[December 23, 2025] In the U.S. military, I’ve always noticed differences among unit commanders, especially when I was a field-grade officer. There are two kinds of commanders you could work for if you were in their unit. There was the commander who kept his thoughts close to his chest, tightly reined in information, and surrounded himself with tight-lipped… Read More »
[December 20, 2025] Shortly after assuming command of a Mechanized Infantry Company in the late 1980s, I was assigned a brand-new second lieutenant. Because of his actions while in my unit, the men began calling him ‘Lieutenant Mud Flap.’ That year, we would all learn lessons that helped us master the art of leadership. A leader does the… Read More »
[December 19, 2025] My friends and I had long conversations about Iraq’s President Saddam Hussein and his role in the Iran-Iraq War. The debate over whether he was an evil dictator or a grandfatherly figure protecting his country raged on and off, even after he used chemical weapons to attack Kurdish civilians in 1988. Known as the Halabja… Read More »
[December 17, 2025] The primary purpose of a democratic government is to protect life, liberty, and property of their citizens. In another case on the brink of self-destruction, Australia’s government leaders have abdicated that core purpose, and have consciously allowed antisemitic, anti-Western forces to grow unchecked inside their country. On the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, a mass killing… Read More »
[December 13, 2025] Michael Goodwin is a columnist for the New York Post. Earlier this week, he wrote an opinion article that I could call a primer on bad leadership. He lists what makes for key elements in leadership failure. He is stunningly correct about the core elements of leadership. His target? New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Goodwin… Read More »
[December 12, 2025] By May of 2007, the preparation for the Surge was fully underway. Everyday, we brought more resources into play as we readied the Coalition to expand both in personnel and combat capability. This was a critical phase as we prepared the battlefield for GEN Petraeus’ new military strategy. Our job as Engineers was to ensure… Read More »
[December 11, 2025] One of the advantages of working in the U.S. Army is getting the chance to work for and speak to many highly successful leaders. Good Leadership is one of the bedrock foundations that America insists we have. And the reason is simple, life and death decisions are made and there is no room for amateurs. … Read More »
[December 9, 2025] There never was a time when Soldiers said the weather in Iraq was beautiful. Typically it was clear, windy, dusty, and warm (or hot as Hell). We paid close attention to the weather because it was a major factor in the speed of construction; the hotter it was, the less efficient we could get… Read More »
[December 2, 2025] It only seems like yesterday when I flew into Baghdad aboard a C130 Air Force cargo plane. I had a small team that was to act as the Advanced Party to the 353rd Engineer Group (Construction). In my first book “Our Longest Year in Iraq,” I laid out my thoughts on the Iraq War. Our… Read More »
[December 1, 2025] Earlier this year, a local South Jersey non-profit Veteran organization asked for permission to use a park on Veterans’ Day. This was meant to be a symbolic gesture to honor our Veterans, families, and friends. After many weeks of back-and-forth discussions with this state-funded Park, permission was ultimately denied. I was the representative of a… Read More »