Commentary Search

  • T&E days is a chance to showcase our efforts

    One of the highlights of the year for the Air Force test community is upon us. Test and Evaluation Days (T&E Days as it is usually called) is a week away. This premier event is our once-a-year opportunity to meet and network with the full spectrum of USAF T&E. We have a unique challenge this year

  • 2010: This is the year for a call to arms

    For centuries, battles have begun with a "call to arms," the beating of drums, or sounding of bugles. Even in modern warfare, we initiate our efforts with some kind of undeniable "start." It's in our constitution ("the Congress shall have power to declare war"). The declaration matters to us. Maybe

  • A message for AEDC's 60th anniversary

    As I thought about an appropriate topic for this special "birthday edition" of High Mach, I was drawn to a sign I have in my home. The message fits today's events perfectly. A new year, a fresh crop of New Year's resolutions (some already broken!) and the cold, harsh reality that I'm one step closer

  • There's no such thing as a typical day at the office

    On countless occasions, I've been asked "What's the best thing about being the Commander at AEDC?" I don't have to think for a second...the answer is easy... "It's the people." Now, usually I'm thinking about the amazing work we do here, how we always find a way to get the job done, or how we've

  • Team AEDC rocks as local host for T&E Days

    What a week! The team absolutely hit the ball out of the park as we hosted the annual AIAA "T&E Days" in Nashville. This is the premier event for the test community, industry and our AIAA partners and serves as the springboard for a year of renewed energy across our enterprise. As the local hosts

  • A Christmas I'll Never Forget...

    In just a few days, many of us will celebrate Christmas. As a nation, we have made this synonymous with the whole month of December, and declared this time of year "the Christmas season" or for some just simply "the holidays." But when your country is at war, for many it's a little harder to

  • The holiday season … will your light shine brightly?

    With Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and a host of other celebrations underway, it's become a tradition to decorate our homes, offices and public places. Nearly every holiday theme includes colorful lights. Drive down main street, and you'll see countless displays in shop windows, hanging on the street

  • Inspire someone

    Welcome back!! I'm thrilled to report that everyone in Team AEDC (minus a few deer) is safely back in the saddle following our Thanksgiving holiday. Trust me, this is no accident, and I applaud everyone's efforts in making this happen. I've been in too many organizations when this wasn't the case,

  • The season to care for others is here

    Just prior to the Thanksgiving weekend, I asked all of our leaders to re-double efforts aimed at ensuring the report I submit to HQ read NSTR (Nothing Significant to Report), and I'm thrilled to report that I was able to do just that. We often pay close attention to the "100 critical days of summer"

  • Developing leaders ... the gift that keeps on giving

    If there's one thing I've learned in the two-plus decades I've been on this ride, it's an often overlooked phrase..."Leadership matters." While the debate rages on between the "leaders are born" and "leaders are made" camps, we can't lose sight of the fact that there are practical leadership skills