06 Aug

Posted at 20:13h in Blog
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On August 5, 1864, Admiral David Farragut defiantly ordered his ships, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” which led to victory at Mobile Bay!  Farragut’s inspirational leadership epitomized:  PATRIOTIC TEAMWORK:  A southerner, born in Tennessee, he was stationed in Norfolk, VA at the outbreak of the Civil War.  He opposed the South’s cause, and once Virginia seceded, he moved his family to New York and remained loyal to the Union. HISTORIC TONE:  “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” has since become a metaphor for courage in the face of adversity.  INCREDIBLE TENACITY:  Farragut joined the Navy as a Midshipman at...

31 Jul

Posted at 21:42h in Blog
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Thea Lindauer, decades-long benefactor to U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) Jewish Midshipmen, passed away in her sleep this past week, just days after celebrating her 100th birthday with family and friends at her Ginger Cove, Annapolis community. The inspirational Thea was “Above Fleet Average” in every way. Born in Germany, Thea escaped the Holocaust in the 1930’s and immigrated to America, where she met her husband Harry, now a blessed memory. He also escaped the Holocaust and immigrated here in the late 1930’s. COL Harry Lindauer, USA (Ret) fought in Europe in WWII and served until Vietnam. Following Harry’s active duty service,...

30 Jul

Posted at 21:07h in Blog
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 I have a rule of thumb … If you save my life, I will always accept the invitation to speak at your military ceremony. I did just that yesterday, at the retirement of the inspirational Navy Captain, MD, PhD, Orthopedic Oncologist, and head of the Department of Defense’s Osseointegration Program, Dr. Jonathan Forsberg. The ever-humble Dr. Forsberg is reluctant to admit that he saved my life when I was on the ropes with a Stage IV Bone Marrow Cancer (Multiple Myeloma - MM) diagnosis and facing osteosarcoma surgeries and a Stem Cell Transplant in 2015. But at a minimum, he will admit to saving...

19 Jul

Posted at 21:19h in Blog
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I decided to step in front of the camera on this one!   Check out the video below to learn more about how Admiral Rickover, Father of our Nuclear Navy, exemplified “The Three T’s” of leadership:  TEAMWORK: Masterfully built coalitions with Congress and the Departments of Defense and the Navy to pass his transformational programs TONE:  Maintained tough, exacting standards.  “The more you sweat in peace, the less you’ll bleed in war”  TENACITY:  He was fond of saying, “Success teaches nothing.  Only failure teaches”  And the Admiral knew something about tenacity … his 63 years in on active duty service from...

18 Jul

Posted at 07:23h in Blog
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I was a proud volunteer Mentor with the Severn Leadership Group (SLG’s) five-month program this year, paired with a Fellow (Protégé), Julian, from Deloitte Consulting LLP. SLG is a non-profit organization that’s been developing leaders of character, nationwide, for the past 10 years.  The 12 Fellows in this cohort were mid-career young professionals seeking to reach their full potential. The Mentors are established government and private sector leaders. When I first joined the program, I thought the benefit would go all to the Fellow (Protégés),  I was wrong.   Similar to Shakespeare’s reference to the quality of mercy in “The Merchant of...

10 Jul

Posted at 19:50h in Blog
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I was honored recently to be interviewed on Rear Admiral (Ret.) Garry Hall's award-winning podcast, “The Admiral’s Almanac.” Gary and I served in the Middle East together during the height of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.  He is an inspirational former Navy pilot, standard bearer of honor and has a sense of humor that’s second to none.  We discussed “T3” leadership … it’s origins, its impact and its applicability outside the Navy. Listen below or keep reading for the podcast recap. TEAMWORK:  The high-performing groups I admired most as part of big family, when watching TV and movies, as...

01 Jul

Posted at 07:17h in Blog
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THE “T3” LEADERSHIP JOURNEY BEGINS: INDUCTION DAY AT THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY, CLASS OF 2026  June 30th was “I(nducation)-Day at the U.S. Naval Academy for approximately 1,200 young men and women.  The vast majority of these freshmen, known as “Plebes,” weren’t born on 9/11.  Over the next six weeks they’ll  undergo a strenuous physical and mental transition from civilian to military life.  For the first time in their young lives many will have no access to cellphones, internet, TV, movies or music!   My journey of public service and learning lessons of leadership began during Plebe Summer in July 1979 with the...

28 Jun

Posted at 22:56h in Blog
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Happy 96th birthday Mel Brooks b. (Melvin Kaminsky).  An iconic Comedians, Actor, Writer and  Film Maker.  A World War II Veteran and one of very few individuals to win the entertainment ‘Grand Slam’ of an Oscar, Tony, Grammy and Emmy award!  When I offer a light remark during a keynote address, it usually involves a reference to one of the gags from Mel’s decades of work.  His inspirational style:  TEAMWORK:  Mel famously built trust, comity and loyalty with his fellow writers and performers.  He envisioned comedy goals and worked hard to achieve them, selflessly sharing credit along the way fellow...

02 Jun

Posted at 20:53h in Blog
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Lou Gehrig sadly passed away on this date 1941 at age 38.  One of the greatest players in Major League Baseball history, he was the first in the sport to have his number (4) retired. Lou died of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).  ALS is now known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.”  Lou personified selfless service to teammates, incomparable optimism battling terminal illness and dogged determination to perform as well as he could as long as he could.  His inspirational leadership style emphasized:  TEAMWORK:  More important than his Hall of Fame statistics, Lou was Captain of six Yankees World Series championship teams...

27 May

Posted at 21:16h in Blog
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On this date in 1943, Lou Zamperini, U.S. Army Air Corps Captain and former US Olympic distance runner, survived his B-24’s crash into the Pacific during WWII. He then spent 2+ brutal yrs in Japanese POW camps.  His inspirational spirit to overcome extreme adversity was featured in the amazing book and movie: “UNBROKEN.”  Lou’s leadership style included: TEAMWORK:  Patriotic. Joined the Army Air Force prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor in order to serve his country.   Servant leader. Cared for others before self.   Survived 47 days at sea after his crash with practically no food or water. ...