Commentary

We hear the term “wingman” a lot. “Keep an eye on your ‘wingman.’” “Be a good ‘wingman.’” “Know what your ‘wingman’ is up to.” But do we really know what it means to be a “wingman?”

My name is not José. Steve asked me not to use our real names if I write down what I recently learned about the events of 2002. He’s not “Steve,” either. Steve agreed to share his part, and I will tell you mine — our two sides of one story. What follows is our recollections of then and now.

Trust is a small word with immense consequence. It is the key component to effective organizational communication, the driving force for innovation, and the key element of successful leaders and the organizations they lead. When you walk into an organization, you know if there’s a culture of trust. You either feel it, or you don’t.

The holiday season in Germany is a wonderful time full of fun, holiday markets and time spent with family and friends. But sometimes, the holiday season often brings unwanted guests like stress and depression.

It is truly a demanding time to serve overseas. This command continues to execute at a high ops tempo with new and enduring missions in Europe and Africa, providing forward-based combat airpower in an environment tempered by fiscal uncertainty and restricted budgets.

We need radical leaders. We need men and women who are not afraid to make changes to the way we accomplish our mission despite the pressure to keep doing things the same old way.

As I prepared the commencement speech for the recent Community College of the Air Force graduation ceremony, my mind kept returning to a familiar theme. I thought of this important accomplishment’s place on the journey to excellence.