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U.S. General Credits his Webster Degree with Helping Manage and Protect National Security
He should know. As the Mobilization Assistant to the Director at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) in Arlington, Va., General Skinner hits the ground running every morning to stop national cyber attackers in their tracks. “DISA is responsible for the DoD (Department of Defense) telecommunication lines and many of DoD's computing centers. We support the Global Task Force that defends DoD's networks from cyber attacks. My job is to ensure we best leverage our Reserve and Guard forces across our mission areas.” As a combat support agency of the DoD, DISA supports the President, the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and all combatant commanders, under all conditions of peace and war. A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy in 1980, Gen. Skinner earned his master’s in management from Webster University in 1984. In 1993, he transferred to the AF Reserves and started his civilian career with Eurpac, Inc: a family of distribution and brokerage operations. Gen. Skinner took time to share with NotaBene his insight into the tricky world of national security and the constant evolution of our nation’s military and their mission.NB: How has this degree helped you strategically position yourself for promotion? MS: Initially, pursuing the degree communicated I was willing to invest in myself to prepare for increased responsibility. Achieving the degree demonstrated to me, and others in the military, that I could set goals and reach them. When I transferred to the reserves in 1993, the Webster credential proved itself again as I set out to find a civilian employer that offered a challenging and rewarding career. NB: What are the most important tools you received from your Webster degree? MS: The awareness that the best management decisions are made after studying the issue from several perspectives such as organizational, financial and interpersonal. NB: What advice would you give someone considering enlisting in a branch of the military? MS: Make sure you fully understand two things. First, this is not just a “job.” To join our military, new recruits take an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States. There will be a plan for you to serve in a particular career field and location, but that plan could change if necessary to get the job done. And second, fully understand all the benefits beyond pay that come with the uniform. The Thrift Saving Plan, military retirement pay, medical benefits and education opportunities are just a few. NB: In your opinion, what are some of the biggest changes (good and bad) in our nation's military and its collective mission that you have seen in the 20+ years you have served? MS: In my opinion, the biggest (and best) change in our military is a better understanding of how to tap the diverse talents of everyone supporting the military. We have come a long way improving our ability to form teams comprised of active, guard, reserve, civilian and contractors. NB: What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing today’s graduates and how can they better achieve professional success? MS: Today’s biggest challenge is that opportunities to change are coming at us faster than ever before. The next generation of leaders will need to be experts at balancing the pros and cons of rapid change vs. stability in business processes and military tactics. |
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