Entretien avec Deborah Lee James (Ancienne Secrétaire à la Force Aérienne des Etats-Unis)

Interview – Deborah James - « Aim High »

1. What do you want to mean by this title ?

I hope the title Aim High will inspire others to have ambitions and aspirations to achieve their purpose in life—their dreams. Sometimes people, especially young people, are afraid to dream big. This is a mistake, and one of the central messages of Aim High..

2.What are the qualities of a leader ? 

There are several. Leaders must Chart and Navigate the Course for their organizations  (stated another way, they must lay out a clear vision and the basis of a roadmap on how to get there); they must Lead and Inspire Teams ; (this means be an effective communicator ; listen deeply to the input of others ; act with high ethical standards and focus on people and teamwork above all other issues) and they must get things done  (achieve the goals of the organization ; advance the ball to the next level)!

 3. Did you have to fight harder to prove your legitimacy in the US Air Force ?

When I first became Secretary of the Air Force, some may have questioned why I was selected for the job since I had no uniformed military service experience. So, yes, I had to work hard to demonstrate that I brought other important skills to the table : communication skills ; knowlege of budget and the US Congress ; expertise on defense policy ; leadership in business. I believe the key is to always play to your personal strengths within a team environment. This is what I always tried to do.

4. How did, the mother and the wife that you are, live that ?

Navigating the work/family life journey is a matter of balance and priority. My children are now grown, but when they were young, I surrounded myself with those who could help alleviate chores at home, like cleaning and cooking. Instead, when I was home and on weekends, I devoted myself solely to my children and husband. While on the job, I asked for time off when I judged it to be of high priority. Consequently, I did not attend all sporting events, for example, but I attended the most important ones. I was fortunate that my children were healthy. Parents with special needs or ill children have a much tougher situation to face.

 5. Do you think that the USA are ready to elect a woman for President ?

I hope so, but time will tell. There are a total of 6 females who have declared themselves as running for the Presidency. With that said, I do believe that gender bias is real and that women have a tougher time than men demonstrating that they are both qualified/tough and likeable.

6. What can you tell us about Obama's presidency ?

President Obama achieved a great deal during his 8 years. He acted decisively to prevent the country from a major depression and took steps to return the economy to a much better and more stable place. He led the charge to provide health care for all Americans. He led with compassion and conviction when it came to important values, like honesty.

7. How does the American opinion feel about Trump ?

American opinion is very divided with respect to President Trump. (Opinions were divided about President Obama as well.) According to recent public opinion polls, 43-46 percent approve of the the President’s performance, with the remaining 53-57 percent diapproving.

8. From the USA, what do you think of the Yellow Vests movement ?

Based on what I have read, I believe the Yellow Vest movement demonstrates that the prosperity of France is not being felt by all—some people are still struggling and believe that political leaders have not focussed enough on the problems they encounter every day. There is a sense that inequality exists and that fairness for all is not always upheld. We have experienced similar anger from parts of our country as well.

9. What do you think of Emmanuel MACRON ?

Overall, I like Emmanuel Macron and I think he has evolved in the role. It would appear that he has learned from the Yellow Vest movement that its crucial to listen to the people, to show empathy for those who struggle and to address their needs. Morevoer, he has been a staunch ally of the US.

10. What do you think of the Youth Climate Strike ?

 I am aware that there is a grass roots movement to urge the 2020 Democratic candidates to commit to action on various environmental and climate–related policies but I don’t know the details. This is part of our democracy and all groups have the right to be heard.

11. Are you worried about the fate of Europe ?

I have confidence that the issues that challenge Europe (many of the same issues are present in the US) will resolve in due time. The issues need to be worked through our respective democratic processes.

12. Do you think that terrorism risk has disappeared ?

No, I believe that terrorism is the challenge of our generation, and perhaps the generation that follows ours.

13. How do you see the future of US Defense politics ?

 I believe that no matter who wins the US Presidency in 2 years, we will continue to invest in a strong defense budget. There will be debates over the precise size of the budget and whether or not to fund specific programs, but no matter the outcome, we will remain strong in our investments. I also believe that the issue of better defense burdensharing will remain relevant.

 14. What advice can you give to a young man that wants to « find success » ?

I give the same advice to men as I give to women.

Have a plan for what you want to do, but be prepared to pivot to a new plan if the original plan does not work out. You don’t know what you will be passionate about until you explore it, so don’t shut any doors prematurely. Have big aspirations and be part of something bigger than yourself. Finding purpose and satisfaction in your life is more important than how much money you earn.