On Friday, January 18, 2008 join is for a presentation by Jefferson D. Howell, of the LBJ School of Public Affairs, on the topic: Lessons in Leadership.
Our mission is to elevate the role of leadership in the lives of the citizens of Central Texas; to focus on the vitality and necessity of regional leadership capital; and to serve others through the process of encouraging individuals to grow, prosper and make a significant difference through the practice of leadership skills.
On December 15, 2005, retired Marine Corps Lieutenant General Jefferson Davis Howell, Jr., was accepted by the faculty of the Lyndon B. Johnson School for Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, Texas, and designated a Visiting Professor. His area of interest is Leadership and Ethics instruction as well as enhancing collaboration between the University of Texas at Austin and NASA.
Howell came from the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where he had served as the Center Director from April 1, 2002 until November 17, 2005. As Center Director Howell planned, organized, and directed all activities required to accomplish the missions assigned to JSC, one of the Nation's prime space research and operations centers, with a primary focus on human space flight. Prior to joining JSC, Howell was a senior vice president with Science Applications International Corporation.
Howell is a native of Victoria, Texas and retired from the United States Marine Corps on 30 July 1998 following a distinguished 37 year military career. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 1961 upon graduation from the University of Texas with a B.A. degree. He also acquired an M.A. in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin (1970).
He served initially as an infantry officer before being assigned to naval aviation training in 1964. He was designated a Naval Aviator in November of 1965 and qualified as an F-4 Fighter Pilot the next year. Since that time his flying duties have included the full gamut of billets in both tactical and training squadrons. Two of his squadron tours included flying over 300 combat missions from Chu Lai and Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam, as well as Nam Phong, Thailand.
His staff tours have included economics instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy (1973-76) and Chief of Staff, 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade (1986-87), as well as various staff positions at Headquarters Marine Corps and the Pentagon in aviation related duties. Promoted to Brigadier General in 1989, he served as Assistant Chief of Staff for Joint Operations/Senior, U.S. Naval Officer, Headquarters Allied Forces North, NATO, Kolsas, Oslo, Norway (1989-91) and Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Aviation (1991-92). He was assigned additional duty as the Inspector General of the Marine Corps from January-April 1992.
Lieutenant General Howell’s command experience includes commanding rifle, weapons and mortar platoons as an infantry officer. Since becoming a Naval Aviator, he has commanded Marine Fighter/Attack Squadron 212 (July 1978-July 1980); Marine Aircraft Group 24 (July 1984-July 1986); 2d Marine Aircraft Wing (May 1992-July 1994); and was Deputy Commander, Marine Forces Pacific (August 1994-October 1995). On October 1, 1995, he was promoted to Lieutenant General and assigned as the Commander, Marine Forces Pacific/Commanding General Fleet Marine Forces Pacific and Commander Marine Corps Bases, Pacific. As part of this assignment, he was also designated Commander of U.S. Marine Forces Korea and Commander U.S. Marine Forces Central Command. Lieutenant General Howell held this position until May 1, 1998.
General Howell’s personal decorations from military service include: Department of Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V”; Air Medal with two individual and 25 strike/flight awards; Navy Commendation medal with Combat “V”; and the Republic of Korea Cross of Gallantry 3rd Degree. In 1980, he received the John Paul Jones Award for Inspirational Leadership from the Navy League of the United States. As the Johnson Space Center Director, Howell has been awarded both the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. The University of Texas at Austin bestowed General Howell with the Graduate School Outstanding Alumnus Award for 2004-2005.
Jefferson Howell is married to the former Janel Crutchfield of Decatur, GA. They have two children, Jefferson Davis III, a graduate from the University of Richmond, and Melissa Jane Strubbe, a graduate of Texas State University in San Marcos.
The breakfast will be held from 7:30 until 9:00 a.m. on Friday, January 17th , at the Austin Club. The Austin Club is located on the north side of 9th Street Between Congress and Brazos. The cost is $20.00 per person. Reservations are required. To register go to www.theaustinleadershipforum.com. Registration closes on Wednesday, January 17th at 6:00p.m.. Please don’t delay.
