About

A self-professed deep thinker* formed by an eclectic life experience. Raised by borderline hippies loving, caring, outdoorsy parents in the restorationist Judeo-Christian faith tradition (church of Christ); married into a lifelong commited relationship, part of a successful parent-team to two beautiful daughters; training in industrial arts, education mid-management, and strategic studies manfested in a vocation focused on leadership; passionate avocation building, growing, making and creating.

I have over 30 years of leadership experience in complex organizations at the direct, organizational, and strategic level. As the Director of Joint Staff (Chief Operating Officer) for the Texas Military Department I support the Adjutant General by providing executive leadership and advice for agency operations, strategic planning, crisis management, human resources, procurement, logistics, and resource management as well as directing special staff for agency transformation, public and government affairs.

The Texas Military Department (TMD) oversees the largest state military force in the United States including the Texas Army National Guard, Texas Air National Guard, and Texas State Guard. The TMD provides forces to the president in support of national security military operations overseas and to the governor for support to civil authorities during disasters and for homeland defense. The size and complexity of the agency is comparable to a global corporation with 5,000 full-time and 19,000 part-time employees, $750,000,000 in state and federal appropriations, billions of dollars in supplies and equipment, 120 facilities, and ongoing operations in Texas and other countries.

As a visionary leader I rely on communicating clear intent and expected outcomes, inspiring trust among stakeholders especially subordinates, building consensus, and empowering people to do their job and innovate. I have found this leadership style to nest with my personality preferences and most effective at enhancing workforce engagement while attaining the goals of the organization.

Core competencies include leadership development, public speaking, crisis management, organizational transformation, strategic planning, leading change, operations, emergency management, government affairs, public affairs, and resource management. Personally articulate, intelligent, self-driven, and loyal with iron-clad morals and ethics; the spiritual leader of a strong family. Healthy and reliable.

Family:

Education:

After a false start at Texas Tech university studying Landscape Architecture, I transferred to Abilene Christian University into the Industrial Arts program to pursue my love of building (making in modern terms).  After graduating with a bachelors degree in Industrial Arts I entered education as a certified teacher and a few years later graduated with a Masters in Education – Mid Management and received a certification as a secondary school principal.

Most of my formal education is courtesy of the U.S. Army, graduating as a combat engineer, officer (officer candidate school 90-day wonder), and eventually from the U.S. Army War College with a Masters in Strategic Studies.

Vocation:

After putting myself through college as a welder, carpenter, and handyman I spent ten years as a Technology Education teacher and coach.  I am privileged to have been on the cutting edge of the maker movement before it was cool. During off-time and summer vacations I continued to do odd jobs including cabinet builder, grant writer, adjunct professor, and part time Soldier in the Texas Army National Guard.

My Army vocation produced my passion for leadership and leadership training having served as a combat engineer, platoon leader, company executive officer, company commander, various staff officer positions, battalion executive officer, battalion commander, brigade commander, and currently as the Director of Joint Staff for the Texas Military Department (National Guard).  This service included a deployments to Bosnia (SFOR7) and Iraq (OIF III).  After serving ten years as a traditional National Guardsmen, I entered active service and currently continue to serve full-time.

Avocation:

* I acknowledge calling yourself a deep thinker is equivalent to calling yourself humble

Reading List

The TNIV Bible: Timeless Truth in Today’s Languages (Today’s New International Version)

Today’s New International Version was produced to meet the ever-growing spiritual needs of today’s generation of believers—as well as to help nourish the next generation of believers—by offering a Bible that faithfully communicates the timeless truths of God’s Word.

The TNIV Bible is a text that reflects the NIV, but also clarifies and updates passages and words to provide a more timely, contemporary English translation for a new generation of Bible readers.

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth

Biblical interpretation for both beginning and experienced Bible readers. Changes to the new third edition include: updated language, new foreword, improved diagrams, substantial rewriting of several chapters to make them more user-friendly, and updated list of recommended commentaries and resources.

Covering everything from translational concerns to different genres of biblical writing, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth is used all around the world. In clear, simple language, it helps you accurately understand the different parts of the Bible—their meaning for ancient audiences and their implications for you today—so you can uncover the inexhaustible worth that is in God’s Word.

Maxwell Leadership Bible, Revised and Updated

The Leadership expert, John Maxwell, brings an in-depth look at God’s laws for leaders and leadership. The content of the current Maxwell Leadership Bible is revised and updated to incorporate Maxwell’s works since the first release of the Maxwell Leadership Bible.

Includes the 360º Leader, attitude 101, 25 ways to win with people, leadership 101, and revised indexes to the 21 Laws of Leadership and the 21 Qualities of a Leader
New interior page design

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

Drawing on four decades of scientific research on human motivation, Pink exposes the mismatch between what science knows and what business does—and how that affects every aspect of life. He demonstrates that while carrots and sticks worked successfully in the twentieth century, that’s precisely the wrong way to motivate people for today’s challenges. In Drive, he examines the three elements of true motivation—autonomy, mastery, and purpose—and offers smart and surprising techniques for putting these into action. Along the way, he takes us to companies that are enlisting new approaches to motivation and introduces us to the scientists and entrepreneurs who are pointing a bold way forward.