A distinguished United States Air Force veteran with 28 years of active-duty and reserve service and advanced military education in air operations during war, John Weston Mosby also holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Redlands. He completed military coursework for Air Command and Staff at the United States Air Force Air University studying air operations during wartime. John Weston Mosby retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel after serving as Chief of Aeromedical flight training Standards and Evaluations for the operations group at March Air Force Base.
During his service, Mr. Mosby worked as a flight instructor and examiner in an aeromedical evacuation unit. His role focused on training and readiness for medical aircrew personnel. He received several awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Combat Readiness Medal with six devices, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He remains engaged in topics of military and aviation history.
Mr. Mosby holds a seven-level certification as an aircraft electrician and credentials as a United States Air Force flight instructor and examiner. He is a member of the Retired Officers’ Association and spends his free time hiking, fishing, riding motorcycles, and traveling.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
Being retired for just over a year is quite a change in ones’ life. I start the day reading the news and getting caught up on local and world events, followed by working on an ongoing checklist of projects at home (it takes a while to get caught up on 30 years of home repairs/issues). I go the gym three times per week for approximately two hours per visit. I volunteer twice per week and researching more possibilities.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Thinking and reflecting to properly identify the issue before researching and discussing the issue with others. I discuss the task and corrective action plan with others involved and adapt the plan if necessary. To implement, a checklist of who does what is developed and then executed. Final results are reviewed and changes made if necessary.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
The most important habit is having a goal, to develop a plan to obtain that goal with a timeline to hold yourself accountable, and then execute without excuse or delay. Working hard every day until the goal has been reached and a new goal is set.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Patience with myself and others. Pace yourself and have outside interests. Be open minded for change.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
History is a prologue for the future. Lessons must be learned and mistakes not repeated, both from a personal and a world view perspective.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Set goals for yourself and others with a clear checklist on how to accomplish that goal and then do your best to complete the goal with no excuses or delay.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Stop, take a deep breath, analyze and identify the problem, develop a plan, and then take action. If there are multiple issues, I list them in order of importance, focus, and take them on one at a time.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Goal setting and developing a plan of action on the steps of how to obtain that goal has been the greatest asset for me. It helps you stay focused and motivated as you progress through the milestones along the way to success.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Once, I took what appeared to be an easier way of doing Air Force business in an effort to save my squadron a lot of turmoil, which did not end well. Sometimes, the easier way turns out to be the wrong way.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Winning the War in Your Mind – it is an excellent self-help book to clear your mindset.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
Top Gun: Maverick – great fling and leadership.
Key learnings
- Developing well-defined goals and action plans/timelines to accomplish them helps to keep the team focused and motivated to accomplish those goals on time.
- Taking the easier road can seem like a good idea, but it may cost you and your team much more than what’s worth in the long run.
- Maintaining teamwork and tenacity on everyone’s part leads to success.