General H. Norman Schwarzkopf , was virtually unknown to the vast majority of
the American public until the out break of the Gulf War. Norman Schwarzkopf, also
known as 'Stormin Norman' and 'the Bear' was a career soldier. Having served two
tours in Vietnam, which he volunteered for both, his combat experience and leadership
skills proved essential not only to winning Operation Desert Storm, but maintaining the
multinational coalition.
The most noteworthy portion of his career was from 1988-1991 when he served
as the Commander in Chief, United States Central Command. It was during this time that
the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait demanded immediate American action. Schwarzkopf's
command ultimately responded with the largest US deployment since the Vietnam War,
including portions of the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps as well as units from dozens
of nations around the world. The dazzling success of Operation Desert Shield/Desert
Storm marked what former President George Bush hailed as 'the beginning of new era of
internationalism' as the US seeks to promote international order in the post-Cold War
Paul Wolfowitz, under secretary of defense for pol...
(George H.W. Bush riding in a Humvee with General ...
General Norman Schwarzkopf.world. After retiring, Schwarzkopf received the Presidential Medal of Freedom as well as
many honors, degrees, and decorations from around the world.
His views of war were shaped by his combat experiences inside Vietnam. In his
press conferences, he has avoided talking about 'kill ratios' and 'body counts,' seeking to
avoid turning Desert Storm into a numbers battle. His personal style was well-liked by the
troops and the American public.
After reading General Schwarzkopf's autobiography 'It Doesn't Take A Hero',
I realized that he was not just another war hero. His strong sense of duty, honor, and
respect for other people and cultures, made him a successful leader. It is these core values
that could be applied be managers of all types...