Alum who served with President Carter was impressed
This leader cares for and respects his people, says Ret. Lt. Col. Richard Hughes ’88, who spent a year at the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command working with the man who would become Ohio State’s new president.
President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. listens to Jodie Leister, director of Ohio State’s Employee Assistance Program, at an all-staff wellness event in the Recreation and Physical Activity Center. (Photo by Jodi Miller)
“Welcome aboard!” exclaimed then-Rear Admiral Walter “Ted” Carter Jr., eagerly receiving me as I reported in at the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command in Suffolk, Virginia, in 2010. Although it is customary for military professionals to meet with their commanding officer when reporting into a new organization, senior leaders often are too busy to do so right away.
Carter was a notable exception: He actively sought out new arrivals, welcoming them to the JECC, explaining the mission and setting his expectations.
“How is your family?” he inquired. We’d arrived in Virginia Beach a few days earlier, marking our sixth move in 10 years. Following a successful command tour in Georgia that included my seven-month deployment to Iraq, my family and I were eager to get squared away both at home and at work.
“The family’s doing great,” I replied. “Happy to be on the East Coast, closer to relatives, and excited about the new opportunities.”
“Good,” he responded, “because you’ll be on your way again soon.”
Such is the reality of military life.
Carter set the tone for the JECC: Take care of the mission, yes, and absolutely take care of the people executing the mission. Good leaders serve the people they’re charged to lead, not themselves.
The JECC is a unique unit with a unique mission statement: “On short notice, the JECC provides planners, public affairs specialists and communications capabilities to Combatant Commanders in order to enable the rapid establishment of a Joint Task Force Headquarters or in support of other missions, exercises or planning efforts.”
Or, as my lovely bride put it: “Like firefighters in the firehouse, leaving at a moment’s notice to help others in crisis.”
In the year I served with Carter, I was off to Pakistan for four months, then to Florida to train and certify the U.S. Fourth Fleet as a Joint Task Force. Then I headed to the Mediterranean to lead Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn amid strife in Libya. Then it was on to Colombia, Bahrain and so on. At the same time, the JECC had teams supporting U.S./NATO operations in Afghanistan; disaster response for the Fukushima earthquake, tsunami and reactor meltdown; and joint force training in Europe.
Carter exemplifies strong leadership, understanding of the mission and trust for those who execute it. We briefed him extensively before every mission, while he listened intently and asked thoughtful questions. He analyzed our plan, always seeking to maximize our probability of success. It was clear he was genuinely concerned about the folks heading out the door and around the globe.
Importantly, he was always there to welcome JECC teams home, regardless of time of day, weather conditions or other factors. Good leaders are there for their people, ensuring they have the resources to complete the mission.
What can Buckeye alumni expect from President Carter? I am confident he will practice the same kind of leadership I experienced while serving with him: honesty, commitment to mission and service to others, in this case the students, faculty, staff and alumni of The Ohio State University. He will actively listen and ensure the university community has what it needs to succeed. He will seek diversity of thought and strive for innovation.
As President Carter said during an August news conference, “I’m a straight shooter.” Proven under fire, President Carter is exactly that.
Welcome aboard, President. We’re thankful you and Lynda are Buckeyes.
