Halfaker & Associates

News

January 2009

Halfaker and Associates' CEO, Dawn Halfaker, Teaches a Leadership Course at the United States Military Academy

Dawn Halfaker Teaches a Leadership Course at USMA

On January 23, 2009, CPT (Ret) Dawn Halfaker was featured as a guest lecturer at the United States Military Academy (USMA) to help prepare the cadets in the Battle Command elective for the challenges that await them as commissioned officers. 

Halfaker, a 2001 graduate of USMA, was invited by General (Ret) Frederick M. Franks, Jr. to share her story about combat and real world experiences.  Halfaker explained that, ultimately, USMA instills good fundamentals in executing tasks and basic competencies, teaches you how to succeed through teamwork and illustrates that the best way to lead is by example. Halfaker explains, “This is important, because you rely on all this training when you are in the Army and especially when you are in combat without even being aware of it; the skills you need to lead and survive are second nature. However, this does not mean leaders don’t make mistakes and can't constantly keep improving.” Halfaker went through several stories and shared some of her mistakes and lessons learned with the cadets discussing the importance of command and control in a combat environment, fire discipline and the utility of the OPORD.

Halfaker finished up her talk by stressing the importance of team cohesion and the leaders responsibility to capitalize on everyone's strengths rather than exploit people’s weaknesses. Halfaker shared, "The difference between those who are leaders and those who claim the title leader is that those who are leaders realize that it is not about them; it's about the men and women in their unit that they are responsible for and nothing else." Halfaker left the cadets that day with strong words of advice, to lead from the front and set the example by practicing good fundamentals and setting a high standard in training because the biggest test as a leader is how well your platoon does when you are no longer able to be with them.

Halfaker was severely injured in combat in 2004 by a rocket propelled grenade while on patrol in Baquba, Iraq. She received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star before being medically retired in 2005 from the U.S. Army.