Top Pentagon Doctor Dispenses Leadership Message

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 22, 2011 – The Pentagon’s top doctor and health affairs advisor yesterday delivered leadership advice to military doctors-in-training and said he’s impressed by the military medical community’s continual quest for improvement.

Dr. Jonathan Woodson said he’s a firm believer that commanders should set the example and lead from the front. So when he paid a visit yesterday to meet with first-year medical students here at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, he jumped right in with them and rappelled down a 63-foot wall.

“As a prior commander, I believe it’s always good to get out in the field with the troops,” he said as he tied a Swiss seat climbing harness around his body. “And I think commanders always need to demonstrate to the troops that they are willing to do everything you ask them to do.”

Woodson, who assumed his post as assistant secretary of defense for health affairs Jan. 10, is no stranger to the tactical side of military operations. A brigadier general in the Army Reserve, he served as assistant surgeon general for reserve affairs, force structure and mobilization in the Office of the Surgeon General, and as deputy commander of the Army Reserve Medical Command.

During his confirmation hearing last summer before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Woodson pledged to draw on his vast experience as a military medical officer, health-care administrator, teacher, researcher and physician to tackle the challenges confronting the military health system.

Improving care for wounded troops at home and abroad would be one of Woodson’s highest priorities, he told the panel. “The highlight of my career as a surgeon has been caring for the wounded warrior on the battlefield,” he said.

Mingling among the students who will one day provide that care, Woodson asked about their career aspirations and encouraged them to seek balance in their lives. As they prepared to tackle the rappelling tower – the wall of the university’s administration building – he urged them to consider all their opportunities.

“You have to be willing to take on challenges outside your comfort zone,” he said.

Rappelling isn’t part of most medical school curricula, but as Woodson pointed out to the students, the Uniformed Services University is no ordinary medical school. In addition to all the academics and hands-on education provided at other medical schools, the Defense Department’s only medical school also provides a healthy dose of leadership and operational military training.

Assembling the students, Woodson emphasized the dual roles they will serve as doctors and military officers. “You are going to be trained to be great physicians, but you are also going to be trained to be great leaders,” he said.

The rappelling exercise was part of a week of training before the students kick off Operation Kerkesner, a two-week field training exercise at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa.

Woodson called the field training a critical part of the students’ education as they prepare to enter an expeditionary U.S. military force. “It’s central to what we do in the military,” he said.

Beyond that, he called field training a valuable way to instill other characteristics the students will need when they reach the field and fleet. “This is a prime laboratory for building leaders, building competency and building skills,” he said.

“Leaders are, primarily, individuals who create a vision for people to follow [and] motivate people to go after that common vision. They solve problems,” he said. “So I am looking for them to be superb physicians and leaders. The world is a dark and dangerous place without good leaders, but there is always a bright future when you have good leadership.”

That leadership is vital as the military continually strives to improve the quality of care it provides on the battlefield, as well as in clinical settings, he said.

“After 10 years of war, we can be very proud of the fact that we have brought a lot of skill and professionalism to the battlefield that has resulted in the lowest died-of-wound rate, the lowest disease and non-battle injury rate [and] the highest survival rates,” he said. “We have gotten so proficient and skilled in certain aspects of medicine… that the military medical community is emulating what we do.”

But Woodson said there’s still progress to be made. “We are a learning organization,” always looking for opportunities to improve, he said. “The whole idea is to understand what you are doing, how you can improve, and how you can improve the art and practice of medicine.”

The Uniformed Services University students will be part of the military medical community that continues to pursue that goal, Woodson noted. Not only will be they force multipliers for the services, he said, but their expertise will make them a valuable resource for the nation as a whole.

“So it is very important that we do this right – that we train them right, we develop their skills and competences as they go along,” he said.

Before returning to his Pentagon office, Woodson urged the students to seek him out as they advance through their university training and their military careers.

“Although they stick me away at that desk at the Pentagon, remember, I am here for you,” he said. “So if you want to come by and visit me, pick my brain about things, feel free. Because if I don’t serve your needs, I have no business being there.”

Navy Admiral Challenges Cadets to Reach for the Stars

By Lt. Jeffrey S. Gray, Chief of Naval Personnel - Diversity Directorate Public Affairs

CHICAGO, Ill. (NNS) -- Junior ROTC cadets, faculty, and staff from two publicly-funded military high schools, along with a group of influential civic leaders, were provided an opportunity to engage with a Navy admiral in Chicago, June 13.

Vice Adm. Cecil D. Haney, deputy commander, U.S. Strategic Command, came to Chicago to participate as the commencement speaker for Hyman G. Rickover Naval Academy's third graduation ceremony. While in Chicago, he also visited with cadets at Chicago's Air Force Academy High School and met with civic leaders over lunch at the Pritzker Military Library.

Haney came to Chicago as part of the Navy's diversity outreach efforts to encourage youth from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in the Navy's officer corps and to pursue college degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Haney's first stop of the day was to Chicago's Air Force Academy High School, which is located next door to U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox.

Speaking to cadets in a Junior ROTC class, Haney, a 1974 graduate of the District of Columbia Public Schools' Eastern High School, readily admitted to cadets that he had problems with reading as a student and he wasn't particularly interested in English or history when he was their age.

"I sat in your chair many moons ago, except at Eastern High School, where I went to school in Washington, D.C., I can tell you that it wasn't as high quality as your school here. The facilities were old. Quite frankly I'll tell you I was surrounded by a bunch of knuckle heads. I might have been considered a knuckle head as well," said Haney.

Haney posed the following questions to the cadets: "So how can I be standing in front of you as three-star admiral? Do you think I left high school thinking I'd be an admiral?"

Pointing to the one attribute he thought was key to his success, Haney said, "If there is one thing I'd like you take away from my time here, it would be this; please develop a passion for learning, a passion for learning new things, a passion for learning new things you might not be very good at."

Haney continued, "When I sat in your chair oh so long ago, I wasn't too excited about history and I was less excited about English. But I worked on it over time. Now I have a deep respect, and can't get enough of reading history. You need to explore the full range of academic classes here, because you never know what your true passion or gifts in life are. But if you limit yourself now to only certain experiences, you might find yourself limited later when there's something you really want to do but can't, because you didn't bother to learn something earlier in life."

After spending time at the Air Force Academy High School, Haney next traveled to the Pritzker Military Library.

While at the library, Haney toured the four floors and 40,000-square feet facility, perused a book collection of approximately 30,000 titles and over 9,000 photographs, glass negatives from the American Civil War through the present day, letters and journals from American soldiers, and a sizable collection related to Winston Churchill.

"We try to tell the story of American history through the eyes of the citizen soldier," said Edward C. Tracy, president and chief executive officer of the library. "It's all about the courage and sacrifice."

While also at Pritzker, Haney met with a group of retired veterans who are keen in supporting Navy outreach initiatives, but were particularly interested in learning what was going on at U.S. Strategic Command.

Over lunch Haney provided the group an overview of the mission of the command and answered questions with regard to the organizational structure and the role of the command to combat cyber attacks.

The final stop of the day for Haney was to the Hyman G. Rickover Naval Academy, where he was invited to give the school's annual commencement address. Haney gladly accepted the invitation because he has a history with the school. In October 2007, he participated as the school's Principal for a Day in the city of Chicago's Principal for a Day program. Haney also served aboard the USS Hyman G. Rickover as the boat's engineer.

As the commencement speaker Haney praised the accomplishments of the graduating class and singled out individual achievements. Of particular note, 100 percent of graduating students were accepted to either a post-secondary institution or enlisted in a branch of the military; college bound graduates were accepted to over 70 colleges and universities spanning 24 of the 50 states, including Puerto Rico; and graduates accumulated over $3.2 million in scholarship awards.

In his remarks, Haney stressed that, "Each graduate has a remarkable success story. They're here tonight through a combination of talent, intellect, hard work, imagination, and determination. That's a winning combination I think for continued success in life."

"When I visited the school in 2007 you all were freshmen," Haney continued. "I remember some of you were in Mr. Svelnys' physics class when I stopped by. Not only was I ecstatic about the innovative learning environment I observed, but I was impressed by the demonstrated passion of the students to learn in that classroom. You students took me from station to station, and I still brag about you to my colleagues. I was not only impressed by the innovative learning environment, but your desire to learn and challenge each other, including me."

"Just as each of you is unique, the late Admiral Rickover was a unique individual as well. His drive, his persistence a questioning attitude and his ability to understand the importance of teamwork and a single-minded focus on not just correcting a mistake, but getting to the root cause of failures to prevent their reoccurrence was his respected reputation. As a result of his efforts the United States nuclear Navy was launched and has been very successful."

In closing, Haney implored graduates to look at graduation not as an end but, "Consider this graduation as a beginning. So continue to learn, don't quit, and reach for the stars."

Commenting on Haney's insightful and thoughtful remarks, Rickover Principal Michael Biela stated, "I hope the graduates took away two important lessons from the Admiral's speech; hard work and persistence. Too many of our young people have a low attention span because of the numerous and varied activities they engage in, but if they can develop a strong work ethic and a strong sense of persistence they are going to be just fine."

Diversity outreach is the Navy's effort to bring youth from various backgrounds, a broad range of life experiences, and a common commitment to serve their country into the ranks of its leadership and management team—it's officer corps—by way of the U.S. Naval Academy and the Naval ROTC scholarship program.

STEM outreach is the Navy's attempt to foster the development and expansion of our nation's STEM workforce. The outreach effort exposes children and youth to service members who obtained a STEM degree and demonstrates what career opportunities in STEM can provide.

STEM education is an important focus for the Navy, because it produces knowledge and innovation in the technical areas of weaponry, logistical support, communications and intelligence, and medicine, which gives technical pre-eminence to naval forces, and contributes to its robust scientific and engineering workforce.

Stanley Draws From Military Experience as Civilian Leader

By Lisa Daniel

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 9, 2011 – As the top civilian leader over Defense Department personnel and readiness, Clifford L. Stanley is overseeing service members and their families through changing times. His best experience to guide that leadership, he says, is his 33 years on active duty.

“I’ve smelled the cordite. I’ve actually lived in the mud. I’m an infantry officer, retired,” he said during a June 7 interview with American Forces Press Service. “As a result, there’s a different perspective I bring to the table.”

A retired Marine Corps major general who holds a doctorate degree, Stanley was appointed as undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness in February 2010. His tenure will include overseeing the drawdown of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, increasingly unpredictable military and humanitarian missions, personnel improvements for women and gays in the military, and constricting defense budgets.

The military has changed greatly – although not enough, Stanley is quick to say – in the four decades since he joined. When he entered the Marine Corps in 1969, he had very few African-American role models. The Marine Corps had only 100 black officers, he said, and the two most senior were lieutenant colonels. “When I made general, I was it in terms of race and ethnicity,” he said.

The increasingly diverse force has made it easier to work through issues such as discrimination, Stanley said. “With diversity, you actually have a better environment to talk about those issues because people approach the same issues differently.”

Another change for the better, Stanley said, is that people are beginning to take a much broader view of diversity than simply gender, race and ethnicity. “There’s a tendency to think that’s all there is. But there’s a lot more than that,” he said. “I can’t overemphasize that enough.”

Stanley’s passion for diversity of thought extends into the military chain of command. “When people think differently, [other] people have a tendency to quash them,” he said. “When you’re in a regimented environment, not thinking like your boss can be a career ender. I have some challenges to that kind of environment.”

Indeed, he said, “I feel the most comfortable when I’m around people who are not thinking like I’m thinking.

“We need people from different backgrounds, different geographical areas, who’ve gone to different schools, and have different skill sets and talents. One talent is not better than another,” he added. “We can all add to this great nation of strength.”

One thing that has not changed, Stanley said, is the ability of military service, especially combat experience, to break down barriers between people’s differences.

“One of the beauties I observed while serving -- even in an environment that was pretty tough, sometimes hostile -- when you are working side by side and people get to know you, that stuff falls down,” he said. “When they really get to know you, when their life depends on it, there’s no place for it. And they see it.

“When you are working and protecting somebody’s back“ he added, “there’s no place for it.”

Mullen: New Army Officers Should be Soldiers, Statesmen

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

WEST POINT, N.Y., May 21, 2011 – The newly commissioned officers of the U.S. Military Academy’s Class of 2011 should strive to be soldiers as well as statesmen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at the academy’s commencement here today.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told the 1,031 graduating cadets they will be members of a team that has helped to bring about success in Iraq, progress in Afghanistan, and the support the United States and its allies are providing over Libya as it works to ensure security around the globe.

“You’re going to be expected to support and to encourage and to lead that team almost from Day One,” Mullen said. “That’s a tall order, and hard enough all by itself, but today I’m going to give you another assignment.”

That assignment, he explained, is to understand their responsibilities extend beyond their purely military duties.

“I’m going to ask you to be statesmen as well as soldiers,” Mullen said. “I’m going to ask you to remember that you are citizens, first and foremost.”

Among the cadets who received commissions as second lieutenants today, joining “the Long Gray Line” of academy graduates -- are 310 minorities, 225 women, 10 international cadets and 20 combat veterans who served in Afghanistan, Iraq or both. Since its founding in 1802, West Point’s 67,000 graduates have included Gens. Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, John J. “Black Jack” Pershing, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower, George S. Patton, H. Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. and David H. Petraeus.

As a Navy admiral addressing future Army officers, Mullen said getting to know the men and women of the Army has been one of the great privileges of his tenure as chairman.

“In this current job, we have become very close to the Army as we have worked hard to understand our soldiers and the demands placed on them and their families,” he said.

“It’s an Army tempered by 10 years of combat, an expeditionary force that has literally rewritten just about every rule and every scrap of doctrine it follows to adapt to the reality it now faces,” he added.

Though not much bigger than it was on 9/11, the admiral noted, the Army now is organized around brigade combat teams instead of divisions, deploys more modular and flexible capabilities than ever, and “can kill the enemy swiftly and silently one day and then help build a school or dig a well the next.”

Today’s Army has surged to the fore of national consciousness, Mullen said, “not by being a bulwark, but rather by being an agent of change.”

The Constitution stipulates that through their elected representatives the people will raise an Army and maintain a Navy, Mullen told the cadets. The American people, he added, “will determine the course the military steers, the skills we perfect, the wars we fight. … We therefore must remain a neutral instrument of the state, accountable to our civilian leadership.”

Because it is obliged to preserve the institutions that preserve it as a fighting force, the chairman said, it is not enough to deploy or fight or serve “unless we serve also the greater cause of American self-government and everything that underpins it.”

Such service, Mullen said, also obliges Army officers to help the nation’s citizens comprehend the full weight of the burden they carry and the price they pay when they return from battle.

“This is important,” the admiral said, “because a people uninformed about what they are asking the military to endure is a people inevitably unable to fully grasp the scope of the responsibilities our Constitution levies upon them.”

As a soldier and a citizen, a military officer’s constitutional responsibility is to “promote the general welfare in addition to providing for the common defense,” Mullen said.

Mullen quoted Gen. of the Army Omar N. Bradley, the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to illustrate that point: “Battles are won by the infantry, the armor, the artillery and air teams. … But wars are won by the great strength of a nation -– the soldier and the civilian working together,” he said.

“It’s not enough that you graduate from here and learn your skill and lead your troops,” Mullen told the Class of 2011. “You must also help lead your nation, even as second lieutenants.”

Soldiers will win wars around the world, he said, by working alongside civilians and with other government departments, with international forces, and with contractors and nongovernmental agencies.

At home, he added, soldiers will win wars by “staying in touch with those of your troops who leave the service, by making sure the families of the fallen are cared for and thought of and supported, by communicating often and much with the American people to the degree you can.”

Mullen reminded the cadets that service members also are the American people as voters, Little League coaches and crossing guards.

“We are grateful for who you are and all that you will do for the Army and shoulder to shoulder with your fellow citizens, the chairman said, “for the nation and the world.”

Challenge Academy graduates begin AmeriCorps NCCC service

Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office

Several graduates of the Wisconsin National Guard's Challenge Academy Class 25 have embarked on a new challenge.

Following the 22-week residential phase at Fort McCoy, Challenge graduates are expected to find employment or enroll in post-secondary education as part of their 12-month post-residential phase. Rather than taking the conventional path, eight of those graduates have completed four weeks of initial training and were inducted into the AmeriCorps National Civilian Corps (NCCC) in Vinton, Iowa on March 16.

For the next nine months Samantha Czerkas, Cross Plains; Devan Farnsworth, Fall River; Brett Hrdlicka, Turtle Lake; Theda LeFlore, Milwaukee; Taylor Maciosek, Milladore; Samuel Puchalla, Sheboygan; Ryan Skiff, Mauston; and Starr Spencer, Eau Claire will perform service to community projects across the Midwest.

"I have never traveled outside of Wisconsin," Skiff said."[I] am looking forward to this opportunity."

For six weeks, LeFlore will work with a team serving the Augusta, Mich., YMCA as cabin leaders for school groups. She will also assist in their Integrated Education Program.

"I am excited for my first project because I get to work with children and make a difference," she said.

The other cadets are assigned to different projects including building homes, managing invasive species, preparing income tax returns, or developing and restoring trail systems for their first round projects.

AmeriCorps staff described the Youth Challenge cadets, which currently represent about 10 percent of the Corps, as disciplined and respectful. Wisconsin National Guard Challenge Academy Director M.G. MacLaren and members of the counseling department attended the induction ceremony to support the cadets' attendance in the leadership program.

NCCC provides an opportunity for those seeking experience in helping others, working as a team and giving back to the community. AmeriCorps also offers its members an educational award to help finance school following their term of service. The National Guard Youth Challenge Program and AmeriCorps NCCC have partnered with the goal of helping more cadets transition into community service work with NCCC.

The Challenge Academy reshapes the lives of at-risk 16- to 18-year-olds. A structured, military-style environment and state-certified teachers and counselors build cadets' academic abilities, character, self-confidence and personal discipline.

The Navy Honors a Civil Rights Pioneer

By Navy Secretary Ray Mabus

Today in Jackson, Mississippi, I was privileged to honor a civil rights hero and the millions of Americans who have furthered the cause of liberty. As Secretary of the Navy, I am responsible for naming our ships. Today, I announced that the first ship I will name will be the USNS Medgar Evers.

The ship that will carry Medgar Evers name around the world for a generation is a T-AKE, a critically important supply ship. They are traditionally named for famous American pioneers, explorers, and visionaries. They celebrate the dreams and bold action of the American spirit and they honor men and women who have changed our country and the world for the better - men and women like Alan Shepard, Sacagawea, Carl Brashear, and Amelia Earhart. The ships' namesakes represent the rich tapestry that is America.

Medgar Evers carried on that proud tradition of leadership as a pioneer and visionary of the civil rights movement. As a young man, he served in France during the Second World War. Upon returning to the United States, he took up the cause of freedom, rose to become the Field Secretary of the NAACP in Mississippi, and campaigned tirelessly to end segregation and ensure equal treatment for every American.

No less so than the heroes who have fought and died for our country overseas, he gave his life to defend America and its principles when he was assassinated in his own driveway in June of 1963.

It was an emotional ceremony today when I announced my choice, speaking at the Fannie Lou Hamer Institute on Citizenship and Democracy at Jackson State University. The Institute honors another civil rights leader from Mississippi. I was proud to be joined today by the widow of Medgar Evers, Mrs. Myrlie Evers-Williams, as well as by Congressman Bennie Thompson, Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson, former Mississippi Governor William Winter, and a score of other civil rights activists and Mississippians. Sharing the moment with them was a humbling experience for me. It reminded me of how far we have come, but also of how much others who went before us sacrificed on our behalf, just like the Sailors and Marines I’m proud to serve as Secretary.

I believe today we honored the work of legends and in a small way reaffirmed the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that "one day the nation would rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed - that all men are created equal."

Central Florida Resident Awarded the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award

TAMPA, FL—Today, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Steven E. Ibison announced that Travis T. Gabriel was awarded the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) for 2010. SAC Ibison recently presented the award to Mr. Gabriel during an FBI conference which was attended by approximately 400 FBI employees and law enforcement officers.

Since 1990, the DCLA has been a principle means for the FBI to publicly recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations for their contributions to crime and violence education and prevention within their communities.

Mr. Gabriel is a 2003 graduate from the University of Central Florida. Upon graduation, Mr. Gabriel made it his priority to educate and positively influence at-risk young males. Mr. Gabriel knew what these young people faced, as he too grew up in a high crime, poverty stricken, low education area in Miami, Florida that was riddled with drugs, gangs, and violence. At 16, he had to decide his fate after his mother's untimely death.

Mr. Gabriel first worked as a high school teacher and then as a juvenile probation officer, where he noticed that a positive role model was lacking in the lives of delinquent youth. Determined to make a difference, Mr. Gabriel started a program called Modeling Alternatives to Negative and Undesirable Perceptions, or M.A.N. U.P. This program began as a diversion program used by the State Attorney's Office in Circuit 9, Orange County, Florida. This program allows first-time offenders a chance to avoid formal prosecution, if diversion requirements are successfully completed.

At risk youth may be referred to M.A.N. U.P. not only through the State Attorney's office, but also through the Center for Drug Free Living, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or the Orange County Public Schools. To qualify, participants must be between the ages of 7-18 years old.

For more than 10 years, Mr. Gabriel has worked with delinquent youth and has provided this educational program to at-risk males, educating them on antisocial attitudes, antisocial peers, school and /or work, substance abuse, family issues, and free time. This six-week program is to introduce and train these young men in areas that include discipline, respect, motivation, and honesty, as well as allowing them to experience situations that enhance their knowledge and understanding of being a positive asset to society.

To date, Mr. Gabriel has educated more than 400 young men and has an estimated 80 percent success rate (low recidivism of youth re-entering the system). He receives no monetary compensation for this program, which is widely supported throughout the community.

Mr. Gabriel understands first-hand what young people experience. His motto is, "Today is the first day of the rest of our life, which means that no matter what happened yesterday, you always have a chance to restart your life today."

In addition to the award, Mr. Gabriel also received a paid trip to Washington D.C. for a formal ceremony to be personally recognized by FBI Director Robert Mueller III.

FBI Announces Community Leadership Award

The FBI El Paso Division has selected Patrick Turley to receive the 2010 Director's Community Leadership Award. The honor recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to their local communities through service.

"Turley is uniquely deserving—he met all the criteria and then some," said David Cuthbertson, FBI Special Agent in Charge. "He's shown a willingness to lead, has been committed to improving lives, and has shown the desire to make El Paso safer for its citizens."

In addition to his duties as regional director for Adult Protective Services, Turley currently serves as board president for STARS (Sexual Trauma and Assault Services—El Paso's Rape Crisis Center), president of the Crime Victims' Rights Council, and on the Domestic Violence Prevention Commission.

Over the past few years, the award has gained significant prestige with the Director of the FBI personally making the presentation to those who made an impact in the areas of crime reduction, drug deterrence, and other public safety and security initiatives. Turley and his wife will travel to Washington, D.C. next month to attend a banquet and receive the award from FBI Director Robert Mueller.

Nonpartisan Group Teaches Vets How to Run for Office

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2011 – Ask most Americans what they they’d like to see in their elected officials, and they’re likely to rattle off a laundry list of characteristics: integrity, leadership experience, an ability to work cooperatively to tackle tough challenges, and perhaps most of all, a willingness to put what’s best for the country above their own self-interest.

These are the same characteristics that make America’s men and women in uniform one of the country’s most-trusted groups, polls consistently show, and why a nonprofit educational organization is encouraging more military veterans to consider running for public office.

Veterans Campaign teaches veterans how to run for federal, state or local office, Seth Lynn, a Marine Corps Reserve captain who serves as its executive director, said in an interview with American Forces Press Service.

The group has no political or ideological agenda, he emphasized. Its goal simply is to demystify the political campaigning process so the country can benefit from what he called a largely untapped source of “phenomenal leaders.”

“Military service is terrific preparation for being an elected leader,” Lynn said. It puts people in situations where success demands an ability “to put aside your differences with a group of incredibly diverse people with different backgrounds and opinions and from different parts of the country … and to do what’s best for the country.”

And veterans, particularly those who have served in combat, clearly recognize that “the enemy is the guy at the end of the battlefield, not the guy on the other side of the aisle,” Lynn said.

The Hatch Act establishes clear lines about what military members can and can’t do when it comes to partisan politics. They’re encouraged to vote, but are banned from soliciting or receiving political contributions or engaging in political activity while on duty, in a government office or while wearing a military uniform.

The result is that many veterans don’t know what’s involved in actually running for office.

“You have this great leadership experience, but at the same time, little campaign knowledge,” Lynn said. “That is where Veterans Campaign is trying to bridge the gap, to take this group of people who would make outstanding elected leaders but don’t really know much about actually getting there, and giving that extra step they need to become that next generation of outstanding leaders.”

Lynn cited the national trend, particularly since the 9/11 terror attacks, of public support for America’s military men and women. “There is a huge amount of respect and admiration nearly all Americans have for the young men and women who are going abroad and defending the country,” he said.

In many respects, the military is a self-selected group that has proven its willingness “to volunteer and go risk their lives for the United States,” Lynn said.

“And that is a terrific group of people you would want to have as leaders,” he added. “And we are beginning to see that America recognizes that and wants those type of people to be elected leaders.”

Lynn, a 2002 U.S. Naval Academy graduate who has deployed twice to Iraq and once to Okinawa, came up with the concept of Veterans Campaign two years ago at a Princeton University workshop for women considering running for public office.

That fall, Lynn helped to organize the first Veterans Campaign workshop at Princeton, followed by subsequent workshops after the organization became affiliated with George Washington University here.

The next workshop is slated for Feb. 11 and 12 at George Washington University. It will include discussions about how veterans fared during the recent elections, with several Congress members with military service sharing their own experiences, Lynn said. Another presentation will help participants “bulletproof their service record” to identify inaccuracies or inconsistencies that could hurt them at election time, he said.

The second day of training will be a “campaign boot camp” that focuses on nuts and bolts of running for office, such as how to start and finance a campaign and how to deal with the media, he said.

While lamenting the small percentage of Congress members with military experience – the lowest since World War II – Lynn said he sees change in the wind, thanks, in part, to Veterans Campaign.

“We have some incredibly talented young people who are thinking about possibly running someday,” he said. “It may take a few more [election] cycles for them to start running, but we hope to see an uptick in that.”

Ultimately, Lynn said, having more veterans in elected office will benefit the whole country.

“You really do have people who have a code of ethics that allows them to put the country before themselves,” he said. “Everybody on all sides of the political spectrum believes we need more of that in Washington right now.

“At the same time, we have a huge amount of potential for phenomenal elected leaders that we are not tapping into as much as we could,” he continued. “And we will have a much better situation in our government when we utilize and tap into this resource of phenomenal leaders.”

Deputy Attorney General James Cole Appoints Stuart M. Goldberg as Chief of Staff and Lisa O. Monaco as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General

WASHINGTON – Deputy Attorney General James Cole today announced the appointment of Lisa O. Monaco as the Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General and Stuart M. Goldberg as the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Attorney General.  

“Lisa and Stuart are veteran career prosecutors who have served the department in a number of capacities over the years and I am grateful that they will continue their service in the Deputy Attorney General's office,” said Deputy Attorney General Cole.   “Stuart and Lisa have demonstrated leadership and an unrivaled commitment to this institution and I am confident they will be key assets in our efforts to keep the American people safe, ensure the fairness and integrity of our financial markets, and protect the traditional missions of the department.”

Since 2010, Monaco has served as the acting Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General and before that served as an Associate Deputy Attorney General since 2009.   Prior to joining the Deputy Attorney General's office, Monaco was the Chief of Staff to FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, working on a wide range of national security and law enforcement issues.   She also served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Counselor to Director Mueller during her tenure at the FBI.

From 2001 to 2007, Monaco served as a federal prosecutor.   She was appointed to the Enron Task Force, serving as a co-lead trial counsel in the prosecution of five former executives of Enron Broadband Services. For her work on the Enron Task Force, Monaco received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service, the Justice Department’s highest award.   Prior to her appointment to the Enron Task Force, she served as the Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.  

Monaco served as Counsel to Attorney General Janet Reno from 1998 to 2001, providing advice and guidance on national security, law enforcement, budget and oversight issues.

Before joining the department, Monaco clerked for the Honorable Jane R. Roth, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.   She earned her J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School and her B.A. from Harvard University.

Since 2005, Goldberg has served as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, where he oversaw the work of over 85 Assistant U.S. Attorneys involved in criminal prosecutions and civil litigation.   In December 2010, he was awarded a Director’s Award for his superior performance as a manager at the 2010 Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys Director’s Awards ceremony.

Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Goldberg was Principal Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Section, the office that oversees the federal effort to combat corruption through the prosecution of officials and employees at all levels of government.   Goldberg began his career with the Department as a trial attorney at Public Integrity in 1988.   He also served the section as Deputy Chief for Litigation and Senior Litigation Counsel.

Before joining the Department, Goldberg worked as a civil litigator at Rogers & Wells LLP, focusing largely on securities and commodities fraud, First Amendment and antitrust cases.

Goldberg has been a member of the adjunct faculty at Georgetown University Law Center, teaching courses on professional responsibility.   He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.A. from the University of Virginia.

Honoring Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy

By Tracy Russo

Earlier today, on the 50th anniversary of his swearing-in as Attorney General, the Department of Justice came together to celebrate the achievements and enduring contributions of Robert F. Kennedy.  Joined by Kennedy family members, including his wife, Ethel Kennedy, renowned civil rights leaders, historians and current and former Justice Department employees this event commemorated the life and service of our nation’s 64th Attorney General.

Attorney General Eric Holder reflected on the enduring legacy of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, noting:

No one can doubt how Robert Francis Kennedy chose to use the law when he was Attorney General.  He taught us that law can be a powerful force for good – if we are willing, as he was, to roll up our sleeves, to summon our courage and our best efforts, and to lead from the front lines of change.

In doing just that, Attorney General Kennedy championed the cause of the least among us – and made our nation more just, more fair, and more humane.  He was not afraid to dream a better world and to act to create it.

However, the Attorney General also pointed to the work left still to do:

In his first speech as Attorney General, Robert Kennedy argued that the time for apathy had long since passed; that it was time to, “[prove] to the world that we really mean it when we say that all men are created free and equal before the law.”

“All of us,” he said, “might wish at times that we lived in a more tranquil world – but we don’t.  And if our times are difficult and perplexing, so are they challenging and filled with opportunity.”

Despite all that’s been accomplished in recent decades, we – still – do not live in tranquil times.  We continue to face difficulty, injustice, division, and an array of challenges that can serve to sharpen our skills, steel our resolve, focus our energy, and impel us to action.

In times like these, the importance of Robert Kennedy’s work becomes ever clearer…

So, as we celebrate Robert Kennedy’s life and his impact on this Department, let us also commit ourselves to carrying on – and carrying out – his mission to make gentle the life of this world, and to make good on the promise of our nation.  Let us answer his call, “to face up to our nation’s problems and live up to its founding principles.”  And let us heed the wisdom of his extraordinary example.

In marking this special anniversary, the Justice Department is pleased to release a selection of historic photos from the Department’s archives. These images capture Attorney General Kennedy at work in the Department, at home with his family, and in public with people from all corners of the globe.

Also, for the first time, the Department of Justice library has compiled and digitized a collection of Robert F. Kennedy’s statements and speeches from his tenure as Attorney General. These speeches, from 1961 to 1964 provide a window into the world of the Justice Department during that time.

NASA Announces New Deputy Chief Information Officer for IT Security

Katherine Trinidad

Headquarters, Washington                                         

WASHINGTON -- NASA's Chief Information Officer (CIO) Linda Cureton has announced the appointment of Valarie Burks as the deputy CIO for Information Technology Security.

Burks served as the associate CIO for Cyber and Privacy Policy and Oversight at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) since 2009. She managed Federal Information Security Management Act reporting, governance, risk and crisis management, strategic oversight and compliance.

"Valarie has a significant background and experience in IT management," Cureton said. "That combined with her in-depth understanding of communications and holistic approach to IT security make her an invaluable asset to our efforts."

Burks developed and launched the USDA Certification and Accreditation Center of Excellence to improve and mitigate system risks, reduce costs and improve the quality and standards for systems. Burks has developed, managed, and maintained IT infrastructure and equipment including network, desktop, video, web-hosting and telecommunications operations. She handled IT management responsibilities while working for the Office of Management and Budget, Department of Commerce and Government Accountability Office.

Burks received her B.S. in computer science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She also received her M.S. in computer systems management from the University of Maryland, University College.

For information about NASA's Office of the Chief Information Officer, visit http://www.nasa.gov/ocio.

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Face of Defense: Soldier Leads Charge for Charity

By Army Staff Sgt. Matthew E. Winstead

U.S. Army Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Dec. 20, 2010 – Army Pfc. Jasmine Irving made her way through the snow-packed streets of downtown Anchorage with a bounty of donated items to benefit area homeless families.

Irving, joined by two of her fellow soldiers and one of their children, was on her way Dec. 17 to unload the donations she had collected over the past few weeks.

“I received approval to do this from the installation and my chain of command, but I did this pretty much on my own,” said Irving, a supply clerk with 25th Infantry Division’s 4th Brigade, based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. “I did have help here and there. My friends and coworkers helped out a lot.”

She set up two collection points on post for donations and raised awareness for the project through flyers she designed and word of mouth.

Originally, Irving’s project was intended to benefit a shelter here that’s part of Catholic Social Services. However, that facility wouldn’t have been able to make full use of the wide variety of items Irving helped collect. Instead, Irving decided to donate to Catholic Social Services as a whole so the items could be sorted and distributed to where they would be most useful.

Ellen Lawlor Krsnak, director of community relations and advocacy for CSS, said she was very pleased to receive the donations. “It warms the heart to see people that take so much from their own time to help others,” Krsnak said. “It reminds you that there are good people out there.”

CSS will deliver items such as toys and books to places that cater to families and children, and the clothes and food will be given to shelters and the CSS food pantry.

“We will do our very best to make sure that all of the pieces of the donation go to where they will do the very most good,” Krsnak said.

Alonzo Mourning to Receive the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award

John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI in Miami, today announced Mr. Alonzo Mourning as the recipient of the 2010 Director's Community Leadership Award (DCLA) at the Overtown Youth Center in Miami, Florida.

Mr. Mourning is the founder of the Alonzo Mourning Charities (AMC), Inc. AMC is a not-for-profit organization created to build strong communities by supporting programs and initiatives that are committed to promoting positive change.

Through Mr. Mourning’s efforts, AMC has raised more than $7 million dollars for various programs that aid in the development of children and families. Some of these initiatives include the Honey Shine Mentoring Program, the Overtown Youth Center and Zo’s Fund for Life Mission.

The Honey Shine Mentoring Program is an initiative which teaches real life skills that help young girls transition into adulthood with grace and confidence. This program offers bi-weekly workshops that focus on health and nutrition, literacy, career mapping, self-esteem, and financial literacy.

The Overtown Youth Center opened in 2003 and located in Overtown (Miami), Florida, is a center that works with children and families by providing in-school, after-school, weekend, and summer programs designed to empower children to indentify and avoid negative influences and to pursue positive ones. The center provides these activities in a safe environment for children in grades 2 through 12.

Zo’s Fund for Life Mission, created in 2001, provides support to individuals and families who have been diagnosed or impacted by kidney disease. Through research, advocacy, and education, the foundation encourages families to take routine physicals in an effort to detect and to treat rare kidney diseases.

In addition to the foregoing initiatives, Mr. Mourning has supported local communities by hosting youth summits, basketball clinics, and supporting families during the Holiday Season. His commitment to supporting local communities through his charities is exemplary and merits strong recognition. It is for this reason that the Miami Division of the FBI is presenting Mr. Mourning with the 2010 DCLA.

SAC Gillies stated, “It is an honor to present this award to Alonzo Mourning. The work that he and his charities perform to assist children and families in the South Florida community is truly deserving of the Director’s Award for Community Leadership.”

The DCLA was formally created in 1990 as the principle means for the FBI to honor individuals and organizations for their efforts in combating crime, terrorism, drugs, and violence to help keep America and its kids safe.

The FBI can only conduct investigations and protect the American people from crime and acts of extremism if it has the support and understanding of the American people. That's why the Special Agents in Charge of each of the 56 field offices work so closely with their communities and community organizations. When these Special Agents in Charge get tremendous support from people in their communities, they can nominate the person for the award. Every year, each of the 56 FBI field offices nominates one recipient for the award.

The following is a list of the past local DCLA recipients in the South Florida area”

-Anti-Defamation League, Florida Office

The ADL was founded in 1913 to stop the defamation of Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all.

Initiatives which warrant recognition include the Law Enforcement Agency Resource Network website which tracks actionable information on extremist activities.

A World of Difference Institute that provides anti-bias education and training with curriculum and materials for Pre-K through university level students, community groups, civic associations, and religious organizations.

-Handy, Inc.

A non-profit organization founded in 1985 to address the fundamental needs of Broward County's Foster Care Children.

-National Black MBA Association, Inc.

Founded in 1987 to provide mentoring, leadership development, and scholarship opportunities for socio-economically disadvantaged students who are interested in attending college.

-Ms. Shirley Taylor-Prakkelt

The former Director of Housing for the Town of Davie, Florida, who was responsible for implementing neighborhood revitalization programs to reduce crime, drugs, and gang violence in her local community.

Her Scholarship Award Fund was highlighted as a positive initiative which encourages students to take part in activities which would positively impact their local community.