In the August 26th edition of USA Today, Tom Vanden Brook interviews retired Air Force Colonel Mark Tillman, the pilot of Air Force One on September 11th, 2001. His amazing insights on leading during a time of crisis are incredibly important for anyone in leadership.
- To Effectively Lead During Crisis You Must Be Prepared – Colonel Tillman says, “There are all kinds of plans to keep the president safe, emergency actions plans in the event of a nuclear attack. Pretty much any major military attack, I knew exactly what to do with the president and where to take him to keep him safe.”
- God Never Wastes Your Life’s Experiences – Colonel Tillman went to Tulane University to study pre-med. A student next to him had a uniform and was part of the R.O.T.C. program. When learning the government would pay for his tuition, Tillman signed up. He then learned he loved engineering and flying. From there he wanted to fly cargo planes and see the world. This ultimately led to Tllman becoming the president’s principal pilot in 2001. You may think nothing significant is currently happening in your life, but that is incorrect. You are currently being prepared for things you don’t even know about.
- Crisis Often Comes When We Least Expect It – There were no threats on September 11th. “On Sept. 11, literally going up to the plane, everything was normal.”
- Focus On The Fundamentals – After learning of the attacks, Tillman went through his routine checklist before departing from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport – Double-check everyone’s identity boarding the plane, have an armed Air Force security officer outside the cockpit, and finally and most importantly, keep the president safe.Â
- During Crisis Bring In Additional Resources – “We asked for fighter support as well as AWACs, a radar plane overhead to keep watch on any type of threats coming at us.”
- Make Strategic, Not Emotional Decisions – President Bush’s initial response was to return to Washington. However, he was advised by Tillman and others to do otherwise. “One of the concerns was that Washington was where the terrorists would expect us to run to if something happened. My plan was not to get back to Washington right away.”
- Have A Quality Team Around You – The destination became Barksdale AFB just outside Shreveport which was recommended by Tillman who was aware of the incredible security measures contained at this location.
- Define Reality – “Freedom itself was attacked this morning by a faceless coward.” – President George Bush at 11:36 AM CST.
- Address The Issue – “This was a president who wanted to get back into battle. I say this jokingly, but I guess when they wrote these plans they didn’t realize a Texan would be in the office and his job was to go kick ass as soon as he could.” President Bush was prepared to immediately respond to and address the issue.
- Focus On Your Task – “I wasn’t thinking about the American people at the time, or who had been killed or who had been injured. My goal was to keep this man safe and to continue with my job.”
- Surviving Crisis Then Brings Clarity And Perspective – “It wasn’t until I landed, went back to my office, that I realized exactly what we’d done that day and how much we had to do.
- Surviving Crisis Positions Leaders For Sustained Success – Tillman went on the fly Air Force One for eight more years which included 49 foreign trips and flying to every U.S. state except Vermont. He also flew President Bush back to Texas after President Obama’s inauguration.
- Surviving Crisis Brings Respect For Leaders – “Total respect for him (President Bush). To this day, I’d do anything for him.”
- Surviving Crisis Teaches A Primary Lesson – Tillman says that the primary lesson of 9/11 is to always be prepared for the worst. “We’ve got to be ready for it.”
Leaders, I learned much and was deeply humbled by Colonel Tillman’s interview. What leadership lessons have you learned from 9/11?
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