News>Gates urges new Air Force leaders to think creatively
Photos
Defense Secretary Robert Gates gives a wave to Air Force Academy Cadets during lunch in Mitchell Hall after teaching classes as part of the Capstone Seminar at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Co., Mar. 4, 2011. DOD photo by Master Sgt. Jerry Morrison(RELEASED)
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates walks with Air Force Academy Cadet Wing Commander Josh Larson prior to teaching a political science and a national security class March 4, 2011, as part of the Capstone Seminar at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Defense Department photo/Master Sgt. Jerry Morrison)
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates talks with Air Force Academy cadets March 4, 2011, while teaching a national security class as part of the Capstone Seminar at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Defense Department photo/Master Sgt. Jerry Morrison)
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates talks to Air Force Academy cadets March 4, 2011, in Arnold Hall at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Defense Department photo/Master Sgt. Jerry Morrison)
by John D. Banusiewicz
American Forces Press Service
3/7/2011 - U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFNS) -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates urged Air Force Academy cadets here March 4 to have the courage to speak up as they move forward as the next generation of military leaders.
"As officers, you will need to show great flexibility, agility, resourcefulness and imagination," Secretary Gates said. "Because your Air Force will face different kinds of conflict than it has prepared for during the past six decades, it will need leaders who think creatively and decisively in the manner of Air Force legends like Billy Mitchell, Hap Arnold, Bernard Schriever and John Boyd.
"You will need to challenge conventional wisdom and call things as you see them to subordinates and superiors alike," he added.
Accountability is another important quality for leaders, the secretary told the cadets.
"Great leaders embrace accountability in all they do, and are willing to accept criticism from within or outside their organization," Secretary Gates said. "Holding leaders to a high standard of performance and ethics is a credit to the Air Force. But to meet that standard going forward, you must have the discipline to cultivate integrity and moral courage from here at the Academy, and then from your earliest days as a commissioned officer.
"Those qualities do not suddenly emerge fully developed overnight, or as a revelation after you have assumed important responsibilities," the secretary continued. "They have their roots in small decisions you will make here and early in your career and must be strengthened all along the way. And you must always ensure that your moral courage serves the greater good, that it serves what is best for the nation and our highest values, not a particular program or ego or service parochialism."
Secretary Gates thanked the cadets for choosing the military path in a time of war, knowing they would be at war.
"For my part," he said, "know that I feel personally responsible for each and every one of you, as if you were my own sons and daughters, and will for as long as I am secretary of defense. My only prayer is that you serve with honor and return home safely."
The secretary plans to retire this year, and told the cadets that today's visit to the Air Force Academy would be his last as defense secretary. After his speech, Secretary Gates, the former president of Texas A&M University, taught a political science seminar and a class on the politics of national security.
Comments
3/10/2011 12:43:24 AM ET Eric...Just remember Creativity does not usually mean Better. Mostly the younger more creative groups have wildly inoperable, unsustainable ideas. It's those few dramatic creative ingenious ideas that truly bring down walls.
KC, Tinker AFB
3/9/2011 12:22:35 PM ET 1. The Air Force will never truly listen to it's younger, more creative groups. We preach working smarter but ideas are denied all the time due to leaderships close-mindedness. 2. I agree if you stand up for what you believe in you will get burned.
Eric, Ramstein
3/9/2011 12:13:42 PM ET By all means let us celebrate Billy Mitchell. While you are at it read the book A Question of Loyalty by Douglas Waller. Mitchell was a nonconformist but was also flat out wrong on some of what he said and also thoroughly insubordinate. That said, the Army of the time needed a shake up. We must think creatively but if we are going to celebrate our legends let us at least understand historical fact.
Jim H retired colonel, Omaha
3/9/2011 12:04:19 PM ET Good on SecDEF for highlighting these pioneers. Critical thinking should never be confused with insubordination. But as Boyd warned regarding irreverance to the system, better do your homework first.
DD, CA
3/8/2011 9:31:08 PM ET Hear Hear
Former Officer Who Was RIF'ed, FL
3/8/2011 8:38:26 PM ET @Concerned NCO, Excellent point. Billy Mitchell is who we should all emulate. He wasn't afraid of upsetting his commanders if it meant telling it like it is. Was he PC? No. Was he effective? Yes. Homogeny is the Air Force's number one enemy and it is eating us from the inside out. These ideas of nonconformity should be a priority at PME.
Texas Pete, Texas
3/8/2011 6:27:50 AM ET Here's to Billy Mitchell, one of the Air Force's most innovative leaders... and a non-conformist who was court martialed and would have certainly been RIF'd or Force Shaped in today's Air Force. In all seriousness, how will today's leaders thrive when perfection is the standard. Look up Mitchell's bio for yourself and think about it...
