firestrike
01-24-2005, 12:25 AM
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away...
It is a period of unrest, disenfranchisement and civil war. Rebel assistant chiefs, striking with hidden motives, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic union.
During the battle, union spies managed to make secret plans and attempted to recruit the ultimate weapon, Chief King, an old timer with enough knowledge and the power to see through the BS here and eliminate an outdated system of doing things.
Pursued by the union’s sinister agents, Chief King was rejected by the evil forces, but another who possessed the powers of the “good side of the force” would step forward and save the righteous union rebels and restore freedom to the galaxy...
Then there was “the outsider” Jerry Sack. To me in retrospect he was like Luke Skywalker in the first Star Wars movie titled “a new hope.” A new Jedi had arrived at the USNAFD. If you remember old No.1 station, it did sort of resemble the buildings you would have seen on Tatooine down at the Mos Eisley’s Cantina.
This boy was sent here to save us from the federation (the Dark Side) so we could not be destroyed by the administrative “Death Star.” The first time I laid eyes on this guy, ole skeeve-boy himself “Tommy” was leading him down the hill and jerry had only a job shirt on over a T-shirt. Somehow I knew everything was going to be alright. Tommy never liked the fact that Jerry first appeared to the crew wearing what he had on, but hey skeeve-boy (let you in on a little secret) no one gave a sh!t. Hey Tommy, at least it was better than wearing a white shirt that looked as though it had been ironed with a hot rock! Jerry is one of the greatest fire chiefs I have ever seen and he still is. Why? Because Jerry knew his limitations, exploited his attributes, knew how to manage and treat his people.
Jerry made you feel as though you were important and counted for something around here even if you didn’t. And he was simply fun guy to be around. Especially his first long night he slept in with Gerard. He said something about tying beds together with him, boy was that a hoot. He would also do anything to help you out if you asked. He worked with you to overcome a problem, he didn’t try to screw you up the “whazoo” everytime you would turn your back on him.
But he did have his faults as well. After he left many said he never put anything in writing, well good managers never have to, their management systems and employees do not need it in print to know the difference between what is right and what is wrong. While he was not an operational “firefighting” fire chief, he was what fire chiefs today need to be, semi - politicians, administrators and most importantly good program managers. What made him exceptional is that he admitted and acknowledged his faults and made corrective actions as to not effect effective and efficient department operations.
He also held those who were incompetent performers under him accountable for their actions. Ever wonder why Hap could not stand him? Or why Wayne was never given anything to do of importance?
In his 10 month stint here before returning to Cali, it was the only time that the least amount of “Bitchin” out of the troops was ever heard at the USNAFD. Guys even enjoyed riding the ambo, image that. But he also knew how to work the system. He knew how to increase the annual budget to it highest ever, get additional dollars for end of year stuff (the great email pledge scandal) that we needed, but most importantly he garnered the support of the navy officers down at the admin building without pissing them off. For that I say “Bravo Zulu.”
It is a period of unrest, disenfranchisement and civil war. Rebel assistant chiefs, striking with hidden motives, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic union.
During the battle, union spies managed to make secret plans and attempted to recruit the ultimate weapon, Chief King, an old timer with enough knowledge and the power to see through the BS here and eliminate an outdated system of doing things.
Pursued by the union’s sinister agents, Chief King was rejected by the evil forces, but another who possessed the powers of the “good side of the force” would step forward and save the righteous union rebels and restore freedom to the galaxy...
Then there was “the outsider” Jerry Sack. To me in retrospect he was like Luke Skywalker in the first Star Wars movie titled “a new hope.” A new Jedi had arrived at the USNAFD. If you remember old No.1 station, it did sort of resemble the buildings you would have seen on Tatooine down at the Mos Eisley’s Cantina.
This boy was sent here to save us from the federation (the Dark Side) so we could not be destroyed by the administrative “Death Star.” The first time I laid eyes on this guy, ole skeeve-boy himself “Tommy” was leading him down the hill and jerry had only a job shirt on over a T-shirt. Somehow I knew everything was going to be alright. Tommy never liked the fact that Jerry first appeared to the crew wearing what he had on, but hey skeeve-boy (let you in on a little secret) no one gave a sh!t. Hey Tommy, at least it was better than wearing a white shirt that looked as though it had been ironed with a hot rock! Jerry is one of the greatest fire chiefs I have ever seen and he still is. Why? Because Jerry knew his limitations, exploited his attributes, knew how to manage and treat his people.
Jerry made you feel as though you were important and counted for something around here even if you didn’t. And he was simply fun guy to be around. Especially his first long night he slept in with Gerard. He said something about tying beds together with him, boy was that a hoot. He would also do anything to help you out if you asked. He worked with you to overcome a problem, he didn’t try to screw you up the “whazoo” everytime you would turn your back on him.
But he did have his faults as well. After he left many said he never put anything in writing, well good managers never have to, their management systems and employees do not need it in print to know the difference between what is right and what is wrong. While he was not an operational “firefighting” fire chief, he was what fire chiefs today need to be, semi - politicians, administrators and most importantly good program managers. What made him exceptional is that he admitted and acknowledged his faults and made corrective actions as to not effect effective and efficient department operations.
He also held those who were incompetent performers under him accountable for their actions. Ever wonder why Hap could not stand him? Or why Wayne was never given anything to do of importance?
In his 10 month stint here before returning to Cali, it was the only time that the least amount of “Bitchin” out of the troops was ever heard at the USNAFD. Guys even enjoyed riding the ambo, image that. But he also knew how to work the system. He knew how to increase the annual budget to it highest ever, get additional dollars for end of year stuff (the great email pledge scandal) that we needed, but most importantly he garnered the support of the navy officers down at the admin building without pissing them off. For that I say “Bravo Zulu.”