‘One of Moose’s Air Force squadron mates, Jim Hubbard, met him in Korea in 1980, not long after Moose had completed a tour in Vietnam. Hubbard noticed that the name tag on Millard’s flight suit read “Moose,” not “Terry.” Evidently the Wing Commander found out about this and called Moose on the carpet. Name tags should reflect your real name, said the commander, the name your mother would call you.
“My mother calls me Moose,” said Millard. The commander was not amused. He said, in effect, change it or else.
So Moose finally showed up one day with a name tag reading “Terry Millard.” That night, all of Moose’s squadron mates showed up at the bar with new name tags of their own. There was Moose Hubbard, Moose Simmons, Moose Johnson, and so on.
“The Wing Commander,” writes Hubbard, “gave up.”
Moose had that kind of effect. He didn’t accept conventional rules. He inspired people to work together to change those rules. Yet he wasn’t purely a maverick—he knew how to get things done within the system.” (1)
Source: (1) Forbes, May 30, 2017
Terry “Moose” Millard, USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on February 3, 2009.
Exploring the edge of the performance envelope had been part of Terry “Moose” Millard’s life since he earned his pilot license at age 15. That is when he discovered that if you love what you do, hard work could be fun – and fun fuels productivity. Moose believed that just as professional pilots must understand the performance envelope of their aircraft and crew, great leaders must understand the performance envelope of their organization and people. That understanding is crucial to achieving maximum performance without running out of fuel. After 40 years of study and experience as a leadership and service practitioner, Moose knew how it felt to be there and what works to get you there.
His formal education included a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and a Masters degree in Human Resource Management. However, his best education had been working his way through pre-college and college years in real world jobs like heavy construction laborer, janitor, night watchman, sales person, appliance repairman, and supervisor.
Moose added to his hands-on leadership experience with a 20-year Air Force career in fighter jets, including two combat tours in Vietnam, duty as an evaluator of management and leadership, and commander of a combat ready F-16 Fighting Falcon squadron.
Moose joined the Southwest Airlines team in 1988 and stayed at the company until the age 60 rule forced him to retire. In addition to performing duties as an airline captain, check airman, and assistant chief pilot supervising over 600 pilots, he was deeply immersed in company culture initiatives like pilot hiring, human factors team training, and intra-departmental employee relationship building. After Moose retired from Southwest Airlines the company contracted with him to help lead a new business initiative called Plane Smart Business, which more deeply engaged pilots in understanding and participating in business performance enhancements for the company.
Since 1990 he shared his experience and research as a seminar leader, consultant, and professional speaker. He spoke with passion and humor about building and maintaining maximum performance cultures, developing the heart of service, nurturing gutsy leadership, and dealing with adversity through Possibility Mentality which he had used in his continuing 17-year adventure with cancer.
The origin of his nickname remains mysteriously obscured in the hazy history of a bygone era. He resided with his wife, Allene, in Colorado Springs, CO and Henderson, NV.
Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/203258580/terry-leon-millard
