The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
10.14.2016 | Football, Texas Athletics
On Saturday, UT Associate Vice Chancellor and retired Army Major General will be honored during the coin toss.
Tony Cucolo proves the notion that leaders are learners. On a lifelong journey to grow and become, devouring Teddy Roosevelt and Winston Churchill biographies, Cucolo rose through the ranks of the United States Army by demonstrating the excellence he commanded.
"Before you make a decision, you put yourself in the shoes of those who must execute it," Cucolo said.
Cucolo completed his 35-year military service in September 2014, retiring at the rank of Major General. He joined the University of Texas System in April 2015 as Associate Vice Chancellor for Leadership Development and Veterans Affairs.
The grandson of an Italian immigrant, Cucolo followed his father and uncle as graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point.
"I always wanted to be a soldier," Cucolo said.
And like many soldiers, Cucolo served throughout the world during his more than three decades in the Army. He experienced multiple deployments to the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq, leading organizations varying in size from 100 soldiers to 22,000.
He commanded two companies -- an Infantry Battalion and an Armored Brigade Combat Team -- was Deputy Commanding General for the 10th Mountain Division with duty in Afghanistan, and for 33 months commanded the 3rd Infantry Division including service in Iraq.
In 11 years as a General Officer, Cucolo also led analysis teams in combat zones and on natural disaster recovery efforts such as Hurricane Katrina and commanded the largest Army base east of the Mississippi. He also served as the US Army's Chief of Public Affairs and the Commandant of the US Army War College.
"Throughout the entire 35 years, it was constant growth," Cucolo said. "Even in my last year I was learning things, adapting to generational and environmental changes."
Cucolo believes that leaders have six effective traits: Enterprise vision, intellectual curiosity, selflessness, courage, humility and empathy.
"I would argue in the 21st century empathy is the most important thing when leading a multi-generational, diverse workforce," Cucolo said.
Tony Cucolo Q&A
What is the vision for your role in the UT System?
(Chancellor William McRaven) established this position because he believes that leaders of character with a selfless propensity to serve will have a positive impact on society. He feels responsibility to develop leaders among our students. My task is to bring leadership curriculum to campus.
What is the basic difference between leadership and management?
Leadership is purely a human endeavor. Management is partially a human endeavor but more about things. You want a manager who is focused on making the trains run on time, but you want a leader who is focused on people, who has vision.
Leadership is the process of influencing and motivating people to accomplish a mission and improve an organization. The understated element of leadership is, "It's not about me. It's about the organization." That's why I bristle when I hear somebody say, "What will be your legacy?" A legacy of a leader should be an improved organization, so that it can be high-performing without him or her. The organization and people are the most important thing.
What is an essential element to continued growth as a leader?
Self-awareness. Being constantly self aware of where you are weak and the things that set you off and putting a governor on it.
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