CSM JoAnn Naumann and CSM (TJ) Thomas Baird Serving at the highest levels of the Army while protecting a marriage and raising a family requires more than time management — it requires intention. In this conversation, my Warrior Wife, CSM JoAnn Naumann, and I speak candidly about what it takes to lead in uniform while remaining anchored at home. We discuss communication under stress, shared sacrifice, career crossroads, and the discipline required to ensure neither mission nor

This Army feature tells the story of two brothers who chose different paths but were united by one calling: service. Leadership, in our case, was not inherited — it was forged through shared values, hard lessons, and a commitment to something greater than ourselves. This article highlights how family, mentorship, and individual responsibility shape the kind of leaders Soldiers deserve. It’s not about rank. It’s about influence, character, and the standard you set when no one

From PTSD to PTG: Choosing Growth as a Father In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, I sit down to talk about the real battle that followed the battlefield. After 32 years in the Army and over 20 deployments, the fight didn’t end when I came home. In many ways, it was just beginning. I grew up with a father who was frequently deployed, and without realizing it, I found myself repeating that same pattern with my own daughter. Long absences, emotional distance, an

Leadership doesn’t disappear after service. It evolves, showing up in quieter but more meaningful ways.