Drop a name - who is the best Leader/Manager/Comander you ever worked for?

The best manager and mentor I ever worked for is a civilian. He never served in the military, but admitted to being born in a military hospital, growing up a "military brat" and the son of a proud Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer. Russell was one of those rare people who blended people skills and technical skills and led teams to accomplish great things along the way. He spent many hours mentoring me which, to this day, is treasured time. When he hired me he told me, "It's your business to run. I'm going to give you a lot of rope but I won't let you hang yourself." We made a great team which I completely credit to him because we are totally different personalities and he knew how to use that to his advantage and showed me how to use it to my advantage, we could literally read each other's minds after about a year together.

COL John J. Ellis... and COL Tim Karcher and CSM Franklin
Search those names and mine on this site and you'll understand why.

1LT Harold Kindleberger (RIP). Wets Pointer. Led by example.

Col Palermo- very strict, straight forward, but with a kind heart. He would give you his last dollar if you needed it more than he did.
S/F

I joined at 17 and a lot of people took me under their wing.
I don't really feel comfortable pointing to any one person.

Col. Crotty in AFG on a Special Forces base ! HOOORRAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Unit 1stSgt in the Army National Guard for almost ten years. 1stSgt Ezekiel Pineda ( a Vietnam infantry veteran), "Top" Pineda. Big 6' 2" Hispanic square jawed Troop. A soft spoken man who never had to raise his voice yet inspired his troop to accomplish the mission. The only time I heard him raise his voice was in a dangerous situation during a Bradly night fire training exercise. Top Pineda always made sure our gear was good from boots to rifles and LBE gear. Top would come out in the middle of the night on perimeter duty on AT with a thermos of hot coffee and give each one of us a break on patrol. Top Pineda was the kinda guy you just you wanted to work hard for. Top Pineda was one rock hard bad ass troop.

I've had many excellent leaders. Each one was different but the same.

Being in the air-wing, I had a few SNCOs I respected, SSgt Kevin O'Hara, GySgt Fred Driver, MGySgt Schlomer and GySgt Ascencion Gomez, D.S.L..

I also had a great deal of respect for our Squadron SgtMaj Berry and our CO LtCol "Wild Bill" Whitlow.

CSM West at Fort Campbell Kentucky