Commentary Search

  • Are we doing enough?

    He's dead now. My friend Henry was such a comedian. He did the goofiest things to make you laugh, and his antics always succeeded. Although he was funny, he was also sensitive and at times took things to heart. He strived to be number one and pushed himself to be the best he could. I know this as a

  • Commentary: A Proud Heritage

    We hear it over and over from our leadership as it's reiterated at each commander's call. It feels like a mandatory tag line at the end of every speech. It's the topic that the chief will inevitably have to 'piggyback' off of.What am I talking about? We all know the phrase, "Airmen, know your Air

  • Paths of two Air Force women ‘firsts’ crossed over Great Falls

    An Army newspaper from Aug. 25, 1944, shows Pfc. Emma Jane Burrows Windham wearing a leather flying jacket, fire extinguisher in hand, and grinning near a B-17 bomber. "Windy," according to the article, earned her air crew status in June while with the 7th Ferrying Group at Gore Field in Great

  • Why traffic stops during reveille and retreat

    As the drum roll of the national anthem began on base, my guests were puzzled when I stopped our conversation mid-sentence, turned toward the music and placed my right hand over my heart. We were outdoors. Nearby, traffic on Goddard Drive lurched to a halt.After the last note faded, I explained that

  • Lessons learned in the missile complex

    As part of an effort to knock out multiple public affairs tasks, I spent a night at a missile alert facility. At the risk of coming across as a missile field newbie, I would like to explain what I learned about the operations in the field and the ICBM Airmen who conduct them.The first thing that

  • My spouse, our perks

    "What happened to all the ABU shirts?," asks my husband as he frantically searches through our cluttered closet for a clean shirt to wear under his uniform. I think to myself, "You would know if you did the laundry," but my sensible side persuades me to hold my tongue and help him pack his gym

  • Is it a job or a calling?

    One of the happiest days of my life was when I was called to serve as an active duty Air Force chaplain. Ten years ago, I voluntarily separated under Force Shaping to pursue a seminary. My dream was to one day be an active duty chaplain, but little did I know that it would be a test of

  • Remember to not just celebrate but act

    In 1983, President Ronald Regan signed Public Law 98-144, creating a federal holiday honoring the birthday of Marin Luther King Jr. In addition, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday as a national day of service in 1994. It is observed on the third Monday of January each

  • The Journey Continues...

    It's wonderful to again be a part of the nation's ICBM team! Marsha and I are excited to return to the mission that has provided us so much personal and professional camaraderie and growth through the years. As I begin serving with you, I want to share a few thoughts that will help you get

  • Transformation on ICE: Strengthening the nuclear force

    More than a decade ago, 20th Air Force created the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Center of Excellence, familiarly known as the ICE.  The goal of the ICE was crystal clear:  transform the way 20th AF trains its instructors and evaluators.  We did it.  We're still doing it.Today, the ICE is