Our Guest: Maj. General (U.S. Army Retired), Bob Dees
General Dees served for 31 years in the U.S. Army in a wide variety of command and staff positions culminating in his last three assignments as Assistant Division Commander for Operations, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); Commander, Second Infantry Division, United States Forces Korea; and as Deputy Commanding General, V (US/GE) Corps in Europe, concurrently serving as Commander, US-Israeli Combined Task Force for Missile Defense.
Following military retirement in January 2003, Bob served as a Microsoft Corporation executive; followed by leadership of Military Ministry, a non-profit outreach to the military. He authored the “Resilience Trilogy” (Resilient Warriors, Resilient Leaders, and Resilient Nations) and pioneered resilience programs for the military as Vice President for Military Outreach at Liberty University. In the 2016 Presidential cycle, Bob served as National Security Advisor and Campaign Chairman for Dr. Ben Carson. Bob is now President of the National Center for Healthy Veterans with the mission of “Returning Healthy Veterans to America.”
He was featured as one of 30 “Master Leaders” in America by noted author George Barna, recognized by the National Association of Evangelicals with the Centurion Award for Commander support to Military Chaplains, awarded the Council for National Policy George Washington Military Leadership Award in 2018, and honored with the Liberty University George Rogers Champion of Freedom Award in 2024.
Bob and his wife, Kathleen, have been married for 51 years, and together have three children and nine grandchildren. They are grateful for the privilege of serving God, Nation, and Others during these critical times.
Scriptures and Key Points:
- Even in the midst of difficult circumstances, the body of Christ can be a light that shines.
Isaiah 66:2 NIV …“These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.
- A prerequisite for all we do as leaders is to be in the right posture before the Lord.
Proverbs 29:18 KJV Where there is no vision, the people perish…
- As a leader, Bob has found that we have to constantly cast vision to help everyone recognize we’re not just laying bricks, we’re building a cathedral.
- We fall the way we lean.
- In the midst of the challenges, there has to be people who can be the hands and feet of the Lord and to be there in a tangible way.
- It’s not just the veterans, but it’s their families that are impacted.
- As you develop that trusting relationship, then you know you can move forward from there.
- “We don’t fully trust anybody that doesn’t walk with a limp.”
The Resilience Life Cycle
John 16:33 NKJV These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
- We’re all going to have body slams, and we shouldn’t act extremely surprised. It’s painful.
- Sometimes all we can do is hide under the shelter of God’s wings until the destruction passes by.
Psalm 91:4 NKJV He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge…
- You have got to look through the rear view mirror and be introspective.
- Guard your primary relationships when you’re going through trauma.
- There’s going to be bitterness.
- And so the antidotes to bitterness are gratitude, thanksgiving, and forgiveness.
Exodus 4:2-3 NKJV So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.” And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.
- What do you have in your hand? As you loosen your grip, God will use it.
John 6:8-13 NKJV The young boy’s loaves and fishes
- What does the stewardship of pain look like? It looks like loosening your grip and offering it up to God.
- Regaining vital optimism after a serious trauma in your life happens gradually. You can’t rush it.
Psalm 96:1 NKJV Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Corinthians 1:4 NKJV Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Bob’s Golden Thread of Resilience
- Calling is the golden thread.
- What’s your purpose, your reason for existence?
- Then when you’re in the storm, remember your call.
- “When he remembered his call, it was powerful. That’s true for all of us.”
- Revalidate your call.
- Bob recommends a personal board of directors. Basically the objective is for them to help you figure out what your transition through trauma looks like, whatever that transition happens to be for you.
- What did we learn from that difficult life experience?
- You learn resilience through the tough times.
- Would you rather be an egg like Humpty, Dumpty, or had you rather be a tennis ball?
- God wants us all to bounce back. He wants us to recognize we have to navigate trauma. And He’s put wonderful instructions in the scriptures to allow us to do that.
- Every life experience can become a life lesson that becomes part of our life message.
- You’re seeking to help, because God has placed you there. And it becomes a divine calling.
- The first pillar that we depend upon is community.
- Bob discovered that the primary factor of suicide was isolation.
- The second principle is dignified work to provide purpose and self esteem.
- A third one is faith based trauma recovery and life skills programs. It’s resilience curriculum.
- And then there’s something called jobs for life.
- Finally, career preparation.
Mark 12:30-31 NKJV And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Bob shares how important resiliency is:
- You either bend or you break.
- And you have to be careful, because the hard shell sometimes will break, and it’s much harder to help them pull it back together.
- Resilience training comes first because it’s less intense and provides participants with foundational skills to manage challenges.
Psalm 78:72 NKJV So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.
- Resilient leadership is selfless service over time.
- Wisdom is the bridge between character and competence.
- Oftentimes, a mature leader has this uncanny ability to be able to discern the right kairos moment and to wait patiently.
- So we need to listen to God’s still, small voice and figure out what we can do while we’re waiting.
1 John 4:4 NKJV You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Zechariah 4:6 NKJV …Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
Books:
- Resilience Trilogy by Robert F. Dees
- The Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey
Links:
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