Four-star commander connects civilian leadership to Army readiness

Photo By Kari Hawkins | Gen. Gus Perna, commander of the Army Materiel Command, speaks about leadership to Team Redstone employees who are participating in the Advanced Leader Investment for Tomorrow program coordinated by the Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal.  

REDSTONE ARSENAL, AL, UNITED STATES

11.20.2017

Story by Kari Hawkins  

U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command

While professional and personal demands call for balance, successful leadership is no place for short cuts, the Army Materiel Command’s Gen. Gus Perna told a group of Team Redstone employees.

“As you become senior leaders in your organizations you have to consider how to approach balancing health, family and work,” Perna said Nov. 20 to students in the Advanced Leader Investment for Tomorrow program coordinated by the Aviation and Missile Command.

“But there are no compromises when it comes to competence, commitment and character. It is unconditionally expected that you treat people with dignity and respect, make sure your employees know what’s expected, and hold yourself and your employees accountable.”

Perna applauded the leaders for participating in LIFT, noting their willingness to advance their leadership education demonstrated a commitment to the profession.

As professionals, Perna said leaders should be competent in their field.

“You must be experts at what you do because the decisions and efforts you make will impact our Soldiers’ environment in training, but, more importantly, on the battlefield. What you do is connected to readiness of Soldiers,” he said.

Providing the confidence a Soldiers’ equipment will perform is a heavy responsibility and a noble calling. Soldiers need to believe that their truck will work, their helicopter will not crash, their munitions will not explode prematurely, Perna said, noting if they don’t believe it, fear will take over.

When it comes to character, Perna said military and civilian leaders should be trustworthy, have a winning attitude, and be stewards of their profession.

“You have to be 100 percent trustworthy in what you say and in your actions,” Perna said. “You have to be held accountable and the folks who work for you have to be accountable. It’s about making sure the core of your organizations are doing their job for the Soldier on the battlefield.”

Organizations with high standards, winning confidence and the drive to accomplish goals, will win every time. “Good organizations can do a lot of things. Great organizations can do everything,” he said.

Setting the conditions for success, and creating working environments where employees want to be part of the team and contribute every day is a leader’s job, Perna said.

“The only thing I believe I owe Soldiers and civilians who work for me is the best possible leadership I can bring to the table,” Perna said. “I owe you leadership to the best of my ability.”

• Date Taken: 11.20.2017
• Date Posted: 11.28.2017 10:42
• Story ID: 256638
• Location: REDSTONE ARSENAL, AL, US
• Hometown: REDSTONE ARSENAL, AL, US