Dr. Billy Mitchell And The Father Of The Modern Air Force

The movie “Twelve O’ Clock High” is a case study in the application of leadership theory during World War Two. Gregory Peck portrays Brigadier General Savage, a United States Army Air Force officer thrust into a situation that requires a maximum effort both on the ground and in the air as he attempts to re-invigorate an undisciplined, anxiety ridden, and ineffective combat unit. Throughout the movie we observe Peck’s character employing a variety of leadership methods, but ultimately discovering that true combat effectiveness and cohesion is accomplished through a

This paper will briefly analyze the case study— Rebecca S. Halstead: Steadfast Leadership, and examine General Rebecca Halstead 's career history and how through her personal attributes, skills, experiences and challenges she developed into a successful leader and commander in the U.S. Army. Although General Halstead faced a number of challenges during her career, this paper will focus primarily on her leadership style and philosophy specifically with leading teams and dealing with difficult bosses.

From the vantage point of the present, it is easy to look back at the tenure of any great leader and draw conclusions about just what it was that made him/her great. We can examine the circumstances under which their leadership flourished; piece together what we know of their character and personality traits; delve into the factors that may have driven them; and dissect their leadership style all in an effort to pinpoint the source of their success. The ‘Great Man’ theory, popular in the 19th century and now thoroughly debunked, held that leaders are born, not made; suggesting that men like George Washington, Martin Luther King Jr., and Winston Churchill were born with the innate capacity to change the world (Landis,

In his book “Start With Why,” Simon Sinek describes the difference between leaders that inspire and those who simply delegate; he encourages readers to look at leadership with a new outlook, and he motivates people to act upon his vision: start with ‘WHY’ instead of ‘HOW.’ He supports his advice with anecdotes of events inspired by real people like Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Jobs, and the Write Brothers. He realized that these individuals all had similar leadership techniques, which happen to be the exact opposite of what other, less successful, leaders do. Sinek calls his formula “The Golden Circle” (Sinek, P.37), which provides insight for how people can be inspired, movements can be prompted, and organizations established. Upon finishing his book, I conclude that Sinek is onto something with his theory; in order to be an extraordinary leader, one must start within.

The name Billy Mitchell brings many images to mind. To most, he is an American hero and considered to be one of the most influential figures regarding the creation of the modern Air Force. He was a successful aviator in his own right. What many do not know is that his ideas for the future of air power for the United States military were considered insane. Mitchell was a staunch proponent for an investment in air power as he deemed it was the future of warfare, a vision he would eventually be praised for. During his time, however, his views were considered preposterous as the focus was on battle ships and other naval vessels deemed necessary for war. He was seen as egotistical as he dismantled the opinions of anyone who opposed him. His statements and arguments against his superior officers eventually led to his court martial and resignation from the military. Mitchell was recognized posthumously for his contributions to aerial warfare.

General Arnold displayed the characteristics of a pioneer and Visionary Leader. He served in the capacities of a creator and in every sense; Arnold literally invented the modern U.S. Air Force (Bill Yenne, 2013). Our student guide on Team Dynamics tells us that a creator generates fresh and/or original ideas that defy generally accepted structures or roles (Barnes Center for Enlisted Education (BCEE), 2016). He is and was the first and only five-star general to command the service and he’s credited with developing the idea of airpower. His creative leadership traits enabled him to

A leader must have a vision, an understanding and must be able to give directions to others when necessary. A visionary leader always remember that the status is never permanent.

I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to all people in leadership positions or anyone who aspires to be a leader. It is a well-rounded book that explores General Grant’s personality and leadership skills and has lessons that managers and leaders can apply in their organizations and become effective leaders. Each lesson is short, clear, and direct to the point and this makes it easier for leaders to understand and implement the lessons. General Grant’s life is interesting and inspiring, he did not want to pursue a career in the army and when he was a junior officer, he resigned because he had no meaningful work, but he ended up being an outstanding and successful leader who was detail oriented and often preferred to see for himself what was happening in the units under his command.

General S. Patton once said, “Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.” Some may argue that his life was cut short while others may say it was too long. Being a man who fought in World War I and World War II, George S. Patton, Jr. certainly contained a wealth of experience in warfare. Looking at the written history, there were those who seemed to undervalue Patton, as well as those who may have held him much too high. Researchers have many different opinions on Patton’s’ leadership, but the research here will encompass both the positive and the negative aspects of his leadership and surrounding issues while addressing the following questions:

Throughout history, there have been various amounts of leaders and leadership styles. There have also been instances in American history where capable and influential leaders have been crucial to the formation of our nation. A very inspiring and motivating leader in American history is Alexander S. Webb. I believe that Webb was a transformational leader. Born on February 15th, 1853, in NYC, New York, Webb was raised in a house with military leaders. Attending the United States Military Academy in 1855, he continued his service until the yeah 1870 with many different accomplishments and goals met. He received recognition from men who have shaped the country today and made differences in the way men were led during combat. Throughout his military career, I believe Webb established a transformational leadership style. I also would like to obtain the sane leadership qualities he possessed and be able to apply them to my own career. Alexander S Webb, Brevet Major General Webb in the Army, is a leader worth looking up to and following.

Great leaders have shaped the World we live in today and they are remembered for what they were able to accomplish during their lifetime. The history books are filled with leaders that changed the very nature of something by taking a different road or challenging the way everyone perceived things. Leaders would not be able to accomplish these daring feats without the help of their followers, the individuals in the background giving them their support (Schermerhorn & Uhl-Bien, 2014). Colleen Barrett was able to break through the glass ceiling and led Southwest Airlines (SWA) to become one of the most successful airlines in the industries (Dierendonck & Patterson, 2010). In the following pages will explore Colleen Barrett’s leadership

General Powell displays transformation leadership through individualized consideration. “IC involves dealing with others as individuals and considering their needs, abilities, and aspirations as you work together to further their development.” General Powell’s Army background influences the idea of taking raw iron and fashioning it into a sword; as noted in his quote “leaders are made, not born” implies leadership is a shaping process. Transformational leaders who display individual consideration tend to coach and mentor, excel in two-way communications, listens effectively, and personalize interactions with subordinates. Part of General Powell’s principle of empowerment is an investment in the leadership potential of team members. This investment is necessary in sustaining productive organizations.

Leadership, according to the Army doctrine, represents individuals’ ability to influence people by providing purpose, direction, and motivation while operating to accomplish the mission and improving the organization (“Leadership” FM 6-22). However, the varying characteristics of individuals that the Army attracts may instill this doctrine in many different ways, leading to different representations of leadership. Some individuals choose to lead their subordinate in a stern matter, only displaying matured emotions and a “tough-loving” attitude to guide them in the right direction. Others

Dispositional flexibility is the concept I find most important because it’s a skill that all Air Force personnel need to be effective leaders. They say that change is the only constant service members can count on in the military. It’s human nature to resist change, especially if the reason for it doesn’t go over well with the population. This is where the non-commissioned officer (NCO) corps must step in to ease tensions in the unit, while providing a positive outlook on the situation. Having dispositional flexibility creates a better understanding of how to manage the changes on the horizon.

High-performing organizations do not achieve their success through serendipity; success in the business world requires a planned and coordinated effort on the part of the workforce. This effort springs from abilities of an organization’s leaders. The entirety of the Business Policy Seminar has been an exercise in