Air Force Master Sgt. George Maurer interviews Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

This month I had the opportunity to host the latest Chairman’s podcast. As I’m sitting on a television set with Adm. Mike Mullen,  the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I decide I’m going to tell a joke to relieve the tension. I’m prepared. I know the questions by heart, but I’m still nervous.

Like all men of great responsibility, Mullen’s life is not his own. As the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, he is the principal military advisor to the president of the United States.  He happens to hold this position while the nation is engaged in two wars.  His world doesn’t come with the luxury of a personal life.

I’ve covered Mullen several times over the last year. He always seems focused. Even when waiting around for something to begin (let’s say a podcast) he stays engaged. From what I’ve seen, he doesn’t seem to allow himself much “off” time. 

From across the room, I don’t have to hear Mullen to know he’s further discussing what he’s doing now or fine-tuning what he’ll be doing in 10 minutes. When he’s not talking or reading, I can see in his face he’s working through the infinite details of his day.

I once heard a story about Gen. Peter Pace, the previous chairman, from one of his military aides.  He was in a vehicle with Pace as it approached one of the many checkpoints around the Pentagon.  The guard
stopped the vehicle and said, “Sir, this vehicle has been randomly selected for inspection.” 

According to the military aide, Pace leaned out the window and told the guard, “Randomly select someone else.” 

Pace scored “cool points” for life with those in the vehicle with him on that day; perhaps not so much for those who were now required to “select someone else.”  (This is one of my favorite stories, by the way.)

Somehow, I don’t see Mullen handling that situation the same way. I’m not exactly sure how he would handle it, but that doesn’t seem to fit him. If I were to guess, I see Mullen’s response along the lines of, “Young man, you’re doing a fantastic job. Now randomly select someone else.”

As I sit next to Mullen waiting to record, we say nothing to each other and avoid each other’s gaze. But I can still tell his mind is working. Maybe he’s just planning what to eat for lunch. Maybe it’s something that will save the life of a young private tomorrow in Afghanistan. The quicker we finish, the quicker he can get back to the business of winning our nation’s wars. Keeping the podcast mistake free is the best way to wrap it up.

I need something to make myself less nervous. My mind is racing trying to think of a good joke to break the tension. Unfortunately, the first four ideas that pop into my head would be wildly inappropriate even at a frat
party.

Somewhere, a schedule probably accounts for every minute of every day. Even his personal time is most likely planned on a calendar. “Personal Time – 30 Minutes,” or perhaps, “Personal Time - Five Minutes.” And that private time is perhaps designed less for the enjoyment of Mike Mullen and more to keep the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs operating at full efficiency. 

Just then a young lady steps on to the television set to apply Mullen’s make-up. I think to myself, “Here comes the joke.” 

The joke comes out, “Sir, it must be hard for a warrior like yourself to sit there while someone applies make-up to your face.” 

He replies without changing his facial expression at all. 

Still serious and still not looking up at me he says, “I got over that a long time ago. A long time ago.” 

Now it’s time for the 10,000-year pause.

In reality, it was probably one second, but after Mullen finishes speaking, he looks down for about 10,000 years before a slight grin emerges on one side of this face. He looks up at me for just a moment, smiling more with his eyes than anything else.   

With that look, I relax. We record the podcast without a hitch — one take and he’s on his way.

As soon as we finish, he re-engages with his aide even before he completely gets out of his chair. I stand up, of course, as he leaves the room in deep discussion about saving lives in combat zones. Or perhaps lunch.