DFW Leadership Series Inaugural Event deemed Success

Featured Photo (left to right): Mark Glassman, General Bruce Carlson, John Hatch, and Derek Spitzer

Over 125 people recently gathered at the inaugural event for The DFW Leadership Series, a new initiative based in Colleyville, Texas, that hosts accomplished executives from diverse industries across the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The first guest speaker was General Bruce Carlson, USAF Retired. General Carlson presented a talk entitled “Leading People & Managing Things.”

Carlson began his 37-year military career as a commissioned officer in 1971, after graduating with distinction from the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, with a degree in Accounting & Business Administration. He entered the US Air Force as an ROTC distinguished graduate, attended Flight School, then flew fighter and forward air control aircraft, serving a combat tour in Southeast Asia.

He served as a command pilot with more than 3,900 flying hours in ten different aircraft and later commanded the Air Force’s first stealth fighter wing. Carlson also served in the offices of the Secretary of the Air Force and Secretary of Defense and as the Director of Force Structure, Resources and Assessment (J-8) on the Joint Staff. Bruce then served as principal military advisor to the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and the Deputy Secretary of Defense. He was responsible for the coordination of critical national security matters with the Joint Staff, Secretary of Defense, and White House Staff.

Prior to his retirement in 2009 as Commander of the Air Force Materiel Command, General Bruce Carlson was responsible for all US Air Force science & technology research efforts, Air Force acquisition personnel, Air Force flight developmental testing, and worldwide sustainment of all Air Force aircraft, communications, computer and weapons systems, including supply chain management and contractor support.

Following retirement, he was appointed the 17th Director of the National Reconnaissance Office (DNRO), where he served for three years. As DNRO, he provided direction and leadership to develop, build, launch, and operate the United States’ spy satellite constellation.

During these many years of service, Carlson applied core leadership principles and saw success where others before him had failed. He used mottos like, “Make it happen, make it better;” and “If you ain’t havin’ fun, you ain’t doin’ it right!” Much of his wisdom is focused on ideas of hard work and determination. He shared many experiences that illustrated creative thinking, insistence on doing “the right thing,” even when it was difficult, and ensuring that a vision was in place for success at the outset of a mission or a new project.

He talked about the common traits of great leaders, listing characteristics like fearlessness and humility, selflessness, and patience. He encouraged participants to “personify what they want to see in others,” and to “be tenacious through discouragement.” He instilled in the audience the importance of asking tough questions and leading people toward greater things than they had in mind. Carlson said that the six most important words in the English language are, “I admit that I was wrong,” and that the most important word in the English language: “We.”

Among Bruce Carlson’s military awards and decorations are the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force ROTC Distinguished Alumni Award, the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Award, the DoD Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the James V. Hartinger Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Military Space, and the Order of the Sword, Air Force Materiel Command.

Bruce is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was sustained to the Church’s Second Quorum of Seventy of in April 2009. He was granted Emeritus status in October 2015. During his final three years in service to the church, Elder Carlson served on the Middle East and Africa North Desk, where he assisted in directing the Church’s activities in those regions.

He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors at Lockheed Martin; as chairman of the Space Dynamics Laboratory Guidance Council; as chairman of Utah State’s Space Dynamics Laboratory Board of Directors, and as a member of the Draper Laboratory Corporation. Carlson also serves on the Church’s Military Advisory Committee. Bruce and his wife of 51 years, Vicki, have three children and fourteen grandchildren.

The DFW Leadership Series has another event coming up this month. Mark Gottfredson, Partner at Bain and Company, will present “Leadership: More than a Great Speech” on Tuesday, January 18^th at 7 pm. The event will be held in person only, at 500 W. McDonwell School Road in Colleyville. All are welcome! If you’d like more information about this or other upcoming leadership-focused events, please fill out the simple form here! https://forms.gle/9RJaBeRGDDJ3HfJU7