I'm a retired three-star admiral and a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Iowa

I know a thing or two about leadership. And right now — looking to the statehouse and the White House — I’m not seeing much.

Hurricanes have slammed economies and, working for the Department of Defense, I helped rebuild them. Ebola decimated communities and, working in the Pentagon and in Africa, I helped rally the international efforts to save them.

The US Navy gave me a 36-year-long lesson in leadership. They never asked me if I was ready for the next challenge; it was always a test — pass or fail. Thankfully, I was well prepared: working in a hog kill plant in Sioux County, being confident that no boss was tougher than my Dad, and standing before my sailors and soldiers with the foundation of Iowa values — these things helped a lot.

I survived those early tests and went on to command a ship, a task force at sea and even ground forces in a combat theater, staffs in Washington, DC and an 800-person defense agency. Whether the challenge is a mere 43- or 4000-person staff, leadership is the sole quality that prepared me to be a three-star Admiral.

Hurricanes have slammed economies and, working for the Department of Defense, I helped rebuild them. Ebola decimated communities and, working in the Pentagon and in Africa, I helped rally the international efforts to save them. With leadership, experienced decision-making, understanding the big picture, and feeling the weight of empathy, we can emerge from this a stronger Iowa, and a stronger nation.