• Growing leaders… it’s my job... and yours

    Gen. William Creech, former commander of Tactical Air Command, often said that the number one job of a leader is to grow more leaders. Not only did he convey this verbally, he lived it. The general was directly responsible for mentoring, or "growing" more than 20 four-star Air Force

  • ORI is a good thing – an opportunity to shine

    As the Wingman Day events were taking shape I kept hearing the phrases "The ORI is our number one priority," and "No-repeat write-ups -- period." With this commentary coming due, I asked myself what I would like to pass on to help Team Vance prepare for our Operational Readiness Inspection. So first

  • Military service is not 'just another job'

    If you've been in the Air Force for a while, you've seen it or heard it. You hear it when a young enlisted Airman or lieutenant talks to a senior NCO or officer in "yeahs" and "uh huhs." You see it when retreat sounds and people continue walking to get inside, or fail to stop their car in

  • Bloom where you are planted

    I'm sure everyone has heard someone say, "Aww man, here comes the shirt -- now what?" Well, to be honest, that is how I feel when someone from the Public Affairs office comes to see me. It's not that I don't think they're an outstanding group of people. In fact, they do a remarkable job. It's

  • Where are your lines?

    Just a few months back, I was sitting side by side with Tony, our youngest son, and having some quality time drawing some "Star Wars Clone Wars" scenes. He was doing a great job drawing a personnel transporter, but asked for some assistance with some final touches on the aircraft. As I was trying to

  • Vance pediatrician clears up child immunization myths

    Childhood immunizations have become a very controversial topic. The media has highlighted anecdotal celebrity stories, and this shock campaign has undermined years of quality scientific research. People wonder why children need so many vaccines. They may not have even heard of some of the diseases

  • Lorenz on Leadership: The continuum of training

    I believe we should work our boss's boss's problems. I have found that if we see the bigger picture -- if we understand the larger context of our challenges -- we will make better decisions.Since assuming command of Air Education and Training Command, I have been trying to understand where our

  • A time for everything, a season for every activity

    Theoretically, I have a two-car garage at my house. I know this because the driveway where I park leads right up to this big wide door that seems big enough for two cars. But, when I open the door I find that it is really just an extra store room for those boxes I haven't unpacked since the last

  • What does your totem look like?

    Not long ago I had the opportunity to attend an executive leadership course at a prestigious business school on the East Coast. As with any challenging program, academic preparation was required. I had homework to do before I could leave town. As many of you can relate, I studiously printed out the

  • My four rules for success in all that we do…

    Lou Holtz, the legendary football coach at University of Notre Dame, once said, "Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond to it." Whether you're dealing with life, deployment or the day-to-day challenges of training the world's finest aviators, how you respond to what