For those who don’t know me, my name is Chris, callsign “Mookie”, Walker and I retired last year as a Brigadier General after serving in the US Air Force for over 40 years. I’m a 1988 graduate of the US Air Force Academy and am a Master Navigator with over 5200 hours flight time, which includes over 400 combat hours.
In my last assignment, I was the Senior Military Advisor to the Air Force’s DEI office in the Pentagon. There, I saw first-hand the DEI industry at work. I always thought the military’s senior leadership was pushing a narrative that few warriors actually believed.
I knew that to be true because I talked to the troops inside and outside of the Pentagon and asked for their opinions. Many were initially afraid to tell me what they really felt, probably because they assumed that as a Black officer serving in that office, I was totally on-board with the narrative. But once I gained trust, I heard how many in the military really felt about the DEI program. They did not buy it.
My experience in the military was that we bonded through the warrior ethos because we needed to trust each other for survival. When your life is at stake, you only want those around you, including your leaders, to be the best to help you survive. I am thoroughly convinced, after 40 years in uniform and multiple tours of combat, that subordinates look up to and respect their officers and NCOs based on performance, ability to inspire, and the will to win/survive.
When I trained for combat as part of an aircrew, everyone watched to see who was competent at their job and who was incompetent. When we knew war deployments were approaching, aircrew members would sometimes beg our flight schedulers to put them on crews with the best pilots, navigators, flight engineers, and loadmasters. They would also try to bargain their way out of being sent into combat with the worst aircrew members. Nobody was concerned about being assigned to crews with people who “looked like them.” They wanted to be alongside the people who were most likely to accomplish the mission while bringing everyone home safely.
The aggressive top-down implementation of the DEI agenda in the military, especially these past four years, bothered me and others because I wanted to know that I was chosen for positions based on my skills, experience and character—not because of the color of my skin. I firmly believe that racial preferences are insulting to minority servicemembers.
Which is why I’ve been so frustrated seeing a divisive ideology break up these bonds, ruin morale, and harm recruitment and retention. Who wants to be involved in an organization where people with a certain skin color are told they are evil and our country is evil? This only destroys the cohesiveness that has always been a hallmark of the military and instead divides people on superficial diversity of immutable traits.
After experiencing all this, I know many of you, like me, were so glad to find and join STARRS, an organization that has stood up against this miserable ideology. They have monitored, exposed, and fought this woke agenda for the past four years. They’ve worked with Congress on legislation; they’ve worked the legal end on cases and helping people; they’ve written articles and been in the media educating people on the issue; their website is the biggest repository of what’s been happening in the military and service academies. Their efforts have been opposed by senior and retired leaders who’ve bought into the DEI nonsense while others agreed with STARRS but only secretly for fear of being “canceled” for going against the official narrative.
Now that the American people have spoken in this last election that overwhelmingly they don’t like the woke agenda being pushed down their throats, it turns out—no surprise to me—that STARRS was correct in their mission all along, and America agrees. The elitist DEI agenda pushers are now going into hiding and suddenly those that were afraid are being more brave.
STARRS now has a big job before us as this ideology won’t be excised from the Pentagon and military overnight. We need to work to make sure there are laws and orders making merit and performance the only standard. We need to keep the pressure on anyone trying to continue the DEI agenda in the military or service academies and more. But all this requires funding for STARRS’ important mission to succeed, and so I’m asking for your help.
I’m pleased to announce that fellow USAFA grad Frank DeFalco ’79–who has also been upset with what has been happening in the military and service academies–has generously given STARRS a NEW $10,000 match challenge for this Giving Tuesday on 3 December, a nationwide event to support non-profits. For every dollar you contribute to support the mission of STARRS, he will match up to $10K.
Let’s do this, Wingmen! The American people have spoken, there is a clear mandate ahead to remove the divisive DEI agenda and it’s not going to be a walk in the park with the entrenched Pentagon.
Join me in supporting the work of STARRS as we continue the fight.
Thank you!
Mookie
Brig. General Chris “Mookie” Walker
USAF, Ret, USAFA ‘88
STARRS 2024 Giving Options (pdf)
Donate easily and securely online. Consider making it a recurring gift.
You can also mail a check to STARRS, PO BOX 468, Monument CO 80132.
Ask us for bank-to-bank transaction information.
STARRS EIN: 86-3589850 for other means of donating.
A Conversation with USAF Brigadier General Christopher “Mookie” Walker
This is for BG Walker. Mookie, we worked together in Iraq when you were a Major and I was an SES. You’ll remember me from the Ministry of Transportation. It’s been a long time but it’s great to see you! Good for you on this article and for speaking out about DEI which is undoubtedly one of the stupidest ideas ever to take hold anywhere. I’m glad that we now have the opportunity to eradicate this ridiculous policy which has decimated morale and quite a few people’s brain cells along with it. Thanks again and it’s great to see you!