By Staff Sgt. Benjamin Crane, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
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Capt. Andrew Goldey, commander of Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery was selected as the Kentucky Army National Guard's nominee for the Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award. The GDMLA recognizes and rewards junior Army officers who demonstrate outstanding leadership in their field. It reflects the ideals for which Gen. MacArthur stood for. (Courtesy photo)
FRANKFORT, Ky. –From coaching basketball to leading troops in battle, the need for great leadership is key to achieving success that takes time and effort to achieve.
For one Kentucky Guardsman, these are the traits that got him, along with one other Kentucky Guardsman, nominated for the 2018 General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award (GDMLA).
Army Capt. Andrew Goldey is the commander of Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery out of Carrollton, Kentucky and is a resource manager at the Kentucky National Guard's maintenance and facilities office as a federal technician on the civilian side.
The GDMLA recognizes and rewards junior Army officers who demonstrate outstanding leadership in their field. It reflects the ideals for which Gen. MacArthur stood for.
“I'm extremely honored to nominated for this award. The Kentucky Army National Guard produces some great officers and to be recognized in this fashion shows me that all the time and effort that I have put into developing myself as a leader is being noticed,” said Goldey. “Also Gen. Douglas MacArthur was an amazing leader, he had over 52 years of service in the Army. His commitment to duty, honor, and country is something that all leaders at all levels could learn from and should emulate.”
Goldey said he wears many hats and has to use many different styles of leadership with each. He says that knowing yourself helps with how you use those different styles.
“I’m an authentic leader,” Goldey says as he describes his type of leadership. “I’m open, I’m honest all the time even when it’s very difficult. Having the courage to do that is the most difficult part of being an authentic leader.”
He is very involved with those he has influence over. He considers his duty to his troops though as more then a two day a month responsibility.
“I have all the Soldiers' numbers in my cell phone and I call or text them,” said Goldey. “Staying involved and showing that you care about them fosters a relationship that is truly necessary when it comes to leading troops in combat.”
As a resource manager for the Guard, he forecasts requirements for future construction and maintenance for all 54 readiness facilities in the state.
He is married with four children, 6 years old to 12 years of age. He coaches basketball for his 10-year-old son’s basketball team in Frankfort and he volunteers at his local church on Sundays and Wednesdays. He also serves as the treasurer for the National Guard Association of Kentucky.
On top of all that, Goldey is currently enrolled in a PHD program at University of Charleston in West Virginia studying Executive Leadership, which is a majority online program but has resident requirements as well.
When he has time off, he likes to take his family camping to get away from the noise of the daily bustle.
Goldey draws on his experience from his 16 years in the Kentucky National Guard when it comes to leadership as a commander and being a father.
“You have to know who your audience is, know how to motivate them in all realms of life from kids playing basketball to people in the office on the civilian side to showing up on drill weekend being in charge,” added Goldey
For him, just being nominated for the GDMLA is a huge accomplishment and a testament to his efforts,
“It is truly an honor. I look forward to representing the Kentucky Army National Guard at the national level and to show the rest of the nation the great things we are doing in this organization,” he said
He will compete against 54 other officers from across the country with only 7 chosen for the annual leadership award. Award winners are scheduled to be announced in March.
In addition to Goldey, Chief Warrant Officer Tyler Kramer with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 147th Aviation was nominated as Kentucky's warrant officer to compete for the same award.