Risk Management Magazine

The military profession has a great deal of built-in danger. We do not need to go out of our way to increase risk. I have witnessed too many events throughout my career that could have been avoided had leaders slowed down and applied risk management. This was one such event.

Without thinking, I found myself about to run a red light. For a moment, I thought I was back in Iraq. It took me a second to remember I wasn’t — that I was now home in the states.

I think everybody has at least one “there-I-was” story. In my years in Army aviation, I have acquired a few. To me, these stories are life lessons. After all, if it didn’t kill you, it should make you smarter. Here’s one of my life lessons.