Retired Lt. Gen. Steven L. Basham told local business leaders Thursday morning that success — whether in military operations or economic development — depends on teamwork, preparation, and a willingness to take risks.
Basham, a retired U.S. Air Force officer who logged more than 3,400 flight hours in the B-1, B-2, and B-52, served as the featured speaker at the March Rooster Booster breakfast hosted by the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce at the Owensboro Convention Center.
Chamber President and CEO Dave Kirk said Basham’s experience offered a valuable perspective.
“We’re honored to be joined by retired Lt. General Steven L. Basham,” Kirk said. “His distinguished military service has several highlights, including Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command, Deputy Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, and over 3400 flight hours in the B-1, B-2, and B-52. There’s a lot going on in the world right now, and Mr. Basham certainly had some good insight going forward.”
Basham used stories from his military career — including flying one of the first B-2 stealth bomber combat missions in 1999 — to draw parallels between military operations and the work of local business leaders.
He said innovation, vision, and risk-taking are essential to success.
“We all love talking about fun, but what I really love talking about is what it took to do that right there,” Basham said. “It’s the innovation, it’s the vision, it’s the ability to be able to take a risk, as a matter of fact, to make the investment.”
Basham emphasized that while pilots often receive recognition, missions rely on a much larger team working behind the scenes.
“But let’s talk about who’s behind the scenes,” Basham said. “It’s the maintainers, it’s the intelligence, it’s the personnel, it’s the folks that have been doing the planning. It’s the folks that do medical, that do support across the organizations… we don’t say thank you enough to those folks out there.”
He also highlighted the importance of collaboration across military branches and allied nations, noting that large-scale operations require coordination well beyond a single unit.
Reflecting on his first combat mission in a B-2 bomber, Basham described months of preparation leading up to a 31-hour flight that included multiple in-air refuelings and precision strikes on multiple targets.
“Success that night didn’t come from — and I use this term very, very carefully — a hero moment,” Basham said. “It came from hundreds of routine actions done well by people who understood the mission and trusted each other.”
Basham said that same principle applies to the business community, where visible successes often overshadow the behind-the-scenes work required to achieve them.
“To the businesses, you’re the operational force,” Basham said. “You’re the ones that are out there taking the risk, you’re investing, you’re hiring, you’re innovating, you’re creating jobs to keep the community alive.”
He also recognized the role of chamber staff and support teams, comparing them to mission planners and support crews in the military.
“Most people will only see the visible wins,” Basham said. “They’ll see the new plant that opens up… what they’ll not see is the late-night calls, the advocacy trips, the professionals and business leaders who are doing all the behind-the-scenes work to make sure that things happen.”
Basham closed by expressing pride in returning to Kentucky and drawing a connection between military service and community leadership.
“But let me tell you, here’s why I’m so proud to be an American, and certainly proud to be a Kentuckian,” Basham said.
By John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times