Col. Pat Kaune, the Fort Knox garrison commander, is more than an Army colonel. He said he is a husband to his lovely wife Jetta of 25 years, and most importantly, a dad to his 15-year-old son Liam and 18-year-old daughter Paige.
"I think it goes with my most important roles, but I do embrace my role as a leader," Kaune said about being a husband, father and commander."
Kaune added that leadership has always been a choice and leaders choose to lead, and doing so means they choose to serve. Kaune said his role as Fort Knox's garrison commander is about making sound and informed decisions.
"I owe it as a leader to give everybody in this organization the dignity and respect they've earned by wanting to be a part of this organization, but also freely of my time to support them in their individual goals and team goals," he said.
Since joining the garrison as its newest leader, Kaune said he's never been part of a team that had so many professional and inspiring Department of the Army civilians. He's learned something every day from his new teammates.
Like most who are in the Army, the Kaune Family has benefited from garrison programs and services in the last 25 years he's served. He views his time in command as a chance to give back to the Army and the community. Kaune is also viewing his new position as an opportunity to learn from the directorates and the DA civilians who he views as his new teammates.
"There is an old saying I subscribe to where you stand depends upon where you sit, and so I will say it's been very educational and that's where I have the benefit of working with all of these professionals around me," Kaune said. "Nothing starts without teamwork and communication. I have made sure folks understand I trust everyone to do their job. Everyone has my full trust on doing that.
"The more folks get to know me, that teamwork and trust kind of build upon each other. They are mutually supportive fighting positions is how I view it."
Kaune pointed out he doesn't believe in being the type of leader who tells his people to do something without trying to explain the why.
Kaune added that it would very easy for him to try and get as much done as he can in his two years in command but he said this isn't a speed boat, this is a battleship.
"My decisions that I make will be what's best for the post and installation well beyond the two years that I'm here, and I don't take that lightly," he said.
The first month in command has been an eye opener for Kaune because he's used that time to meet teammates and tenant leaders which has confirmed to him that relationships do matter. He wants to help solve problems in the community and the only way that will be accomplished is through communication. Kaune said he believes in providing and receiving feedback and one form is through the Interactive Customer Evaluation.
"I'm sure anybody that's spent some time around me has heard me say feedback is a gift and I truly mean that," he said. "We are not afraid to learn, we are not afraid to try new approaches, but most of all, we take feedback and truly try to make a better product. Sometimes that takes time to make that happen."
He added that another takeaway from his first month is working with a team of professionals who are passionate about the services and programs they provide. Kaune said that's been inspiring and forced him to up his game.
Kaune has also spent his first month learning about the behind the scenes on how the garrison operates. He said he told Pat Walsh, the director of Fort Knox's Directorate of Public Works, that he's ruined garrison living for him for the rest of his career.
"What I mean by that is I can no longer look at a building as a building; it's a facility that needs to be mission capable to support value programs," Kaune explained about one of the functions of how DPW operates.
Kaune has also been amazed by the countless volunteers who take care of the Fort Knox community to make sure things run smoothly in organizations like Fort Knox's Army Community Service or Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
He added that Fort Knox teammates work effortlessly to make sure there is never a stop in service to the community and that was shown during the recent Spartan Race and the work that's done on the installation during Cadet Summer Training.
"There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes as you watch the team in motion … you would never know that unless you are a part of it," he said. "It's really something and to me it makes me proud to be a part of the team."
A part of Kaune's command philosophy is the importance of Soldiers and DA civilians taking care of themselves and the garrison's customers. He also expects leaders to take care of the members in their organizations and that includes honest face-to-face counselings and building relationships that meet developmental needs.
"Whether you are a DA civilian or Soldier you deserve good leadership (and) you deserve to be developed in order to meet those opportunities," Kaune said. "No matter (what) your personal goals are I want to make sure we are providing opportunities or experience for our individuals to get better. I believe that leaders (should) give generously of their time for the folks who work for them, whether it's helping them meet their team goals or individual goals."
Kaune said he doesn't need Fort Knox to be the best garrison in the U.S. Army. He needs it to be the best for Fort Knox. As a leader, he said he won't shy away from problems or resolving issues.
"I think the short time I've been here my actions have been in line with my words with helping people get to the root cause of issues and help solve problems," Kaune said. "(I'm) not looking to establish blame, I would just rather know about the issue so that we can address (it). I think all of our teammates are entitled to work in an environment that provides opportunity, but also everyone (is) afforded dignity and respect … and excited about coming to work."
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