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The Quiet Power Behind American Diplomacy: The 89th Airlift Wing
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In late April, I had the privilege of visiting the 89th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Andrews, led by my friend, Colonel Chris Robinson. I first came to know Chris during his time as Wing Commander of the 375th Air Mobility Wing at Scott Air Force Base, home of Air Mobility Command (AMC), and…
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My Once-in-a-Lifetime Moment: His Majesty’s Message to Congress and the Enduring Strength of the Special Relationship
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There are moments in public life that are important because of what is said. There are others that matter because of where they happen, who is present, and what the moment itself represents. Attending His Majesty King Charles III’s address to a Joint Meeting of the United States Congress was both. It was, quite…
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America’s War Machine Was Faltering. Now It’s Roaring Back.
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In the language of budgets, revolutions rarely announce themselves. They appear instead as line items — incremental, technical, easily overlooked. Yet taken together, they often signal something far more consequential: a shift in national posture. The latest signals from the U.S. Air Force suggest precisely such a moment. Beneath the headlines of geopolitical tension…
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Altus AFB: Where America’s Mobility Power Is Forged
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Last week, I spent two days at Altus Air Force Base as part of my role as a Civic Leader with Air Mobility Command. I flew in aboard a C-17 Globemaster from Vance Air Force Base to Altus—an experience that, in itself, underscored the very mission this base exists to support. I’ve been fortunate…
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Where America’s Pilots Begin: What Two Days at Vance Air Force Base Taught Me
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I just spent two days at Vance Air Force Base as part of my role as a Civic Leader with Air Mobility Command. I went expecting to learn about pilot training. I left thinking about something very different. I left thinking about the young men and women who are carrying far more responsibility than…
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Honoring Heroes: The Crew of the USS St. Louis Visits Stone Ledge Distillery
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There are moments when a place, a name, and a mission all come together in a way that reminds us what service, sacrifice, and community truly mean. The recent visit of the crew of the USS St. Louis (LCS-19) to Stone Ledge Distillery was exactly that kind of moment—one filled with pride, gratitude, and…
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The UK–US Alliance in the Iran Conflict: A Quiet Partnership Delivering Real Results
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At a glance, recent headlines might suggest strain in the UK–US relationship during the Iran conflict—hesitation, disagreement, even divergence. It’s a compelling narrative. It’s also incomplete. What is actually unfolding is something far more consequential: a mature alliance operating with clarity of purpose, division of responsibility, and a shared commitment to long-term stability. Not…
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From Britain to the Ozark Highlands: Why Missouri Should Be on Every UK Traveller’s List
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I was born in Scotland and grew up in England, and like many Britons my early impressions of America were shaped by films, music, and the romance of the open road–specifically Dallas, the A-Team and the Dukes of Hazzard. Yet when I first arrived in Missouri, I discovered a side of America that felt…
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The One Place Every England Football Fan Should Visit When Coming to Missouri
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When supporters of the England national football team travel abroad, they carry more than scarves, chants, and matchday traditions. They carry with them the story of a nation — one that has endured great trials and risen to meet them with resilience, determination, and courage. For fans traveling to the United States during the…
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From Fulton to the Commonwealth: Churchill’s Words Still Guide Us
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This past weekend I had the privilege of gathering with friends, scholars, and leaders at America’s National Churchill Museum in Fulton, Missouri — the very place where Sir Winston Churchill delivered his historic “Sinews of Peace” address eighty years ago. Standing in that place always brings history into sharp focus. Churchill’s words in 1946…