“Never attribute to maliciousness that which is attributable to ignorance.” — LtGen Carl G. O'Berry Some leadership lessons don’t come from textbooks or formal training—they’re etched into our memories, sometimes quite literally. In my memoir, The Accidental...
When I wrote “The Accidental Executive”, my goal was to share a story about discovering purpose and making an impact through public service. While memoirs about civil service may speak to a niche audience, this audience holds deep significance for me. Seeing the book...
“The year was 1974, and the world outside the windows was abuzz with change and upheaval in the Cold War, post–Vietnam War era. The sign above the door read DEFENSE COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY. A white sign with black lettering next to the door read Defense Commercial Communications Office, or DECCO. Crossing the threshold of this drab building, I stepped out of the steam of the Southern Illinois summer and into the soup of US government civil service, where mission met bureaucracy. Walking through the door and down the hall, plodding across the waxed and worn linoleum tile floor, I noticed a faint squeaking noise coming from my recently shined shoes. When I finally found the correct office number, I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and stepped into this strange new world, ready to face the challenges that lay ahead. The squeaking sound of my shoes stopped, replaced by a whisper of uncertainty.”