Team Mission: Trusted Community...

Just when you think you know it all, you realize that your graduation or promotion is nothing more than a stepping stone in your next phase of your life.

You begin to realize that the experience and the education is vital, yet you only have a glimpse at the value of the entire community.

How will you know your wing man or your class mates even better than you do today?

Your mission now is to continuously grow your relationships within your latest trusted community.

You might begin with a regular monthly meeting online and then add Face-to-Face gatherings every other month.

In both cases you learn your community members names, you begin to know their real expertise and you start the process of building your growing trust.

Imagine for a moment that some in your trusted community will ask you curious questions about your upbringing, where you grew up or what your focus is currently.

Over the course of your time with your community you start to become more genuine, more open to sharing your true thoughts and bold ideas.

Your levels of "TrustDecisions" are becoming exponential.

We are embedded with our end-users listening and learning. We are testing hypotheses and working side-by-side while continuously adapting to ever changing problem-sets, to improve and become more agile.

We are developing new solutions, iteratively and incrementally with our beneficiary clients.

So what?

You now begin to realize who you can really trust and the true value of the time and resources dedicated to your community.

Now is the time to learn again and to seek that next stepping stone towards your next life milestone.

Accomplish it together, not “Alone”. Your community is growing with you and your dreams will soon become even more true…

TrustDecisions: A "New" Innovative Future...

During this “Holy Week” in the USA, what shall you have learned about your new future?

What decisions have you recently made, that will change your life forever?

Before you were mature enough to truly understand what “Trust” means in the course of your relationships, you relied on someones tone of voice, their behavior and perhaps even a smile.

As time goes on and you immerse yourself in exponential new experiences, meet new people and endure real life challenges, your definition of “Trust” will gradually change:

• Every transaction creating wealth first requires an affirmative decision to trust.
• Building trust creates new wealth.
• Sustaining trust creates recurring wealth.
• Achieving trust superior to your competition achieves market dominance.
• Leadership rises (or falls) based on trust (or the absence of trust).

Jeffrey Ritter - Page 35 - Achieving Digital Trust

“Trust Decisions” are now your focus:

Trust decisions are the most complex computations possible. Yet trust decisions have consistency, design, and structure that are possible to visualize and express with remarkable congruity, regardless of the complexity of the variables or the time during which a trust decision must be completed.

Trust decisions, properly executed, take account of the circumstances in which you are about to act; the qualities of the person, thing, or information on which you intend to rely; and the value you intend to invest, and realize, from giving your trust.

Jeffrey Ritter - Page 50 - Achieving Digital Trust

Now after your proactive actions, how will you proceed in pursuit of your latest

“TrustDecisions" ?

Your new future and true destiny shall reveal itself in the days and years ahead of you.

You shall continuously pursue it with the following innovation process:

• Map / Target
• Sketch / Solution
• Decide
• Prototype

Learn and repeat this process in order to create new innovative wealth…both personally and professionally!

Godspeed…

The Third Alternative: A Precarious Future...

 If we really believe what we say we believe- if we really think that home is elsewhere and that this life is a "wandering to find home", why should we not look forward to the arrival. There are, aren't there, only three things we can do about death: to desire it, to fear it, or to ignore it. The third alternative, which is the one the modern world calls "healthy" is surely the most uneasy and precarious of all." — C.S. Lewis (Letters to an American Lady)

How will your life change, now that she is gone and she is truly home?

Have faith in the journey ahead with the confidence she is safe, sound and secure forever.

Your mission forward shall be to explore your own course of activities and actions to continue to give back. To invest in those new people who need you most now.

You see, your mission ahead is to find ways to help others you care about who can thrive from your advice. Your love. Your experience.

Relationships. >>>>> Results. >>>>> Rewards.

Find the time to build on your relationships with others and to increase the true value of the relationship mutually.

The increased value of the relationship will take time to discover and yet the trust and sharing will produce the most favored results.

Count the results and realize what and how the results will continue forward in time. Analyze the results and determine the changes that might be necessary.

Feel and process the rewards. Cherish the time and feelings you now have earned.

Look up...

Recognize that your time and your efforts are valuable and that it all begins with the “relate.”

You know, the way you behave initially with that person each time, to further build the relationship.

Your words and your actions collaborating with others shall provide you with the ongoing satisfaction and desirable outcomes you shall always seek.

Continue to cherish those Relationships, Results and Rewards that will make her so proud of you, before you see her again…

Godspeed!

Allegiance: Show Me the Way...

Are you working or participating with an organization where you are experiencing a high degree of discontinuity?

A lack of cohesion and communication between the top leadership and the front line management will create that feeling.

Is new leadership going to change the discontinuity experience for customers and clients?

Before the past leadership truly could understand the poor design of the systems, processes and the under qualified personnel in place, it was too late.

They were blind to what core services were so vital and to those who they served.

In reality, the constituents were already working towards the inevitable change ahead and current leadership could only watch it unfold.

On the day after the major change at the top, the discontinuity in the organization began to evaporate.

As your new leaders took over command, the change turned into a true continuum and a building progression that could be seen and felt by the customers.

"Customers, clients and core followers have become a procession of support and they have felt the positive change in the wind."

Everyone can now start to see and feel the differences.

Will you use your expertise with others to solve serious problems that have plagued our employees, customers, neighbors, professionals, first responders, homeland or armed forces?

"How might you contribute and add your vast knowledge and experience to the new continuity generation, during our next era of growth, resilience and our positive change?"

You see, you are extraordinary. You have tremendous talent and knowledge to contribute to the change ahead.

Have confidence in yourself and your ability to truly make your customers, members, clients and followers satisfied and rewarded with your proven leadership.

Get out of the building. Meet with other people in small groups. Talk about your shared experiences, knowledge and capabilities. Create aspiration and deliver new solutions.

Look up. Then say to yourself on your next journey, “Show Me the Way”…

Acknowledgment: Forever Grateful...

When was the last time your true business accomplishments were being acknowledged and your personal character celebrated?

As we all watched the 20+ people assemble in the banquet suite facing the Pacific Ocean last evening, you could tell they were all so excited to see the surprise on her face, as she walked into the room at 6:00PM.

The point in your work timeline when you are transitioning from one key role to another and have proven your results is a good place to reminisce and to listen to those who admire and trust you.

Hearing others who are your peers and fellow colleagues stand up over dinner and explain why you are someone they have learned from and that they have valued your leadership, will always be a remembered milestone in your life.

Two out of Ten people in a room, are exactly who the “80/20 Rule” science and “Pareto Principle” are all about.

If you want to find and recruit 4 people to your team, then do the math on how many will not make the final cut.

It is just so refreshing to see a group of professionals all celebrating one of their own:

“The Pareto principle (also known as the 80/20 rule, the law of the vital few and the principle of factor sparsity) states that for many outcomes, roughly 80% of consequences come from 20% of causes (the "vital few”).”

The statistics and the “Moneyball” math is what truly sets you apart as a multi-million dollar producer from those with just the fundamental skills.

As your recognition stories continued from your colleagues into the evening there were plenty of laughs and also a few tears that filled the room. Then she just smiled at us.

How might you ever become close to the 2 people out of 10?

Some might say you are just born into it, it’s all in the DNA. Others would say you have to train, repeat and train harder in order to excel at your particular chosen profession.

Coaches and researchers and professional trainers would all have various opinions on what the ratios should be, to find that next Gold Medal Winner or Scientific Scholar or Sales Leader or even a BUD/s school graduate.

Yet that alone does not make the person that others truly admire, beyond their God given skills or training outcomes.

It is something else. “Extreme Ownership” of the organizations problem-sets and the dedication to finding relevant and timely solutions.

When you finally find the right formula and you find yourself in the spotlight someday being acknowledged and celebrated by your peers and close colleagues, say it to yourself in all CAPS:

“IT WASN’T EASY AND “I REALLY EARNED IT”…It has been a good run...

Onward and Godspeed!

Always Be Ready: Follow Your Heart...

Waking up to a glorious sunrise in any new town across the USA is inspiring. Today is another one of those days.

The long journey you have been on all these years is full of hardship, yet full of faith.

“Never Forget” the Americans and true professionals that have endured our asymmetric threats and continuous vulnerabilities.

People, Processes, Systems or External events. We must continuously and “Always Be Ready”…

After all of these years of hard work, to many hours standing or waiting in airports and now seeing the finish line, or the minutes winding down on scoreboard clock.

Even just the smile this morning from a cherished loved one after hours of research and keyboard time, you know why.

Before you were old enough, the reasons for the early mornings or the significant travel did not seem worth it.

The journey was constantly in question. The competition too challenging.

"Yet in our America, most anything is possible. With hard work and dedication. With the right colleagues, coaches, mentors and instructors you too are well on your way."

You are here for a reason and all the years, days, hours and minutes devoted to your own particular journey are soon to be known.

Maybe it is that smile when she wakes up and sees you. Maybe it is that laugh when he is watching “Paw Patrol”.

Or maybe it is walking hand-in-hand with your wife or husband on another early morning in your new neighborhood, or somewhere else in the United States of America.

On this Sunday in America, say another silent prayer looking at our flag waving in the wind, while the birds are chirping and a dog is barking with a siren in the distance.

Are you going to compete today? Will you be ready?

After you make it to your own finish line, look up…

Preface: Growing Up in the USA...

As we approach our 248th year celebration of the country named the “United States of America”, think about it with open eyes as you look at our flag waving in the wind on the morning of July 4th.

One of 193 countries in the United Nations on our globe today, our country has become a sought after destination for so many others in the world to see and to actually experience.

Why?

Being born in the USA, our school Principal at our “Riverside Elementary” would get on the speaker system at 8:30AM sharp. Our “Pledge Allegiance” each morning was sacred as we all would stand in our classrooms:

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Little did any of us truly know at that point in our lives, how precious these words would eventually become to us. Some before we were all grown adults.

It would dawn upon us all decades later, as our team was sitting around our tables with other fellow INSA members in a 2nd Floor conference room on North Stuart Street in Arlington Virginia. Our local professionals had a new important project before us.

Our Homeland Security Intelligence Council (HSIC) had started to tackle the definition of “Homeland Security Intelligence” and we would later develop 16 key recommendations in our 20 page White Paper.

It was finally published in September 2011 and ten years since so many Americans had died on 9/11 and so many others who would fight in the wars international and thereafter domestic.

“Homeland Security Intelligence is information that upon examination is determined to have value in assisting federal, state, local, tribal and private sector decision makers in identifying or mitigating threats residing principally within U.S. borders.”

Intelligence to Protect the Homeland...taking stock ten years later and looking ahead...

Now after returning to our USA once again with your own overseas travel behind you, reach into your pocket for that dark blue "US Passport" with the Eagle emblazoned on the front in Gold and read these words once again on page one:

“The Secretary of State of the United States of America hereby requests all whom it may concern to permit the citizen/national of the United States named herein to pass without delay or hindrance and in case of need to give all lawful aid and protection.”

In 2024, this Independence Day, reflect on all that you have learned and now earned, as a US Citizen protecting our country and as a true proud American.

 “Never Forget”…

Mothers: Brave & Resilient...

Growing up in a small town in the Midwest USA, our Mom was an only child.

Anne was a mother who was so devoted to her four kids in so many ways.

Being a Mom in those early days was about getting you off to the bus stop in the morning, and being there when you walked home from the bus stop in the afternoon.

We had just enough time to get home, drop our books and then head out into the neighborhood on our bike to our friends house or down to the beach on Goguac Lake.

A few hours later, it was about the home dinner routine just after 6:00PM, when Dad walked in the door from his HQ job with a regional restaurant chain.

After dinner, it was time for our homework and baths/showers before bedtime.

Sound familiar?

Moms really are so amazing. They are Gods greatest creation and over time we all witness the extraordinary capabilities of a Mother.

Our particular Mom was a proud Pi Phi at Northwestern University yet her real passion was becoming an Artist. To this day, she still has her oil paintings on our walls in our Living Room.

As young kids sitting on the floor in one of her Art Studio rooms or the corner of a basement, we would watch her paint on a large canvas with colorful oils and gluing various items to give a collage effect. Later...

• _ Mom was also there when we all swam across Goguac Lake in the "Husky Muskie" swimming event each summer, cheering us on with her fingers crossed behind her back.
• _ Mom was there to help Dad with maintaining the yard on weekends before they headed out to a Saturday night party with friends at the nearby Country Club.
• _ Mom was there to pick us up after our 6 weeks at summer camp in another state.
• _ Mom was also quite the snow skier and not to far behind us, on the challenging ski runs of Apres Vous mountain in “Jackson Hole” on our Christmas vacations.

Mothers are just so resilient. They are incredibly versatile. Mothers always want to make sure you are never hungry and when you cry, they will do what ever it takes to make you feel better.

On this Mothers Day 2024, we are thinking of you Mom…it has now been a decade since she went to heaven.

“Happy Mothers Day” to all of the other bravest Moms on our Earth…

Dream: Smell the Flowers…

What is your next dream? How might you envision it even more effectively?

As a young kid one of the books Mom & Dad would read to us started off like this:

“Once upon a time in Spain there was a little bull and his name was Ferdinand. All the other little bulls he lived with would run and jump and butt their heads together, but not Ferdinand. He liked to sit just quietly and smell the flowers.”—By Munro Leaf & Robert Lawson - Copyright 1936 - Viking Press

In your own life journey in search of “New”, new change, new environments, new people, new places and where your next destination will be, you shall continuously Innovate, Adapt, Test and become even more Resilient.

You see, your dream is out there. You can see it and you are able to feel it.

The reality is that you are impatient. You will not have time to test long enough.

This is when the surprises become a reality. You are caught off guard, you experience an error, you experience a loss.

What is your back up “Just-in-Time” plan?

How shall you implement the plan of actions with scarce resources?

Do you have a path to eliminate the delay or to restore the loss quickly? How will you achieve true resiliency?

Our true professionals in Operational Risk Management (ORM) dream just like everyone else.

Yet, they dream and envision the “What ifs” and the possible ways to respond. They anticipate the ways to bounce back, restore balance and move forward:

• Accept risk when benefits outweigh the cost.
• Accept no unnecessary risk.
• Anticipate and manage risk by planning.
• Make risk decisions in the right time at the right level.

Now, envision your dream with some interruptions. Then see yourself quickly recovering to achieve your planned “Mission Objective”.

What have you learned this year, this month or this week?

In 2024 and beyond, our International Globe and its people will continue to challenge all of us.

Our countries and their businesses are accelerating towards the future with exponentially more data and with so much less understanding. We may also have less empathy.

You and your team can change this as you strive together to understand more about the “Why” and the “How”.

Will you grow with your new trusted partners to be even more empathetic?

Always be Ready…and try to take time to ”Smell the Flowers”.

Godspeed!

Enterprise Security Risk Management (ESRM): Be Proactive…

What are three major questions that most CxO executives and Boards of Directors need to answer when confronting information security issues:

1. Is your security policy enforced fairly, consistently and legally across the enterprise.
2. Would our employees, contractors and partners know if a security violation was being committed?
3. Would they know what to do about it if they did recognize a security violation?

In today’s complex 5G wireless world, global supply chains, nation states or insider threats to the information infrastructure of a company or government agency are not static, one time events.

With new exploits, vulnerabilities, and digital attack tools widely available for download or X-as-a-Service (XaaS), a “complete information security solution” in place today can easily become outdated and incomplete tomorrow.

As a result, a comprehensive security architecture solution must be flexible and dynamic, continuously monitored and updated.

Presently, the news of “Zero-Day” digital-threat events tends to spread through the computer security world in a “grapevine” manner.

Threat information is obtained from specialized websites, e-mail listservs, cyber managed services and countless other informal sources.

This haphazard system is incomplete and therefore raises enterprise security risk management concerns when evaluating the damaging, costly effects of an aggressive, systematic digital event.

A comprehensive security solution requires the careful integration of people, processes, systems and external events that allows correlation and implementation of a “layered” defense coupled with a firm application of risk-management principles.

To fully protect electronic information architectures, an organization needs current intelligence and analysis that allows constant adjustment and fine-tuning of security measures (e.g., firewalls, intrusion-detection systems, virus protection) to effectively defend against a rapidly changing landscape.

Threats and vulnerabilities relating to computer networks, websites and information assets must be addressed before an attack occurs.

Proactive Awareness and the ability to make informed decisions are critical.

So what?

In short, as our global electronic economy plays an increasing role in the private and public sectors, critical infrastructure organizations must take advantage of the resulting new opportunities for growth and gains in efficiency and productivity.

Realizing these gains, depends on an organization’s ability to open its information architecture to customers, partners and, in some cases, even competitors.

This heightened exposure creates greater risk and makes an organization a more likely target for attack (e.g., information and monetary theft, business ransomware disruption).

The cost of critical infrastructure failure climbs exponentially in relation to increasing reliance on our integrated systems with partners, subsidiaries and your vital supply chain.

Be proactive…

Thanksgiving 2023: Anticipate, Listen, Act…

After an airline travel day home after the Thanksgiving Holiday with family, you too may be feeling exhausted.

Yet how will you grow from all that you have learned this past week?

Leadership traits are found across our companies, our agencies, our government and also within our respective families.

In the spirit of the U.S. holiday of Thanksgiving this past few days, some may have experienced tragedy and others pure joy.

In reality, “Being a true leader requires the continuous ability to Anticipate, to Listen and to Act in any situation.”

Whether there was missed flights, extraordinary traffic, or relatives with unique personalities at the dinner table, your goal shall always be consistent.

Leadership requires your ability to show bravery in the face of tremendous challenges.

Leadership requires your empathy and simultaneously your own trusted actions to show confidence and to build trust with others.

By the time 5th grade was a reality, memories of our long dining table set for another Thanksgiving day meal in a small midwestern town, was always impressive.

Sitting down with our small family and with "Grand Father Keith" and "Grand Mother Mary" at each end of the table, Keith would always start our meal with a short prayer of thankfulness.

For someone who had survived World War combat in Europe, attended U of M and then started a Midwest U.S. family business and now decades later had 4 Grand Kids, our Grand Father had much to be thankful for in his life.

Yet it was his trusted presence, the words he chose from Bible scriptures and his leadership of our family, that shall aways be remembered.

Who will you rely upon in your family, your organization, your neighborhood or your government to be your Senior Leader?

The lone individual with the life experience to guide you. The consistent leadership traits to make you feel safe, secure and cared for in your particular small team.

Leadership begins across our United States and is displayed at home, around a family Thanksgiving table.

Leadership is continuously demonstrating the actions that others will trust and follow into the future.

At home, in the workplace, on the field or across the Video Teleconference (VTC), we all shall have the opportunity to be Senior Leaders.

Are you alert, are you ready and will you show the real leadership to Anticipate, Listen and Act into the future…

Pulpit Rock: "The Right Stuff" and Beyond...

Walking up the path to Pulpit Rock soon after dawn in Colorado Springs just before the “Value of Space Summit” (VOSS) this week, was a time for thinking. It is a time for reflection and where our future human exploration shall take us.

The value of exploration and our innovative curiosity to learn more, is a human trait that will never leave us.

Before an ambitious set of people in the United States made the decision to travel to Earths single Moon, our human exploration was across oceans and mountains.

Imagine a quiet Michigan summer evening July 20th, 1969 sitting in front of a 21” Zenith color television with family watching Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin from Apollo 11 walk on the Moon. It was truly epic.

After 24 brave and talented people from our nation have traveled to the Moon, our last mission was in 1972.

Why?

Astronaut Eugene Cernan and Astronaut Harrison Schmitt (88), spent 3 days 3 hours on the Moons surface between December 11-14 1972. This Apollo 17 will not be the last manned journey to our Moon.

After a team of dedicated people find their own “Just Cause” and purpose, there is nothing that will stand in their way to achieve it.

After 51 years, we have been taking many steps to perpetuate our journey. 

Humans have been back and forth from our Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Space Station and we have sent the James Webb and other telescopes to explore other stars and planets light years away.

The “Just Cause” of space exploration is still ahead of us and the race is on.

Our human journey to places outside (LEO) will encounter new challenges, new discoveries and even create greater learning.

Before a most favorite movie “The Right Stuff” was released in 1983, all we had were slight views into our “Just Cause”.

Once you see this movie, then you too might understand the mission ahead from a different perspective. At least you will have greater context on our “Why”…

Godspeed!

Infinite: Game Strategy & Mission...

As our uncertain world becomes more turbulent with hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes, regional wars, asymmetric ransomware hacks and the increased number of horrific crimes or terrorist plots, we must remain resilient.

The “Infinite Game” we are living and operating in each day, truly requires enlightened thinking.

Before you changed, your thoughts about the game were “Finite”. There was a clock counting down or there was only so many innings or golf holes remaining in the round.

The score was not quite tabulated or finished yet to determine the winner and the loser of the game.

Unfortunately for many in that current competition, it is always about the number on the scoreboard. The Wins and Losses. The number of "Followers". The number of locations. The number of employees. The number of dollars in the bank.

As our turbulent environments at home, at work and in our small towns to our major cities become more extreme and less certain, it requires a new mindset.

An “Infinite Mindset” as defined by Simon Sinek or James P. Carse puts your senses on the longevity of staying in the game longer than the others.

Those who live each day always behaving and acting only to win, shall continue their war, perpetuate the competition until they win.

In between losses and defeats they continue to think that they shall win at all cost or else. That this will enhance their well being.

Yet, after you changed your mindset and thinking, the game has now become “Infinite”.

"To stay in the game and to operate longer than others in our so uncertain times, requires you to adapt, to innovate, to change, to always remain RESILIENT."

It does not require you to anxiously and continuously aspire to win. The conversation, the contest, the relationship. By the end of the day, the month, the quarter or the year.

It requires you to continue, to never quit and to think about performing at your best, again tomorrow. How many smiles, how many hugs, how many kind words.

Your new mindset is positive and peaceful, you observe, you listen and you continuously change to adapt to the infinite environment you are now operating in.

Whether your mission is “Winning” or “Operating the Longest” makes a difference in life...

Vantage Point: Never Stop Wondering...

If you grow up in America in a small town, it gives you a "Vantage Point". Especially, when that one day early in your life when you finally drive out of there.

So you are on to a new U.S. state, a new global time zone or traveling to a new place you have never been before.

In America, we like to drive a vehicle a thousand miles somewhere, across our country to observe. To learn. And to just explore.

Traveling from that small town in Michigan to a small college town at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, provided all kinds of new learning.

vantage point

noun

Synonyms of vantage point

: a position or standpoint from which something is viewed or considered

especially : POINT OF VIEW

The minute upon arrival, you could not take your eyes off of the mountains and the glorious sun sets above them.

It wasn’t much longer until it was time to explore, to walk up with a pack on your back. 

To visit that small “Blue Lake” in September, was definitely a vantage point at 9,300+ feet looking up at Mt. Audubon and Paiute Peak in the Rocky Mountains.

Lying out there under the thousands of stars in the new L.L. Bean Goose Down sleeping bag for the first time was so epic.

"Thinking about the journey so far, it was almost certain the infinite game had started."

This was going to be a life full of adventures, with so many stories to tell from small towns to a college campus to some of the largest cities in the world.

Once you begin, it’s difficult to stop exploring. It just seems like you can’t get deep enough or high enough on this planet.

Whether you are almost a hundred feet deep in the South Pacific holding hands with your new spouse, or thousands of feet high in the Monashees snow skiing in light powder does not matter. You are at another Vantage Point.

While you are learning throughout your life, what else do you wonder about?

Whether you are falling asleep under the stars or to the sounds of sirens in a metropolitan city near the quiet ocean, say a prayer.

Give thanks for all you have been given and witnessed so far in your life. Guess what, there are so many more "Vantage Points" to come.

Wonder…

Never Forget: Memories & Our Future Resilience Innovation…

On the dawn of September 11, 2023 our United States remembers and reflects.

The day 22 years since the attacks on our country 9/11/01 actualizes so many facets of our “Resilience”:

Emotional.

Educational.

Emergency Management, Transportation, Healthcare, Communications, Information Technology, Financial, Defense, Energy and so many others within our International Critical Infrastructure systems.

In the middle of a 8:30am business breakfast at the Reston, Virginia Hyatt on 9/11, the screams from those watching the bar TV across the restaurant will never be forgotten.

Our USA is so much more “Resilient” than we were over two decades ago and we have much further to reach, in order to achieve total functional resilience across new sectors.

The true commercialization of SPACE is far beyond the knowledge awareness of our average U.S. citizen. Unless of course, they have seen the film Apollo 13 or The Right Stuff.

Our SPACE infrastructure is rapidly growing from the key private sector companies ecosystem who have been in business for years.

More importantly, the new Space ecosystem of private sector companies beyond the traditional government aerospace suppliers to NASA, is currently providing vital resources and new SPACE technology innovation.

The growing supply chains for SPACE missions has already multiplied the requirements for resilience in so many new and different realms of our United States private sector, including academic engineering education and R&D environments.

Therefore, on the eve of this September 11, 2023 we must be even more vigilant to NEVER FORGET.

“Around and within our innovative U.S. Space infrastructure is a growing threat landscape and it requires: securing our space assets, increasing situational awareness, maintaining resilient satellite communications, creating new policy frameworks, expanding workforce development, and creating new emerging technologies.” --Space ISAC

So what?

The United States shall now create a 17th Critical Infrastructure domain, that shall require our resources and continuous innovation for the next 20+ years and beyond.

“Resilience of SPACE infrastructure” has always required key people from vital organizations:

“The Space ISAC (Information-Sharing-Analysis-Center) has launched in Colorado Springs, CO and is the only all-threats security information source for the public and private space sector.

“It is the most comprehensive and single point source for sharing data, facts and analysis on space security and threat to space assets. Space ISAC also provides analysis and resources to support response, mitigation and resilience initiatives.”

Who will we work with side-by-side, to prepare our response in an “All-Hazards” SPACE world that changes by the minute?

These dedicated people can be found solving SPACE problem-sets in our future innovation strategies by utilizing proven methodologies in:

• Mapping / Targeting

• Sketching / Solutions

• Deciding

• Prototyping / Testing

How shall we continuously work together to provide the correct tools, systems, knowledge and trusted experience to make a proactive global difference? 

It is our purpose and our mission to “Protect Critical SPACE Infrastructure” across our great nation and to ensure the resiliency of our people, systems and our organizations in the Public - Private Sector.

Navigator: Speed of Innovation...

When the Netscape Navigator was finally launched here on our planet Earth, much of humanity was just on the verge of an era of massive organizational change.

Working in the IT industry and living through the transition of our communications era of data transfer across and through the digital Internet in the early days was full scale innovation. In more ways than one.

As the desktop devices were rapidly designed for digital storage and computing power and the software industry was now at the dawn of incorporating modems of mbps data exchange, data integrity, data security and data resilience; our global intelligence strategies were still naive.

Deficient in worldly wisdom and informed judgment, it would not be too long until DISA, DARPA and others expanded the processes for the protection and the exploitation of the Internet. Network Solutions, Inc. ICANN and so many others.

Ft. Meade, MD to McLean, VA to Arlington to Quantico to Mt. Weather, VA. This was only the beginning of the late night SCIF meetings in the late 90’s.

The next data wake up call was February 18, 2001 in Foxstone Park near Vienna, VA when Robert Hanssen was finally arrested. His Palm 3 PDA was logged into evidence.

So what!

The light speed of fiber-optic submarine cables communicating our “Zeros and Ones,” Quantum, Hypersonic missiles at Mach 5, is just an example.

Back in July of 2000, a few stories above 1555 Wilson Boulevard in Arlington, a three year old startup company was already crawling the Internet 24/7, downloading Terabytes of open source information (OSINT). It was named Cyveillance then.

Many of these early Cyveillance founders can still remember what was discovered then, and what the value of international online monitoring services would soon become. The exponential growth of just the “Dark Web” was astonishing.

It was just causing a feeling of great wonder among leadership early mornings and late evenings across the National Capital Region (NCR).

The speed of defense and intelligence innovation and the pace of critical response in those days was truly epic.

On May 11, 2017 the President issued an Executive Order (EO) on strengthening the Cybersecurity of Federal Networks and Critical Infrastructure?

The question now is, why did it take us so long? In the mean time, 20+ years had passed.

In April of 2018, the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 1.1 was updated. Now 5+ years later, the journey to CSF 2.0 is in draft.

One of our U.S. greatest vulnerabilities still remains in so many places. The speed of change and our future technology innovation.

Our next few decades are so ready for acceleration, in so many places.

With so many more new young minds, working alongside our people with real leadership experience. 

With so many new inventions of mankind ready for launch…

Onward!

Office Automation: Time to Wonder...

It was located near the corner of Red Hill Avenue and Bell Avenue in Tustin, California and our ground floor offices were complete. We were the first tenant in this new modern business park.

You could never miss it driving down Red Hill, as our view across the road was the massive Tustin Blimp Hangar #1 in the near distance, today a historical landmark.

As a newly promoted Orange County District Manager, now after several years with a territory of high rise office buildings off Wilshire Blvd. in West Los Angeles, it was a great arena of new career opportunity in a growing business segment of the “Office Automation” industry.

Just inside the front door of the office we had our greeting desk and waiting area, our demo room was just to the left, and then straight ahead was a hallway door that led to the sales “Bull Pen” and to the rear of the building.

This is where our company service technicians area and our other tech support offices were located near a rear entrance.

It also included space for our growing high technology innovation business, to add dozens of new sales and support employees to serve the growing business areas in Orange County of Irvine, Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.

Within the year, we would soon come to hear the merger news of our national company Lanier being acquired. Harris Corporation of Melbourne, FL was our new owner and we were now on a rapid strategy to compete with Wang and new competitors in the growing “Office Automation” industry. By the start of the 1990's, Lanier accounted for about 1/3 of Harris Corporation's revenues.

What is that? Office Automation?

You know, the beginning of the IBM PC LAN networking of Word Perfect Word Processing, Lotus 1-2-3 and dBASE.

The lawyers, insurance companies, defense industrial base juggernauts such as Northrop, McDonnell Douglas and the financial services business community had also discovered other tech innovation to eliminate the historical secretarial typing pools and even the fax machine.

It was named Novell NetWare.

"At its high point, NetWare had a 63 percent share of the market for network operating systems and by the early 1990s there were over half a million NetWare-based networks installed worldwide"…

Imagine what is was like for our Sales, Support and Tech personnel in those days. So busy and so incredible. Even our “Happy Hours” off PCH at the “Rusty Pelican” were epic!

So what!

Well, those were the days of true business innovation.

Our Monday Morning Sales Meetings were at 8:00AM sharp, and then at 8:30AM our 1-1, 15 min sessions followed behind closed doors with each Sales Rep, to discuss their next weeks priorities and last weeks activity. See you next Monday!

Our Sales Reps were working on a straight commission and for their first 60 days their compensation was a draw against any monthly commissions earned. If you were in the “Hole” after 30 days, you were put on a Performance-Improvement-Plan (PIP). If you were still not meeting your sales quota in 60 days, you were fired.

When you have experienced any dialogue with an employee to notify them that this Monday will be their last day, it is never comfortable and always emotional.

Even after 20 or 30 notice meetings over the forthcoming years as a District and Regional Manager, helping another tear filled sales rep carry their “Bankers Box” to the parking lot next to that active Marine Corps Air Station El Toro (ICAO), it was never routine. Helicopters and the roar of jets were always in the background.

So many of these same dedicated people, went forward in their work careers to other competitors and excelled in their jobs. Maybe it was just meant to be.

When one career door closes and then another one opens before you, take a minute to smile. And Wonder.

Within a few more years and some other career moves in the OC, our own family was packing up our San Clemente house. Mom had a wonderful opportunity back East and with our 6 year old Daughter and 5 year old Son, we told them we were leaving their friends in their Capistrano Unified School District and headed to the Langley School District along the Potomac River in Northern Virginia. We witnessed even more small tears that day.

Soon thereafter, walking through the thick woods and along the dirt horse trails near our home one sunny September Saturday, with the sound of the “Great Falls” in our ears, little did we all know what was soon to launch on the global technology horizon.

Netscape.

"Marc Andreessen, the leader of the team that developed Mosaic, left NCSA and, with James H. Clark, one of the founders of Silicon Graphics, Inc. (SGI), and four other former students and staff of the University of Illinois, started Mosaic Communications Corporation. Mosaic Communications eventually became Netscape Communications Corporation, producing Netscape Navigator."

Now it was time to truly Wonder…

Aspiration: Life Achievements...

Your future will depend on how well you master innovation and certain disciplines in life.

How you alone decide to continuously learn and apply these effective rituals will make all the difference.

How many times have you repeated some of these same tasks, same rules, or same endeavors in order to achieve the goals that have been set for you or that you alone have set for yourself?

Many famous books have been written about finding your purpose, “Your Why”, yet what is it that drives your aspirations because you excel at some God given talent.

Having a talent that is discovered by your parents, a teacher or some other mentor or coach is only just the beginning.

Growing up in small town America or a little suburb outside a large U.S. metro city is the place you first learn about any potential talents you were born with.

It is not until you leave it and venture beyond your own locality to see the rest of the world outside your own neighborhood, that you will discover your ambitions, and what real talents you would like to pursue.

Who will you trust to be your instructors, coaches, your mentors, your colleagues and your institution, company, organization, agency or service for building and accelerating your disciplines as you grow older?

Will you choose a venture introduced by a parent, a coach or someone you want to be like some day? Will your choice to learn a particular skill or area of knowledge change your life trajectory forever?

Yes it will.

The focused skills and the area of knowledge you choose to pursue will become your path to the future.

One truth is, you must find yourself “Doing” far more time than just time “Thinking”. 

Getting out of your own local domain, doing more into the unknown with others, will gradually build new valuable skills and your growing knowledge.

Perhaps more important, it will build more real experiences. Experience is what you choose to do and you combine this with your life aspiration. The strong desire to achieve something great.

You will continuously make choices to create opportunities or challenges. How you learn from these truly creates your portfolio of life and career experiences.

Where have you traveled? Who have you trusted? What have you learned? Why did you decide to gain experience in _ _ _ _ _?

Always remember. How will your aspiration and experience achieve a positive good and greatness with others you care about?

Remember the day you look in the rear view mirror and see your Mother and/or Father shedding a tear while waving at you, as your life is accelerating into the future.

Will you make a positive difference…Godspeed!

Mothers Day 2023: Always With Us...

“God is in this story, God is in the details

Even in the broken parts, He holds my heart, He never fails

When I'm at my weakest, I will trust in Jesus

Always in the highs and lows, the One who goes before mе

God is in this story. “

This music and chorus from Katy Nichole’s song brings tears to the eyes each time it plays and/or we sing the lyrics.

On this glorious day before a Sunday and another “Mothers Day” in the United States, we think of all of our Mothers in our lives.

When you are a Mother, you have your own story to share as a Daughter. As a Son of a women who raised you, who taught you and loved you, the story might be a bit similar.

Yet when you as a son then become a Father, your insights and context is enhanced, on what being a “Mother” is really all about.

When you witness your own baby being born, you truly understand why “God is in this story”.

Tomorrow we recognize and celebrate our “Mothers” in our USA nation, who have cared for us, raised us and given us all the real opportunities in our future lives.

With the perspective of a Son who had a Mother that married a young U.S. Marine and was so wonderful during my 58 years with her, she was just so talented, so caring and so proud of her “First born son”, she has never left my thoughts. She is still dearly missed.

With the perspective of a Father with 37 years with my only Wife and a Mother of our Daughter and our Son who are 19 months apart, this story still continues.

The journey of life and witnessing Mothers in labor, Mothers in the Nursery, Mothers in Schools, Mothers in the Home and even a wife working and taking care of her own 94 year-old mom provides tremendous context to this day.

As the first son of a life long Artist and a graduate of Northwestern and also Cranbrook, her pieces have always adorned our home. As a youngster, the memories of being with my sister in the basement studio of a small one-story house on a short dirt road or with Mom at her Art Exhibits at the Art Center in our small Mid-Western town, still are with me forever.

Yet today, glancing again at this painting of hers on our wall, still makes me wonder what she was thinking or praying about, as her brush dipped into her paint that morning. What her hopes and prayers were for all of her own children, a Son, a Daughter, a Son & a Son.

On this memorable Mothers Day 2023 you are always with us Mom, we shall cherish and celebrate all of you excellent ladies…thank you for all your love and prayers.  ”God is in this story, God is in the details”…

Easter 2023: Finding Forgiveness...

On Easter weekend growing up in the late 1960’s as a young acolyte at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in a small midwestern U.S. city, there was a tremendous focus on our services.

This holy holiday on Good Friday, was just the start of a busy weekend of prayer and many family gatherings.

As a fellow church acolyte, how well did any of us truly understand the real story around this man known as Jesus Christ?

At this point in serving our local church, how could having so much faith in a man you never met or knew, make any real difference in your day-to-day life?

Over time, the answer to this question became more apparent and continues to make a true difference today in so many ways.

When you grow up as the eldest sibling of four, you are looked upon by your Christian parents as a lead by example kind of person.

Over decades of time, it is hard to count the number of prayers said out loud on numerous occasions and after so many other significant life events.

“Easter is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD.”

What Good Friday and Easter are really all about across history is this: “Forgiveness”.

Who will you forgive in your life and who will you pray with?

One truth about our humanity, is that if you too are experiencing forgiveness, whether “Giving it” or “Receiving it”, this creates even more positive outcomes and increased resilience in our personal lives…

Believe.