In this episode of Leader Up, host David Howey welcomes Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Branen, Director of the Center for Army Leadership (CAL). Together, they explore the foundation and future of Army leadership, with a special focus on the essential role of Army civilians in leadership development across the force. Key discussion points include: • The history of Army leadership doctrine, including the shift from “leaders are born” to “leaders can be developed.” • An overview of the Leadership Requi...
May 19, 2025•49 min
In this episode of Leader Up, host David Howey is joined by two insightful guests from the Center for Army Leadership: Janetta Harris, an Instructional System Specialist, and Russ Scott, a Program Manager Liaison, both from the Center for Army Leadership (CAL) Leader Development Division. Together, they dive into the vital topic of mentorship—what it is, how it differs from coaching and counseling, and why it’s essential for professional and personal growth. Key discussion points include: • The ...
Mar 06, 2025•46 min
In this episode of Leader Up, Host David Howey, is joined by two senior leaders in US Army, Southern European Task Force, Africa: Mr. David Jones (DJ), Deputy Chief of Staff and Mr. Fred Krawchuk, Deputy Director of Operations. They join Leader Up via telecom to discuss fostering an innovation mindset and enhancing organizational performance within their mission focused organization. They share insights on building an adaptive organization, implementing innovation, management, and developing tal...
Jan 22, 2025•43 min
In this special edition of Leader Up, host David Howey revisits some of the most impactful conversations of 2024, focusing on a central theme: the critical roles of Army Civilian Professionals. This episode features highlights from episodes with distinguished guests, including: - Episode 63: Lieutenant General Milford H. Beagle, Jr., Commanding General, Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth - Episode 65: Major General David Doyle, Commanding General, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson - E...
Dec 31, 2024•51 min
In this episode of Leader Up, we welcome Dr. Kailah Murry, Coordinator for the Continuing Education for Senior Leaders (CESL) – Strategic Leadership course. Dr. Murry provides a behind-the-scenes look at this immersive program, designed to prepare senior Army civilians, enlisted personnel, and officers for the complexities of strategic leadership. From fostering cross-functional collaboration to tackling real-world Army challenges, Dr. Murry explains how the course enables leaders to break out o...
Nov 19, 2024•36 min
Episode 73 – Continuing Education for Senior Leaders - Business Transformation In this episode of Leader Up, David Howey host a virtual meeting with Eddie Railey, course manager for the CESL-BT course. They dive into the purpose and process of CESL BT – Continuing Education for Senior Leaders in Business Transformation. Eddie explains how the program is designed to guide Army professionals in implementing modern, effective business transformation practices by leveraging methodologies like Lean S...
Nov 12, 2024•43 min
In this episode of Leader Up, host David Howie meets with Katherine Coviello, Special Advisor for Enterprise Intel and Security, Army Materiel Command, as she shares insights from her 34-year career in the federal service, including her time in both military and civilian roles within the intelligence community. Ms. Coviello discusses her career journey, from her early days in uniform to her current role as a senior advisor on intelligence and security matters for the U.S. Army. Throughout the ep...
Oct 29, 2024•52 min
In this episode of Leader Up, host David Howey sits down with Frank Wenzel, Director of the Army Management Staff College (AMSC), to discuss the evolution of leadership development within the Army Civilian Corps. Mr. Wenzel reflects on his two years in the role, sharing insights on the strategic shifts AMSC has undertaken to better meet the Army’s current and future needs. The conversation delves into key topics like policy changes, the importance of investing in leader development, and the crit...
Oct 10, 2024•41 min
Episode 70 - Leadership Perspectives with the Honorable Christopher Lowman In this episode of Leader Up, host David Howie sits down with the Honorable Christopher Lowman, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, to explore the intricate world of leadership within the Army. Mr. Lowman shares his journey from a private in the Marine Corps to becoming the senior logistician in the Department of Defense. He delves into the significance of stepping beyond technical expertise to lead effectivel...
Sep 26, 2024•29 min
Leader Up host Mr. David Howey and AMSC’s Mr. Gary Hisle discuss an underreported topic—Followership. Gary brings his extensive experience from his 30-year active-duty career in the Army, where he served in various leadership and followership roles along with his decade of teaching leadership development. Together, they unpack the layers of followership, its significance in the Army, and how it contributes to effective leadership and mission accomplishment. The two delve into the essence of foll...
Sep 12, 2024•34 min
AMSC’s Mr. David Howey hosts a virtual meeting with special guest Paul Landauer, the J8 Resources and Assessments directorate for U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). Mr. Landauer shares his perspectives on various topics, including his background and career journey, AFRICOM’s responsibilities and challenges, and its extensive geographic scope. During the discussion, Mr. Landauer offers valuable insights on delegation, feedback, and the evolving role of civilians in the workplace. He provides career a...
Aug 20, 2024•50 min
Leader Up host Mr. David Howey and AMSC’s Dr. Mike Edwards discuss the significance of crucial conversations in leadership and its ability to enhance relationships and outcomes across different settings. Dr. Mike Edwards shares his background and expertise in crucial conversations, underscoring the necessity of understanding one’s motives and preparing thoroughly for such interactions. Key concepts discussed include handling opposing opinions, managing strong emotions, and recognizing high-stake...
Aug 06, 2024•38 min
Leader Up host Mr. David Howey and AMSC’s Mr. Gary Hisle discuss Army Design Methodology and how Army Civilian Professionals can utilize it. The conversation covers how the methodology is a conceptual planning tool used to help resolve ill-structured or ambiguous problems by first defining the nature of the problem through problem framing, rather than being given a predefined problem or mission. Mr. Hisle explores the method’s three main steps and how important critical thinking is to analyze th...
Jul 17, 2024•36 min
Major General David Doyle, Commanding General, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, joins Leader Up for a second time to discuss a variety of leadership and leader development topics. Talking points include the critical role of Army Civilians and the importance of their professional education, the Ivy leadership methodology used within the 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, the significance of maintaining a positive climate and culture within an organization, Maj. Gen. Doyle's personal ins...
Apr 10, 2024•35 min
AMSC's Mr. David Howey and Dr. Robert Arp discuss critical thinking and creative thinking and highlight their importance in decision-making and problem-solving. Talking points include examples of fallacies and the importance of considering alternative perspectives, the importance of teaching critical thinking from a young age, the relevance of critical and creative thinking in the workplace, and more. Dr. Arp holds a PhD in Philosophy and is an instructor in the AMSC Department of Academic Suppo...
Mar 27, 2024•41 min
In this episode we meet with Lieutenant General Milford "Beags" Beagle, Jr. to discuss a variety of topics to include fostering healthy work-life balance (Lamps Out Time), managing priorities (The One Thing), reflecting on key moments in his career, sharing leadership lessons learned, and more. Lt. Gen. Beagle is the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth, KS; Commandant, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; and Deputy Commanding General for Combine...
Feb 06, 2024•1 hr 13 min
In this episode we meet with Mr. Dennis Branson to discuss the topic of conflict and how it is incorporated in the Civilian Education System (CES) Advanced Course. Talking points include the ecosystem/culture we are in, conflict vs opposition, leading in conflict, instruments/tools used in the Advanced Course, the importance of reflective journaling, and resources available to learn more. Mr. Branson is an instructor in AMSC’s Department of Enterprise Leadership and has an extensive background i...
Jan 19, 2024•41 min
In this episode we meet with three members of the Center for Army Leadership (Janetta Harris, Mounir Bouchareb, and Bernard F. Harris Jr.) to talk about an article they co-authored titled "Leader Presence and Its Impact on Organizational Climate." We start off by identifying what leader presence is (and why it matters) and the four attributes of presence (bearing, fitness, confidence, resilience). We also learn about factors that influence organizational climate, explore the relationship between...
Nov 02, 2023•36 min
We meet with Ms. Lisa Bennett, Senior Intelligence Advisor at TRADOC DCS G-2, to discuss a variety of leadership and leader development topics to include her current position and responsibilities, her military and civilian leadership experiences, the importance of professional development for Army Civilians, career advice, lessons learned, and more. Ms. Bennett has served in a Defense Intelligence Senior Level (DISL) position since February 2021. For questions, suggestions, or feedback, write us...
Sep 27, 2023•40 min
We meet with Col. Dwayne Wagner, U.S. Army, Retired, to discuss his Military Review article titled “We Have Come a Long Ways... We Have a Ways to Go” and his personal journey as an African American Army officer and Army civilian. Col. (Ret.) Wagner's article is available at: https://www.armyupress.army.mil/journals/military-review/online-exclusive/2021-ole/wagner/ For questions, suggestions, or feedback, write us at usarmy.leavenworth.tradoc.mbx.armyu-amsc-podcast@army.mil To learn more about th...
Jul 26, 2023•1 hr 8 min
We meet with Mr. Frank Wenzel, newly selected Director of the Army Management Staff College (AMSC), to discuss his background in the Army and as an Army Civilian, his leadership philosophy, the changing role of Army Civilians, his vision for AMSC and the Civilian Education System (CES), course delivery modes, equivalency and constructive credit, and more. For questions, suggestions, or feedback, write us at usarmy.leavenworth.tradoc.mbx.armyu-amsc-podcast@army.mil To learn more about the Army Ma...
Jul 12, 2023•38 min
AMSC's Mr. David Howey meets with James A. Helis, Ph.D., Director, Army Resilience Directorate (ARD)*, to discuss the ARD mission, programs, and resources; the importance of resilience and building a positive climate and culture; Army Civilians; and other leadership and leader development topics to include delegation, feedback, lessons learned, and more. Dr. Helis has served as a member of the Senior Executive Service since July 2012. Learn more at: https://www.armyresilience.army.mil/ *The Army...
Jun 27, 2023•35 min
AMSC's Mr. David Howey meets with Command Sgt. Maj. Shawn Carns, I Corps command sergeant major at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, to discuss his motivation to join the Army, his career progression, and other topics to include building and cultivating relationships, delegation, the role of Army Civilians, and more. Learn more about I Corps at: https://www.army.mil/icorps For questions, suggestions, or feedback, write us at usarmy.leavenworth.tradoc.mbx.armyu-amsc-podcast@army.mil To learn more abo...
May 17, 2023•52 min
AMSC's Mr. David Howey meets with Mr. David Paschal, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), to hear his perspectives on a variety of topics to include Mr. Paschal's career progression, current priorities and responsibilities, the importance of professional development and leader education, the future of the Army civilian workforce, the value of mentorship, and Mr. Paschal's role as Functional Chief of the Education and Information Sciences (ED...
Apr 27, 2023•35 min
AMSC's Mr. David Howey and MAJ Ryan Cornell-d’Echert discuss the importance of asking better questions and the consequences of not doing so. Talking points include Army culture, subordinate expectations, briefings, critical thinking, ways to improve questioning technique, and more. MAJ Cornell-d’Echert is an instructor in the Department of Enterprise Leadership and has been assigned to AMSC since August 2020. For questions, suggestions, or feedback, write us at usarmy.leavenworth.tradoc.mbx.army...
Apr 03, 2023•48 min
AMSC's Mr. David Howey meets with CSM Jason C. Porras, Command Sergeant Major of Army University, to discuss a variety of topics such as CSM Porras' career progression and experiences working with Army Civilians, leadership skills/advice, Army Civilian education and development, and an NCO Journal column he authored in September 2022 titled "Things I Wish I Knew." CSM Porras' NCO Journal column titled "Things I Wish I Knew" is available at: https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/NCO-Journal/Ar...
Mar 22, 2023•48 min
AMSC's Mr. David Howey meets with Dr. Raj Iyer, Former U.S. Army Chief Information Officer*, to discuss the Army’s Digital Transformation Strategy, to include how digital transformation supports Multi-Domain Operations and the move to a more data-centric Army. Dr. Iyer has served as a member of the Senior Executive Service since November 2020. *Dr. Iyer still held the position of Chief Information Officer when this conversation was recorded in early February 2023. Learn more about the U.S. Army ...
Mar 08, 2023•35 min
AMSC's Mr. David Howey meets with Ms. Diane M. Randon, Principal Deputy to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (G-2), Department of the Army, to hear her perspectives on leadership, coaching, career progression, and other topics relevant to Army Civilian Professionals. Ms. Randon has served as a member of the Senior Executive Service since 2007. For questions, suggestions, or feedback, write us at usarmy.leavenworth.tradoc.mbx.armyu-amsc-podcast@army.mil To learn more about the Army Manag...
Feb 01, 2023•35 min
AMSC's Mr. David Howey and Mr. Chuck Hyde discuss the important topic of team building. Talking points include the leader's role in team building, Army doctrine and mission command principles, the Civilian Education System (CES) Basic Course, challenges and conflict, team building models, return on investment, self-awareness instruments, and more. The CES Basic Course is designed for the Army Civilian leader who exercises direct leadership to effectively lead and care for teams. Per AR 350-1, th...
Nov 30, 2022•48 min
AMSC's Mr. David Howey meets with Ms. Carrie Criqui (AMSC Registrar) and Mr. Jimmy James (AMSC Assistant Registrar), to discuss the registration process for Civilian Education System (CES) courses. Talking points include application procedures and common questions pertaining to policy, quota management, waitlist procedures, funding, equivalency and constructive credit, and more. AMSC Course Application Process: https://armyuniversity.edu/amsc/apply Civilian Human Resources Training Application S...
Nov 02, 2022•41 min
