Category: Uncategorized

Chess Not Checkers – Mark Miller’s latest book is available today

“It’s Your Move” is what Mark Miller left us with on Monday 8 April at the conclusion of an insightful webinar about his newest book. This wonderful book joins THE SECRET and THE HEART OF LEADERSHIP on my desk. Think of every positive word in your vocabulary and you can apply them to Mark and his latest work. The only criticism I have of this great book is using the games of chess and checkers as an analogy for leadership. I know Mark doesn’t think of leadership as a game. It is complicated but using Mark’s approach of genuineness and authenticity when working as a servant leader for people makes it easy to follow. He’s done a wonderful job with this book and it is evident that Mark is all about service. KEEP IN MIND, ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS BOOK AND COMPANION WORKBOOK GO TO CHARITY.

https://vimeo.com/124199789

He is Risen

Leadership Secrets of Jesus Christ – Happy Easter

1. Jesus was a problem solver. 

2. Jesus believed in his product.
3. Jesus never misrepresented his product.
4. Jesus went where the people were.
5. Jesus took time to rest.
6. Jesus took time to plan.
7. Jesus knew he did not have to close every sale.
8. Jesus had something others needed.
9. Jesus was concerned about people’s finances.
10. Jesus was willing to go where he had never been.
11. Jesus never allowed what others said about him to changes his opinion of himself.
12. Jesus understood timing and preparation.
13. Jesus developed a passion for his goals.
14. Jesus respected authority.
15. Jesus never discriminated.
16. Jesus offered incentives.
17. Jesus overcame the stigma of a questionable past.
18. Jesus never wasted time answering critics.
19. Jesus knew there was a right time and a wrong time to approach people.
20. Jesus educated those he mentored.
21. Jesus refused to be discouraged when others misjudged his motives.
22. Jesus refused to be bitter when others were disloyal or betrayed him.
23. Jesus networked with people of all backgrounds.
24. Jesus resisted temptation.
25. Jesus made decisions that created a desired future instead of a desired present.
26. Jesus never judged people by their outward appearance.
27. Jesus recognized the law of redemption.
28. Jesus was a tomorrow thinker.
29. Jesus knew that money alone could not bring contentment.
30. Jesus knew the power of words and the power of silence.
31. Jesus knew when you want something you have never had,
you have to do something you have never done.
32. Jesus permitted others to correct their mistakes.
33. Jesus knew his worth.
34. Jesus never tried to succeed alone.
35. Jesus knew that money is anywhere you really want it to be.
36. Jesus set specific goals.
37. Jesus knew that every great achievement requires a willingness to begin small.
38. Jesus hurt when others hurt.
39. Jesus was not afraid to show his feelings.
40. Jesus knew the power of habit.
41. Jesus finished what he started.
42. Jesus was knowledgeable of scripture.
43. Jesus never hurried.
44. Jesus went where he was celebrated instead of where he was tolerated.
45. Jesus constantly consulted his heavenly father.
46. Jesus knew that prayer generates results.
47. Jesus rose early.
48. Jesus never felt he had to prove himself to anyone.
49. Jesus avoided unnecessary confrontations.
50. Jesus delegated.
51. Jesus carefully guarded his personal schedule.

52. Jesus asked questions to accurately determine the needs and desires of others.

From – The Leadership Secrets of Jesus by Mike Murdock

Published by Honor Books, Tulsa OK; 1996

We are 3 days into National Card and Letter Writing Month

For many years the U.S. Postal Service has highlighted the art of card and letter writing with a weeklong celebration. This year we are quadrupling our opportunities to promote this important tradition by designating April as National Card and Letter Writing Month.
This is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of the importance and historical significance of card and letter writing.
Writing, sending and receiving letters, postcards, and greeting cards is a tradition that has preserved our nation’s history and has changed lives-particularly in times of war and times of personal triumph and tragedy. Unlike other communications, card and letter writing is timeless, personal, and immediately tangible.
Card and letter writing also helps improve literacy and promotes creativity among our youth.

First Year in the Books

Today marks the one year anniversary of VADM Jan E. Tighe’s assumption of command of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command and TENTH Fleet.  There’s no arguing that she has covered a lot of ground in that time and has advanced our capability to meet the mission requirements outlined for the command by the Chief of Naval Operations. Congratulations on a successful and significant first year in command.

3 March Supplement

You can learn much more about what’s happening in the IDC by attending the IDC  Industry Day here.  It’s F R E E to the military.  Go to this LINK.

Happy 122nd Birthday Navy Chief Petty Officers

What Sailor in the Navy doesn’t remember his first Chief?  Boatswains Mate Chief Robert Webb was my first Chief as the Company Commander for Company 929 from July to September of 1975 at Recruit Training Command/Naval Training Center San Diego, California.  Mike Cantin was our Recruit Chief Petty Officer.  I’m still in touch with him FORTY years later. 
Navy Chiefs celebrate 1 April 1893 as their birthday. Happy Birthday Navy Chiefs.  
For those readers who remember our time together at U.S. Naval Security Group Activity Yokosuka, Japan – “We’ve got the best Chiefs from “A” (Joe Ahola) to “Z” (Phil Zmuda).

Command Excellence Exemplified – NIOC Yokosuka

The Crew of U.S. NAVIOCOM Yokosuka, Japan

In the Model for Command Excellence, between the inputs and results, were factors the model termed intermediate outputs. The intermediate outputs of superior commands also distinguished them. Sailors in the command had a sense of mission. They were motivated and committed to the command. Morale, pride, and teamwork were evident throughout the command. Attitudes and values of Sailors on board reflected this. These intermediate outputs directly affected the final outputs.

What accounts for the differences between them in superior and average commands?

Three areas make a difference between the results of superior and average commands:

  • the Sailors in the command,
  • the relationships between them
  • the activities they perform
“Sailors” refers to the different people in the command. This includes the Commanding Officer (CO), the Executive Officer (XO), the Wardroom, the Chiefs Quarters (Mess), and the Crew.

“Relationships” refers to the relationships between different groups of Sailors and the ways these groups of people interact with each other. “Activities” include those things that people do that make the biggest differences between average and top commands.

Five activities were identified:

  • Planning
  • Maintaining Standards
  • Communicating
  • Building Esprit de Corps
  • Training and Development

The book is available HERE.  Check the document properties; this is our (former CO/XO NSGA Yokosuka) 2005 update of our (CO/XO NSGA Yokosuka) original version from 1997.  There are two companion summaries: Command Excellence and the Wardroom and Charting the Course to Command Excellence.

Navy Humor – The Fight for the Admiral’s Zipper – A "Sea Story" (It may or may not be true).


BEFORE READING ANY FURTHER, UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS IN WHAT FOLLOWS.  I WAS HONORED TO BE SELECTED FOR AND TO SERVE AS A FLAG AIDE/EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT.  MY FLAG WAS AN AWESOME GUY AND IT WAS A PRIVILEGE TO WORK FOR HIM. HE WAS SAINTLY IN HIS PATIENCE WITH ME AS I LEARNED 
“THE ROPES”.

Being a Flag Aide or Executive Assistant to a Navy Admiral is very serious business nearly all the time.  International travel with a Flag officer is a complicated process and can be a logistics nightmare. While never stated explicitly anywhere, it is understood by all in the Flag Office that the Aide/EA is responsible for all things (large and small/significant and insignificant) – even acknowledged “Acts of God”. Responsibility for the Flag officer’s care, comfort, feeding, and movement involves a lot of moving parts and can be further complicated by a senior officer traveling partner (in this case a Navy Captain) who may want to take on the role of Aide/EA.

For this particular trip, I’ve successfully moved my Flag from DC to London (where the Captain joined our ‘party’), after a 6 hour delay by UNITED for an equipment (aircraft) mechanical issue. Spending 6 hours at Dulles with a seriously inconvenienced Flag officer can be a real drag on one’s energy. – Do we go back home and wait? – What’s wrong with the plane? – Why did you book this flight? – How long is the expected delay? – Can you get us another flight? – Have you notified London that we are delayed? – Should we get some dinner? – What does our new schedule look like with the 1,2,3,4,5, or 6 hour delay?  – What events need to be rescheduled?

With many thousands of travel miles in the bank, my Flag traveled business class and I found myself free to relax in the comfort of economy class, far removed from the boss and the questions (none of which I could answer satisfactorily). We land at Heathrow and are met by the Captain and a vehicle with driver for the one hour trip on the M4 and A4 to London. 

I’ll jump ahead two days and move the three of us to Digby via rental car, driving through Stevenage, Alconbury, and Peterborough with stops in great pubs in each town. We received a Flag greeting at RAF Digby and were assigned a “sergeant at arms” to see to us. We spent way too long in the pub that evening before dinner and way way to long in the bar after dinner.  The sergeant got us all safely back to our quarters. (I was a non-drinker back then).

The following morning, I had my coffee and went to check on my Flag in his quarters to get him and the Captain for breakfast before continuing our trip to Edzell.  The Admiral was quick to answer the door in his summer white uniform and declared that his zipper was broken. Being that the Aide is responsible for all things, it was my immediate job to tell the Admiral that his zipper was not broken, but merely stuck. At this point, the Captain arrived. The Captain immediately forgot what the aide’s responsibilities were and wanted to assist in resolving the zipper issue. Keep in mind, the Admiral is wearing the pants in this relationship. I know what my responsibilities are and proceed to pull on the zipper up the fly of the Admiral’s pants, catching only the left side teeth.  I am doing it all wrong and the Captain wants to correct my behavior and insists on a try at the zipper. Naturally when our battle over the zipper is at its zenith, with the Captain and I literally on our knees, and tugging on the Admiral’s fly and his zipper, our sergeant at arms arrives to escort us to breakfast.  He pops to attention and turns slightly away and with an aloofness and feigned disinterest that only the British can pull off, says – “Jolly well, I see you gentlemen are otherwise occupied, I will return at a time more convenient for all of you.” With that, he walked away – leaving the Captain and I on our knees still pulling at the Admiral’s zipper in opposite directions. Thankfully, he never came back.  The Captain and I fought over the Admiral’s zipper a bit more before I was able to get the slide back over the lower stop, connect the right/left teeth again (see the photo above) and zip the Admiral’s zipper. 

We made our way to breakfast and I was later able to make a complete and permanent repair of the zipper by sewing a new lower stop on the bottom of the zipper during a brief visit  at the home of one of our Commanding Officer’s while the Admiral was forced to wear the Skipper’s wife’s pink bathrobe in the process. The story about who walked in on us is even funnier and will have to wait for another time. The stuff our Navy Flags have to put up with is ridiculous.

CTMC (IDW/SS) Adam J. Birkholz wins 2015 NCVA Award for Cryptologic Support Excellence

Congratulations to Chief Petty Officer Adam Birkholz who today was announced as the winner of Commander, U.S. TENTH Fleet’s 2015 Award for Cryptologic Support Excellence (ACSE).
Chief Birkholz was nominated for the 2015 ACSE due to his exceptional leadership as the NIOC Yokosuka Fleet Electronics Support (FES) Leading Chief Petty Officer during calendar year 2014. He transferred to NIOC Bahrain in late 2014.
C10F’s official announcement (RMG 231803ZMAR15):
RMKS/1. In 1987, an award for cryptologic excellence was created by Commander, Naval Security Group based upon a proposal by the Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association (NCVA) to recognize Navy and Marine Corps personnel for their superior accomplishments in cryptologic support functions.
2. Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command U.S TENTH Fleet is pleased to announce CTMC(IDW/SS) Adam J. Birkholz, USN, Navy Information Operation Command (NIOC) Bahrain as the 2015 ACSE winner. Before transferring to NIOC Bahrain, Chief Birkholz expertly led NIOC Yokosuka’s mission to provide cryptologic maintenance support to multiple ships across the Forward Deployed Naval Forces, including helping USS FITZGERALD (DDG 62) prepare for and ultimately pass the SSES portion of their INSURV inspection. Further, he coordinated the deployment of one DIRSUP CTM to USS MCCAMPBELL (DDG 85) for five months in order to assist them during a period of austere CTM manning. His leadership in this area enabled FDNF ships to maintain a high level of cryptologic operational readiness which is challenging due to the distance and time zone difference from the surface ship TYCOM and SPAWAR System Centers (SSC) in Charleston, SC and San Diego, CA and FDNF surface ships.
3. The competition was particularly keen for this year’s
nominees and congratulations also go to the following nominees:
a. YNCM Donald R. Carter, NAVIOCOM Georgia
b. CTM1 (IDW/SW/AW) Asia S. White, NAVIOCOM Whidbey Island
c. YN1 (IDW/AW) Philip M. Breeze, NAVIOCOM Pensacola
d. YN1 (IDW/EXW/SW/AW) Phefelia E. Flournoy, NAVIOCOM Colorado
e. CTM2(SW) Kiia Synnestvedt, USS CHOSIN (CG-65)
f. CTM3(SW) Anthony Turner, USS NEW YORK (LPD-21)

4. These outstanding information warriors and cryptologists exemplify leadership, initiative, resourcefulness and dedication, and personify the highest traditions established for cryptologic excellence by the ACSE.
5. Congratulations and well done! Released by VADM Jan E. Tighe, USN, Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. TENTH Fleet.//