Central Michigan Life

Issue date: 3/19/08 Section: News

Col. Tom Rini speaks to an audience of mainly ROTC members in the Bovee University Center's Lake Superior Room on Tuesday. [Click to enlarge]

Tom Rini said people have to take responsibility when they're in leadership roles.

"When in charge, take charge," he said to about 50 people Tuesday.

The retired colonel, an investigator for the office of the Inspector General in the United States Department of Defense, spoke in the University Center Lake Superior Room as part of the Col. William B. Nolde Lecture Series. The series was cosponsored by the CMU Army ROTC and the Leadership Institute.

"Leadership by example," Rini said. "Practice what you preach, know that everyone is always looking at you."

Maj. Gregg A. Mays, chair of the Military Science Department said the series was started by Nolde's family, who started an endowment that gave a scholarship and a speaker series to CMU.

Rini was the 20th speaker in the series that started in 1998, and shared his leadership stories about his time in the service.

Rini spoke to the crowd, comprised mainly of ROTC students, about doing what is right, not taking shortcuts in training, the aspect of drinking and swearing and coming into a new unit.

"When you go into your first assignment, take time to look around, and the challenge is to sustain those things that the unit does well," he said. "And to be able to concentrate on improving those things that need improvement."

Brad Mills, Portland senior and ROTC member, said he liked Rini's background and his ability to share stories in various aspects of the army and leadership.

"He's worked in a lot of different fields," he said. "(So) he's got something to say to everybody."


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