Tells Attendees 'Turbulence Is Inevitable, But Misery Is Optional'

Howard Putnam, former CEO of Southwest and Braniff Airlines, presented his views on leadership Tuesdays as the keynote speaker for the second day of the Naval Academy Leadership Conference. "Attitude starts at the top," said Putnam to an audience of students and faculty from both military and civilian universities. "Make your vision clear, and if you say your people are important, you better mean it."

Putnam possesses a varied background in the airline industry. He learned to fly his father's J-3 Piper Cub while growing up on a farm in Iowa, and his first job in the airline business was as a baggage handler in Chicago at age 17. He worked his way through thirteen different positions with United Airlines before becoming the Group Vice President of Marketing. He took over as CEO of Southwest in 1978. The company has been profitable every year for over thirty years, a record unsurpassed by any other airline.

"I was impressed by Howard Putnam," said Midshipman 1st Class Amanda Serfass. "It amazes me that he is such an accomplished leader, but he's also extraordinarily humble. He stressed the importance of not letting your ego take over while also boosting the ego of those around you. What I took away from his speech is that you have to reach down to the most subordinate person to get suggestions and help build what you're working toward," said Serfass.

Putnam became CEO of the financially-troubled Braniff International in 1981, successfully leading it through chapter 11 bankruptcy and back to operation in 1984. Through this experience, he learned that the challenges are what develop leadership. You learn by taking on the difficult challenges. "Turbulence is inevitable, but misery is optional," Putnam said. "Make turbulence work for you."

Putnam is the author of "The Winds of Turbulence" on leadership and ethics. Harvard University wrote a case study on his experiences at Braniff, entitled "The Ethics of Bankruptcy," as a model for handling stakeholders in crisis.

FMI: www.navy.mil