[May 20, 2026] I remember it clearly as my third grade school teacher told her class about the legend of the Holy Grail. Drinking from the cup meant eternal youth, granted healing, and immortality to those who were worthy. I’m unsure of the legend’s origins, but the desire of confronting death was a fascinating story for us. The… Read More »
[May 19, 2026] As a General Officer in the U.S. Army, I witnessed many self-inflicted mistakes made by fellow generals. This article is about those mistakes. Six years ago, I wrote a similar piece on the mistakes junior officers commonly make. There are some clear similarities. First, I want everyone to understand that my comments here combine personal… Read More »
[May 18, 2026] There’s an old U.S. Army Engineer motto “Essayons” which means “Let us Try.” Put into different words it could have said that Engineers accept any challenge. The core idea is social, moral, and personal; grow and protect your family and community, and foster your own development. The idea is ancient. Roman stoic philosopher Seneca once… Read More »
[May 17, 2026] The U.S. Supreme Court just greenlit mifepristone’s mail-order abortions, enabling chemical killing of the unborn. Abortion abolitionists call this judicial complicity in homicide. No doctor required, just poison shipped like takeout food. “Broad access” simply means broad slaughter and without accountability. The state of Louisiana challenged FDA rules that undermine its ban. Justice Samuel A.… Read More »
[May 16, 2026] The military command ‘stand your ground’ has deep roots in U.S. Army history, dating back to the American Revolutionary War. On the night of April 19, 1775, Captain John Parker gave his now-famous order to his men. “Stand your ground… Don’t fire until fired upon. But if they want to have a war, let it… Read More »
[May 15, 2026] One of the greatest advantages of a military career is the opportunity to work alongside genuinely brilliant minds—people I came to think of as hyper-intellectuals. This essay is about what I learned from really smart people during my years as a General Officer, and how I learned to lead them effectively. Most military leaders avoid… Read More »
[May 14, 2026] You’ve got to be tough as nails to be a good person because you have to stand your ground when you need to stand your ground. And, you have to be able to say no when it’s time to say no, and you have to mean it. Grow a spine! Develop your internal, physical strength,… Read More »
[May 13, 2026] Over several decades, I had the privilege of closely observing highly effective leaders across U.S. and foreign militaries. I studied what enabled them to accomplish demanding missions under pressure and deliberately worked to adopt their approaches. A clear pattern emerged. The following traits and behaviors consistently predicted superior military performance. Intelligence Higher intelligence, as measured… Read More »
[May 12, 2026] There is one memorial in Washington DC, which is constantly changing and evolving. That is the law-enforcement memorial. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied….” – Matthew 5:6 Each year new names are added of officers that have been lost in line of duty. Each year on May… Read More »
[May 11, 2026] We are each morally and socially obligated to do remarkable things. This is because the world is a difficult place, and being part of it means we owe it to ourselves and to others to be fully engaged. Otherwise, we risk becoming embittered, depressed, and hateful. Yesterday, under Rule 63, I wrote that “life is… Read More »