Focus on Boeing and the State of Arizona Manufacturing is responsible for a great deal of pollution in our environment, extending as far back as the 1700s. Anyone reading this article can probably easily recall pictures from grade-school history books depicting the early American factories of the industrial revolution: Smokey, dirty, and dangerous.  The effects of these historic factories on the environment and those of the following centuries have created a negative stereotype that manufacturing [...]

There is no doubt manufacturing is experiencing a rebirth across the United States, and there are a myriad of real estate choices readily available for manufacturers.  Moreover, the rapid advances in aerospace and transportation allude that future transport will surpass all expectations, thus greatly expanding real estate choices (possibly short-term choices) for manufacturers.  Given these dynamic considerations, manufacturing leaders’ real estate decisions are vital for success. Where are these manufacturing leaders that are empowering the [...]

A widely accepted premise is that leaders should have a vision for their organization or group.  However, vision that is not based on reality is nothing but fantasy. Leaders’ vision, therefore, should be grounded on attainable ends, even if this grounding is speculative to some degree.  So, how can a leader have vision that is wedded to something firm in a rapidly advancing technological age?  A look back in history to a widely-acknowledged leader who [...]

Dr. Daryl Watkins and I recently spent a few days in Mumbai, India with executives from the Indian Aviation community. Various airlines, airports and other related entities were represented in a seminar where we spent three days discussing the Indian aviation environment and ways of understanding the many environmental as well as internal forces these people are dealing with as the Indian aviation industry grows. One must understand that up until a few years ago, [...]

From the title and the timing of this column, you may have thought this column will be about the presidential election, state of the economy, or some other rant about our country’s future. But it’s not – I’ve learned long ago not to discuss politics with colleagues, friends, or even enemies! But in a way I am talking about our country’s future, because if we don’t think long-term within our organizations, we won’t have well-functioning, [...]

As our nation picks up the pieces after “Super Storm Sandy”, we begin to understand both the risks and benefits of our nation’s aviation transportation system.  This weeks; “three days of hurricane Sandy” had a devastating impact that rippled across the entire country and affected aviation in every state in the union as well as many international flights around the world.  We need to learn from this experience and ensure our aviation system is designed [...]

Scheduling discipline. In the words of retired USAF Chief of Staff General John Jumper, ‘Plan to fly; fly the plan’. Not only do his words apply to most all aspects of aviation, but the concepts are applicable to every industry. General Jumper’s commitment to scheduling stability came at a time when the fighter community was in chaos. This chaos rippled into my role as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer. Fighter pilots were not current in required [...]

My wife, Liz, is a pilot for Southwest Airlines, and I jokingly tell my friends that although I do not fly actively today, I live vicariously through her, and her career at SWA. However, my own relationship with her employer dates back to 1995 when I was also hired by Southwest. Fresh out of the Air Force, I followed my friends to the place where ex-fighter pilots went to fly commercial airliners and tell stories [...]

At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Center for Aviation and Aerospace Leadership (CAAL), we have a team of experts whose focus is on keeping our industry and the companies and institutions within it abreast of the best ways to compete in the global marketplace.