Wanted to share some powerful words spoken from the dais at last week's 2014 DoD Maintenance Symposium on the subject of leaders by Mr. John Johns, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Maintenance Policy and Programs. They are re-posted here with permission.

"Our times demand leaders, leaders at all levels,

that have no tolerance for status quo and mediocrity. 

Leaders with honor, competence, and courage,

with the ability to learn and adapt quickly,

that encourage the expression of opinions,

and that are comfortable making decisions,

and taking action, in the face of significant ambiguity,

unclear guidance, and near impossible timelines

We need leaders that know how to generate

both unity of command, and, unity of effort. 

These leaders will need to bypass or breakdown

old, irrelevant processes, and

unleash waves of innovation…

And we know,

innovation has no predetermined allegiance

to anyone or any organization,

it belongs to those that understand their business,

that are driven by a vision of what can be,

not what has been.

We know innovation is perishable,

it must be encouraged and protected,

it must involve those at every level,

in every part of our business,

and it must be recognized and rewarded

until it becomes a part of our culture.

This doesn't mean we abandon tradition,

because there is power in tradition,,

but tradition can and must involve innovation.

In fact, from the earliest days of our republic,

our military has had a history

rich in duty, honor, courage, and victory. 

And our dominance

of every battlefield on which we stand,

the air on which we fly,

and the seas on which we sail,

is rooted in both, the mastery in the art of warfare,

and in the exploitation of innovation,

innovation in strategy and tactics, in processes,

and in weapons.

It is said that fortune favors the bold.

The true breakthroughs,

the major advancements,

the unlikely victories,

come from those

that see what can be,

that seek a new future,,

And that are fearless in pursuing it..."