Breaching the Summit: Inspiring Leadership Lessons from Six Military Journeys to the Top

by Kenneth Preston Denise Jelinski-Hall Charles “Skip” Bowen

In their collaborative work, Breaching the Summit, six former senior enlisted leaders—each of whom reached the highest levels of the Pentagon—share their personal stories, experiences, and lessons learned through a lifetime of service. Each of the six authors provides a personal account of his or her background and early career in the military, how mentors influenced and encouraged them throughout their personal journeys, and what it took to eventually become the highest enlisted member of their respective branch of service. Their stories illustrate lessons that are applicable to both existing and aspiring leaders, members of the military or civilians. The authors weave their hard-earned leadership philosophies into the book, painting a compelling portrait of the journey to becoming a trusted, authentic, and effective leader. The authors include Ken Preston, 13th Sergeant Major of the Army (retired); Mike Barrett, 17th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (retired); Rick West, 12th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (retired); James Roy, 16th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (retired); Denise Jelinski-Hall, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the National Guard Bureau (retired); and Skip Bowen, 10th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard (retired). With a foreword by Gen. Peter Pace, U.S. Marine Corps (retired), 16th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and more than 50 endorsements from current and former military officers and enlisted leaders, Breaching the Summit provides meaningful insights and practical, clear, and proven guidance to every level of military leadership as well as leaders in government, in businesses and boardrooms, and in every leadership program designed to develop future leaders.

256 pages, Perfect Paperback

Published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Wesley Watt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Regardless if you are in the military or not, this book contains valuable leadership advice from the best of the best. These six individuals climbed to the top of their branches, which are themselves known for attracting the best of our servant-leaders. The content is broken into easily manageable sections, each with a clear and concise point to make, with supporting real-life anecdotes. I usually dispose of books after reading them, but this is one I’ll be keeping and returning to for a long time.