday. The location of our unit and pace of operations provides an outstanding opportunity for professional development and growth. I encourage each of you to make the most of your tour at this station and seize every available opportunity to learn and to teach others.

1)      Respect: A successful team is founded on respect. Respect works up and down and across the chain of command. Respect of each other’s rank, professional skills and individuality is essential to the successful performance of Team Coast Guard and it must remain a cornerstone of our foundation.  

2)       Commitment: Given the challenges of the high-tempo environment that we work in everyday, commitment to the mission, preparation and self-improvement is crucial to success. There will be trying times when each of us has worked long hours and faced adversity, however we need to remain committed to completing the mission whether it is a SAR case, LE evolution or Homeland Security operation, there are many counting on us to save and protect them.

3)       Readiness: We are asked to perform several diverse missions on a daily basis and need to be prepared for each and every one them, which puts a strain on both our people and equipment. Keeping qualifications and skills up to date along with our own health and well being greatly enhances our readiness and performance. Each member of the Station should take this responsibility seriously to contribute to the unit’s overall readiness and performance.

4)      Enthusiasm: We work for the World’s Premiere Maritime Service!  Everyday our missions are featured on major media outlets throughout the country, from heroic actions during SAR cases to stopping the flow of illegal narcotics and protecting the nation’s ports against terrorist attacks. Take pride in the duties YOU perform. You are an essential part of Team Coast Guard.