The family is a fundamental unit of society, a close network of people with an inescapable connection that, at its best, represents a crystallization of support, love, and security. Many great figures and leaders throughout history have attributed their success, in parts large or small, to the support and love of their families, while many others cite their family’s well-being as the goal of their actions and leadership. Despite this, many modern professionals and leaders are often finding themselves devoted more and more to the companies and institutions they work within than their first—and often last—bastion of support.

For Air Force veteran Chris Finerty, this understanding has become a load-bearing pillar of his personal philosophy and career goals. As an objective, focused, and collaborative senior leader with decades of proven experience solving problems with multiple disparate stakeholders, Finerty knows what it means to be a leader in high-stakes contexts. As a father, he also deeply understands the simultaneous privilege and responsibility that comes with leading and safeguarding the family unit. As he considers the next stage of his career, Chris Finerty is clear on one core value: his family is his utmost priority, not any impersonal institution.

“My experience in the military instilled in me the values of service, discipline, and leadership,” Finerty says. “Now, I want to channel those skills and commitment into a different kind of service – one that allows me to be more present for my children and contribute positively to the community that supports us.”

Inspiration From Home and Hardship

One of the most consistent sources of inspiration for Chris Finerty for over 20 years has been his son and daughter. Between the profound medical needs and disability of his elder daughter and the fortitude and independence of his young son, Finerty has been shown not only the value of unconditional love but also the value of leadership and service. As a dedicated single father, Chris Finerty’s love for his children and the community that supports them all, is at the core of his dedication to aiding and protecting those who need extraordinary care to survive and thrive.

“The constant and unwavering care required by my beautiful daughter brought into sharp focus the true meaning of commitment and the profound importance of being present and supportive for not only her but also for her younger brother,” Finerty explains.

While the military instilled discipline and a deep sense of institutional responsibility into Finerty, his joys and challenges of raising his family taught him something else: leadership and responsibility rooted in empathy, patience, and truly selfless dedication. These realizations were major contributing factors in Finerty’s decision to retire and spend more time with his family; the long absences and limitations of his prior career were no longer personally justifiable. A different leadership path awaited him—one focused on his family and his community.

“It is this experience that instilled in me an understanding that true leadership, whether in a family or a community, requires not just commitment of time but also genuine care, understanding individual needs, and unwavering support without personal accolades,” says Finerty.

Supporting Those Who Need It Most

Spending extended periods in the hospital with his daughter has given Chris Finerty a degree of perspective that many people lack, and that perspective shapes not only his personal values but his style of leadership. In his former leadership positions, Finerty often had to make decisions that affected large numbers of people at a time, working in an environment where most of those affected had the same or similar needs and requirements. There was little space in that institution to take care of people with special needs, let alone those in need of full-time care and those with significant special needs. Being able to apply his experience and leadership toward that latter group is what drives Finerty now, and that starts with his family.

“When most people think of full-time care, they think of infants and the elderly, but there is a segment of the population with special needs that doesn’t fall into those two categories but require just as much full time care and sometimes highly specialized care.” Finerty explains. “My daughter falls into that often invisible category and I want to make sure whatever I do better supports her and gives me the time and flexibility with both of my kids.”

It’s a lesson, and a shift in life path, that Finerty wishes he could have made a long time ago. It's your family and friends that support you when you need help the most, not your employer. Thinking back, Finerty has one piece of advice for his former self (and any other professionals open to listening): Refocus on the relationships closer to home, prioritize them above all, and embrace the compassion and patience that make communities thrive. Nobody achieves great success alone, but a lot of people fail alone. Military service can be an honor, and there are times when the institution and Country need to come first, but in reality, those times are far fewer than we are led to believe.

“Admit when you need help and get help when you need it—you can’t fix yourself,” Finerty says. “Have more compassion and patience with others, especially your family. Work is temporary, and your loyalty should reside with your family and friends.”

While his experiences with his own children have shaped him more than anything else, Chris Finerty isn’t the first to realize the importance of putting his family first. In fact, his philosophy is echoed in the experiences of President John F. Kennedy. While reading about the late President’s life, he came across a passage in which JFK was playing with his children, only to be approached by a Presidential advisor. Upon stepping away from his family to handle his duty, the President was chided by his own father for ignoring his children, stressing that fatherhood was his most important job. Finerty, who read the passage before having children, wishes he’d internalized that message sooner.

A Presidential Precedent

“The pressure of a job, career ambitions, and the need for professional affirmation can quickly reorder your priorities if you aren’t paying attention,” Finerty says. “No matter how important I was told I was and that my job was, it should have never supplanted the large amount of time with my children as it did.”

Fortunately, Chris Finerty has taken the necessary steps to make up for lost time, dedicating himself to his children and his community for the foreseeable future. He serves as the Parent Teachers Association President for his daughter’s school in Virginia, and participates in fundraisers and support events for the Special Olympics in his area.

“I want to make a more tangible difference in the lives of those around me, most importantly my children,” he says. “The institution you served will not be there for you when you get sick and grow old, but your family and community will be. We need to invest our time wisely.”

Chris Finerty