Who is a Leader You Look Up to and Why?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 13:36:47 -0400

Who is a leader in history (military, American, or world history) that you look up to? Why do you look up to them? Admirable leaders often have qualities like unwavering integrity, dedicatin to service, inspiring vision, and the ability to take responsibility.

How do you model them compared to your own leadership?

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Aug 26 at 2025 2:02 PM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 14:02:45 -0400

I have a few leaders I admire. Some were military, some civilian. Some I directly worked with/for, others I observed from a distance. They all possess characteristics of integrity, empathy, accountability, and mentorship. They were quick to take responsibility when things didn't go as planned. Praise went to the "troops" and not hoarded for themselves. I have tried to incorporate all of those traits into my own style of leadership/mentorship.

Interesting side note about me: One of my biggest fears as a supervisor is having failed to live up to the expectations of those who worked for me and beside me. I like to think I did a good job but in the back of my mind I always wonder if there was more I could/should have done.

Response by Tj Pandolfino made Aug 26 at 2025 2:11 PM

Tj Pandolfino — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 14:11:13 -0400

I look up to four star General Charles Evans, the four-star general and lawyer throughout the Civil War who created a freight camp called Fort Devens In Massachusetts, many have heard of that place. It is now decommissioned and it’s traditional days of a camp was more of the civil war, and this was heavily used for law and like I said freightliners, which are still active at that pace to this day, just not used as much, but the law sure is! I lived on one of the federal roads over there. The army owns a lot of the buildings down the street but I’ve seen a thing or two in the building next-door where I was as well in a hospital setting where I lived with even multiple wounded warriors from navy to army to other branches I would see in and out of there. So I always researched the place a lot and then later on in life, they were planning on me being in an exhibition for the actual museum of the decommissioned military base due to a book I wrote on this general and other subject content! After these events occurred, I had to speak with the United States Army Garrison, because something went wrong, where I was living just as a civilian. I have to add then I was brought to the state police barracks of the former military base to take care of it through them and I just spoke with the place just the other day I always do. I’m funny. I get them to laugh pretty good no matter what’s really going on. Thank you for sharing, sir. I like this.

Response by Tj Pandolfino made Aug 26 at 2025 2:12 PM

Tj Pandolfino — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 14:12:10 -0400

And Lord knows you, sir!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2025 2:56 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 14:56:06 -0400

There are several for me (in no particular order) between 1993 to current:

CSM(R) Terry Murphy. He was my Drill Sergeant in Basic Training and would not let me quit.
CSM Dan Fairfield: One of the most squared away SNCOs I've had the honor of knowing. Always a mentor. Offered to grade a paper I am to write when I finally get to the USASMA
CSM Robert Ryan: Just like CSM Fairfield.
SFC(R) Doug Merrell: One of, if not THE best Platoon Sergeant I ever had. Spared no time for BS.
LTC(R) Virginia Griffin: Best damn nurse I have ever worked for. Prior enlisted. Always for the Troops.

There are many others, but I would be here for a week if I were to try and list them all.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Aug 26 at 2025 2:59 PM

LTC Trent Klug — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 14:59:51 -0400

There are too many to list. Thankfully, those I don't look up to is alot shorter.

Response by SPC Joshua Blotzer made Aug 26 at 2025 3:07 PM

SPC Joshua Blotzer — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 15:07:25 -0400

I will have to think about this one. No one immediately comes to mind.

Response by LTC Rodney Joye made Aug 26 at 2025 3:15 PM

LTC Rodney Joye — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 15:15:41 -0400

LTG (ret) Paul E. Blackwell. Most may not know him, but when I worked for him I was a 1LT & he was a LTC. Learned everything about leadership from him & used the lessons in my commands & staff assignments. He is a superb officer & a truly good man

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2025 3:17 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 15:17:06 -0400

It is my humble hope that all my Soldiers, past and present, will some day put me on their list for this category.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Aug 26 at 2025 3:24 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 15:24:36 -0400

I will never forget my BCT Company Commander, CPT John Sevcik (sp?). I'd follow him to the gates of hell. Not sure why. There was something in his quiet demeanor that commanded respect. And, Donald J. Trump. Of all the Presidents, there are few that have won my respect: Washington, Lincoln, Coolidge, and Truman. That's all. President Trump easily belongs among them. Why? He is not driven by ideology. He cannot be bought. He serves We the People. I can say the same for the other four.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Aug 26 at 2025 6:26 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 18:26:25 -0400

Tough one but I did narrow it down to two that I've actually met and talked to, General Jimmy Doolittle, and General Paul Tibbets

Response by PFC Lisa McDonald made Aug 26 at 2025 7:20 PM

PFC Lisa McDonald — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 19:20:37 -0400

Lt. General Harold Gregory Moore Jr. True leader pretty much should be a no brainer why selected. Also served under Major General Leroy N Suddath in the Berlin Brigade. MG Suddath did a lot for the Rangers and the special operations forces we see today. https://thecurrentga.org/2024/06/22/ranger-hall-of-fame-set-to-induct-savannah-man/

Ranger Hall of Fame set to induct Savannah man - The Current

Suddath grew up in Savannah, attended West Point before graduating from US Army Ranger School at age 32.

Response by 1SG John Millan made Sep 7 at 2025 1:01 PM

1SG John Millan — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 13:01:06 -0400

The top of my list is Audie Murphy and I always like General Tommy Frank partly because I had a chat with him

Response by COL John Rosnow made Sep 22 at 2025 2:27 PM

COL John Rosnow — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 14:27:31 -0400

I was very fortunate to have many great leaders to look up to over my military and civilian careers, you of course being one of them.

The biggest qualities that I found in them was honesty and being straightforward. One of those leaders used to say 'an informed Soldier is a better Soldier'. That is something that I always strived for in both my military and civilian career.

Response by CPO Charles Helms made Sep 29 at 2025 4:25 PM

CPO Charles Helms — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:25:30 -0400

My first division CWO2 Thomas Gregory later Ensign Gregory! James L Calfee ABCS my first division Chief! CWO2 Stanley Schmidt Air BOS'N on USS Coral Sea and ABCS Vic my division Chief! Both officers retired as LCDR's and my Chief's as ABCM's(E9)

Response by SP5 Dennis Loberger made Oct 9 at 2025 12:42 PM

SP5 Dennis Loberger — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:42:37 -0400

Arthur Ashe is a man I admire for a number of reasons. He exemplified tolerance and perseverance, breaking racial barriers in tennis while advocating for civil rights and humanitarian causes. It was his quiet perseverance to become the first black tennis champion and willingness to work for opportunities for others

Response by 1SG Skip Pettit made Oct 22 at 2025 9:55 AM

1SG Skip Pettit — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 09:55:58 -0400

There have been many inspirational commanders in my 22 year career - COL House, LTC Rainey (The most inspirational), but MSG Samuel Graham took interest in me as a young SPEC 4 and showed me how to work within the system so that I could identify needs in the command and then cross train into needed MOS's to get a promotion in an otherwise VERY limited promotional field. Drafted during Vietnam I was a Combat Medic 91A10 in an Infantry then Mechanized Infantry unit so they made me company clerk because I could type the Morning Report I was there 2 years then and then transferred to a large hospital. Neither offered opportunities beyond SPEC 4. Because of MSG Graham's guidance I cross-trained into a Payroll Specialist SPEC 5 MOS because we had a vacancy in the command, and as a SSG into another MOS a year or 2 later, and SFC into OOU50 (EEO Advisor to the Commander and Director of Unit training), and eventually since I had been in the command a long time and knew all the enlisted they made me top sergeant for 18 months and and moved into 91B and 71L slots and I was up for E-9 bud would have had to relocate - sol I retired in 1993. But ALL SAID - ISG Samuel Graham was the most remarkable and inspirational and toughest son of a bitch I ever served under and I would have taken multiple bullets and died for that man-- He passed away 11 March 2019 I Loved you, Brother!!! You were n INSPIRATION to me and hundreds of other young men and women in your 30 year career.

Response by MAJ Steve Daugherty made Oct 23 at 2025 9:20 AM

MAJ Steve Daugherty — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 09:20:27 -0400

There are a number of historical leaders that I admire. The first in the list isJesus, he epitomizes what a true leader is. In my life I have admired those who took care of their subordinates, were an example of integrity and kindness, yet held discipline for themselves and others as an integral part of their journey. When I was in BCT at Ft Ord , there was a commanding general who was driven around with a bus following, who would pick up soldiers he felt needed haircuts or something wrong with their uniform. I felt if he had the time to do that, he probably wasn’t very vital to the mission and wondered if your real importance to the mission was inversely proportional to your rank. Fortunately as I went on I encountered many officers and senior NCO’s who left a better impression.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2025 10:15 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 10:15:14 -0500

Definitely my BCT Company Commander. He led by example from start to finish.

Response by SrA Cecelia Eareckson made Nov 15 at 2025 6:43 AM

SrA Cecelia Eareckson — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 06:43:03 -0500

You couldn't come up with a single woman in all of human history? Seriously? Or is that androgynous figure in the upper right corner supposed to do?

Response by 1SG Skip Pettit made Nov 27 at 2025 3:47 PM

1SG Skip Pettit — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 15:47:17 -0500

LTC Herman Gibb - awesome commander. Knowledgeable teachable, humble when needed and decisive when needed. Served under him for 2 years as NOCIC. An inspirational leader and team player. Honors me with his friendship to this day 40+ years later.