The Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III published his professional reading list Feb. 6.

"This year's CSAF Reading List was designed to build understanding," Welsh said in his message to Airmen. "There are stories of Airmen, fellow service members and leaders from many different backgrounds. I bet there's a book, a movie, a piece of artwork, or a TED Talk in there that you can relate to.”

Welsh hopes these selections will not only help enhance Airmen’s understanding, but also inspire them to tell their own story.

This year's list contains 12 books – nine from Welsh and three selected by Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody – seven films, seven TED talks, web-based resources, artwork and photography selections.

“Every day is an opportunity to tell our Air Force story; books offer the knowledge to help appreciate and, at times, better understand these stories,” Cody said in his message. “These three books provide new perspectives. They offer new ideas on how we can connect and communicate to reach personal and professional goals.”

Selections will be available at base libraries within the next month. The full 2014 reading list, as well as previous years, can be found at: http://static.dma.mil/usaf/csafreadinglist/index.html

Gen. Ronald Fogleman created the CSAF Professional Reading Program in 1996 to develop a common frame of reference among Air Force members -- officers, enlisted and civilians -- to help each of us become better, more effective advocates of air and space power. Each CSAF since then has enhanced and continued the Professional Reading Program.