Podcasts about air force rotc

Want to become an Air Force Officer? This episode of Academy and ROTC Insiders features LTC Rob Kirkland and Trish Dach discussing the current state of Air Force ROTC, including the challenging scholarship environment and the surprisingly low field training selection rate. Discover the key differences between Air Force ROTC and the Air Force Academy, and hear their expert advice on the best path forward – including why the Academy should be your first look and how to approach AFROTC as a strategic backup. LTC Rob Kirkland and Trish Dach are your guides to navigating the competitive world of military scholarships, having helped students earn millions of dollars over the years. They provide the transparency and insights you need to succeed. Ready to build a winning strategy for any ROTC scholarship? We provide personalized guidance based on proven experience.

On this episode of 1050 Bascom, we were excited to talk with Lieutenant Colonel Scott Gross, Commander of the Air Force ROTC at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Lt. Col. Gross brings nearly two decades of distinguished service in the United States Air Force, with experience spanning leadership, intelligence, foreign area expertise, and program management. His career has taken him across the world as he did strategic and operational planning in Jordan for Special Operations and Intel operations in Iraq. He also led program management work in Boston and Ohio. As the leader of the Air Force ROTC here at UW-Madison, Lt. Col. Gross plays a critical role in shaping the next generation of military and civic leaders. In this interview, we talked with him about his experiences in the Air Force, the lessons he's learned about leadership and service, and why he believes it's essential for students, regardless of their career aspirations, to think about ways they can contribute to public service.

Jake DeRuyter, a 2015 Air Force Academy graduate, shares a compelling leadership journey marked by unexpected challenges and resilient adaptation. ----more---- SUMMARY Initially aspiring to be a pilot, Jake faced a critical moment when back surgery disqualified him from his dream career, forcing him to quickly choose a new Air Force Specialty Code within just one hour. Despite the uncertainty, he remained calm and strategic, ultimately transitioning to intelligence and then to an ROTC instructor role. His leadership philosophy emerged from these experiences: staying flexible, maintaining a strong network, and focusing on developing others rather than just personal advancement.   SHARE THIS EPISODE LINKEDIN | FACEBOOK   JAKE'S LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS  - Always be willing to adapt and stay resilient when unexpected challenges arise, like Jake did when he couldn't become a pilot and had to quickly choose a new career path.  - Build and maintain a strong network of connections, as these relationships can help you navigate career transitions and provide support.  - Focus on developing the people around you, not just your own career advancement. A great leader lifts up their team and helps others grow.  - Stay proactive in reaching out to people, checking in, and genuinely listening to their stories and experiences.  - Be willing to take risks on talented individuals, especially those from similar backgrounds or networks, like how Jake was given an opportunity by fellow graduates.  - Maintain a competitive spirit and drive, but channel it into continuous self-improvement and supporting others.  - Give back to your community, whether through mentoring, volunteering, or leading local chapters and organizations.  - Be prepared to put in consistent daily effort, understanding that success comes from habits and persistent hard work.  - Stay open to unexpected opportunities and be willing to pivot when your initial career path doesn't work out.  - Prioritize relationships and connections over individual achievements, recognizing that your success is often measured by the people you've helped develop.   JAKE'S TOP 5 LEADERSHIP LESSONS Here are the 5 best leadership lessons from Jake DeRuyter's interview:   Build Others Up, Not Just Yourself Jake emphasized that true leadership is about developing the people around you. As he said, "Don't just worry about your own career and life" - great leaders are judged by the success of those they mentor and support.   Stay Adaptable and Resilient When Jake's pilot career was unexpectedly derailed, he demonstrated the critical leadership skill of staying calm under pressure and quickly pivoting. He chose to focus on what he could control rather than getting stuck on what he couldn't change.   Maintain Genuine Connections Jake consistently stressed the importance of reaching out, checking in with people, and truly listening. He makes time to connect with classmates, colleagues, and fellow graduates, understanding that relationships are the foundation of effective leadership.   Take Calculated Risks and Support Others Jake's career trajectory shows the importance of being willing to take risks - both for yourself and for others. He was given a chance by fellow graduates and now pays it forward by helping other transitioning military members.   Give Back Consistently Leadership isn't just about personal achievement, but about contributing to your community. Jake exemplifies this through his role as chapter president, mentoring cadets, and always being available to help fellow Air Force Academy graduates.   EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00  Introduction to Leadership Journeys 05:31  Navigating Life's Crossroads 12:01  The Role of Mentorship and Family 17:31  Transitioning from Military to Civilian Life 20:48  Motivation and Personal Drive 22:02  The Daily Grind: A Shift in Focus 24:31  Building Community: Chapter Leadership 27:29 Challenges of Leadership and Engagement 29:00 Giving Back: The Importance of Community 31:12  Leadership Lessons: Daily Practices 32:53  Advice for Aspiring Leaders 34:25  Reflections on Involvement and Connection 36:40  Final Thoughts and Gratitude   ABOUT JAKE BIO As a 2015 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Jake spent six years on active duty serving as an Intel Officer and ROTC Instructor. Having left the service, he now am an Account Executive on the Air Force team at IMPRES Technology Solutions providing active duty units with the tech they need to accomplish the mission. - Copy courtesy of Jake DeRuyter and LinkedIn   CONNECT WITH JAKE LINKEDIN  |  ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES - CENTRAL TEXAS CHAPTER     ALL PAST LBL EPISODES  |  ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS     FULL TRANSCRIPT SPEAKERS GUEST, JAKE DERUYTER '15  |  HOST, LT. COL. (RET.) NAVIERE WALKEWICZ '99   Naviere Walkewicz  00:00 Welcome to Long Blue Leadership, the podcast where we share insights on leadership through the lives and experiences of Air Force Academy graduates. I'm Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99. My guest today is Jake DeRuyter, Class of '15, currently an account executive with Impress Technology and the president of the Central Texas Chapter of the Association of Graduates, quite possibly our youngest graduate to do so. He is second-generation Air Force following his father, a graduate from the Class of '85, and uncle, Class of '87 from our Air Force Academy, the only school that he applied to after high school. We'll talk about those things, Jake's leadership journey and a particular crossroad he arrived at when he had one hour to decide his entire life. Jake, welcome to Long Blue Leadership, and I'd like to dive right in: One hour to decide your entire life. What's that about?   Jake DeRuyter  01:22 Yeah, so my second semester, first year, I was dealing with some pretty significant back issues, and didn't realize how just how severe it was. So I'm in the flight dock. It was either the Monday the week before or the week of graduation, and the doctor's like, “Hey, you're gonna need back surgery to remove the bulging disc in your back.” I'm like, “OK, great. I can barely walk, so sign me up. Whatever you can do make me feel better.” And they're like, “Well, you're not gonna be able to keep your pilot slot if you proceed with the surgery.” And I'm not gonna lie and say it was my end all dream to be a pilot, but you go through all four years thinking you're gonna fly, you're pretty fired up for it, we're a week away from graduation, and then it's like, hey, the rug is just pulled. But I had to make a decision right there where it's like, “Hey, I'd rather be able to walk and be pain free than fly.” And so that was a pretty easy decision at that point. And then the next part is, what you alluded to, is where things got a little tricky. So being just a couple days before walking across the stage and saluting the secretary of the Air Force, I'm like, “So what's my job going to be?” I don't even know what else is available in the Air Force. I didn't have to focus on this.” And they're like, “Well, I'm just the flight doc. Go talk to the personnel office over in Vandy, and they'll get you taken care of.” So, I walk — or hobble — on over there, And I'm like, “Hey, Jake DeRuyter, I told the flight doc to give y'all a call, you know, to get me a new job. What's my life look like? What are we doing next?” And she just goes, “Well, there was a big missileer crisis, and we're really desperate for missileers. So, you're gonna be missiles now.” And I'm just, like — my jaw dropped.   Naviere Walkewicz Not what you expected to hear.   Jake DeRuyter  Not what I wanted and like, not to downplay missiles, just not what I wanted to join the Air Force to do, right? That's... I'm just like, standing there in shock. And she's like, “Are you OK?” And I'm like, “I kind of want to jump off my room on top of Vandy, but you know, it's gonna be fine. Do I get some preferences? Do I have any say in this?” Just assigning that to kind of seems aggressive. She goes, “Well, I guess I can take your preferences down.” And I'm just like, “Why didn't you lead with that? That would have been great.” And so she's like, “Well, I need to submit these right now. So, what do you want to do?” I'm like, “Well, what are my options? I don't even know what other AFSC's there are.” So, that becomes a very frantic hour of me calling all my teachers. I was a management major — I highly recommend that. One of the best decisions of my life was going through the management department. And I call my teachers and they're like, “Hey, stick with something business related, like contracting, acquisitions, finance. If you put one of those three down, you're guaranteed to do it.” I'm like, “OK, sweet. Sounds like it sure bets on me. Like, that, sounds easy enough.” but they made you put down five. And, you know, you always hear the horror stories where if you don't put down something, it defaults to the needs of the Air Force, right? So I think I put down like PA, just because I was like, “There's no way they'll pick me for that. There's barely any PA officers.” And I, for the life of me, couldn't tell you what I put in the fifth spot. And so, I walk out of there kind of dejected. I'm like, “Man, my whole life just changed in the span of an hour. No idea what the next— I don't know where I'm gonna be living. I don't know what my job's gonna be like. What in the world's going on?” So, the next day we're all sitting in one of those final briefings, you know, “Hey, here's how you PCS. Here's how you do XYZ.” Right? As the meeting's about to kick off, that same tech sergeant — God, I'd give her a big hug now — she walks up to me with some paperwork and says, “Congratulations, sir.” And I'm looking at her like the person just told me my life was over the day before, so I'm not exactly happy to see this person. And then I look at the paper, and it just says, “Goodfellow Air Force Base.” I had no idea where in the world that was, what job that was or anything. I just knew it wasn't Vandenberg for missileer training. So I just look at her and go, “I'm not missiles?” She's like, “You're not missiles.” I stand up, give her a big old hug. You know, they're trying to start a briefing. They're like, “Sir, please sit down for...” “Sorry, I'm too happy right now.” So yeah, that started me off on my journey to San Angelo, Texas, which I didn't really know what I was getting into there, but, yeah, going intel kind of led me to where I am now in life. And looking back on it now, all the crazy things that happened, it put me where I am now, and so, I'm very thankful for the things and how they all ended up and put me in a position where I can give back to the community now and really serve the Air Force and fellow grads in a much better capacity than I ever could have while on active duty.   Naviere Walkewicz  05:30 Well, it's so interesting because, you know, you think about the Air Force Academy as a place where they teach you to be able to make decisions on the fly, or to make the best calculated decision you can at the time.What leadership lessons do you think you called upon in that frantic moment of well, not only can you not be a pilot now because we're going to have this surgery, but now you have to pick an AFSC. What do you think you drew upon to guide you through that in a kind of a leadership manner?   Jake DeRuyter  06:02 Yeah, the biggest thing was just staying calm and realizing,  OK, whatever happens, happens, I can't change the past. I can only deal with the information given, and push forward. I could sit there and get upset with myself or upset at the world, but that doesn't do anything. It's like, “All right, how do we take action?? How we take that next step to get over this?” Because you want to be in control of your life as much as possible, going forward, right? And choosing your AFSC, arguably, is probably one of the biggest things you could possibly choose in life, next to your spouse and things like that. And that determines, however, what your entire Air Force career is going to be. So yeah, doing that in the hour was definitely very frantic. But, one of the biggest things I really pride myself on, and really want to encourage others is the connections you make throughout your Academy experience, through active duty, in your life — those are the people that are going to help you in those dark times, those tough times. And lean on those people. And the only way you can lean on them is if you prove to them that they can lean on you when they need help, right? As that's one of the things I make a pillar in my life is, when those friends are in a dark time, I want to be the one that, “Hey, I'll be there for you.” That's always one thing I'm passionate about, and what I centered my leadership philosophy around.   Naviere Walkewicz  07:15 I love that. I think you just kind of hit on it, right? You have this network, and I imagine your family is part of that — your dad being a graduate. What role did he play in this moment in your life, and how did you navigate that with him?   Jake DeRuyter  07:30 Yeah, he was awesome, and he was a big reason why I went to the Academy. He always did a really good job of putting that as an option but not forcing it or not shoving it down my throat. And I was really thankful to him for the life me and my sister had growing up, and all the crazy places we moved to and everything. And I didn't really know what I wanted to do, as you hinted in the preview. I didn't apply anywhere else because I didn't really know what I wanted to do when I grew up. And he was like, “Hey, the Academy was always a great place, and worst case, they tell you what to do.” And he's like, “Hey, if you want a similar life to where you grew up, I attribute everything to that, and that's kind of what led me there.” So yeah, you better believe after calling my teachers to figure out what AFSC I should do, he was my next call to be like, “Hey, I knew you always wanted me to fly, but that's not working anymore. So what do you think?” So, he's been a tremendous help my entire life. I mean, I talk to him at least every week. So, yeah, huge help there.   Naviere Walkewicz  08:27 That's amazing. So you went on to be an intel officer, and what was that like? And then how did you decide that it was going to be time to move on to transitioning out of the military.   Jake DeRuyter  08:42 Yeah, so intel wasn't exactly a great fit for me, and what I was like trying to do. You know, when you're told your intel, I imagine— I knew nothing. So I'm like, “Oh, I'll be a spy. I'll be James Bond. I'll be the CIA. None of those were remotely true. So, I got stationed in San Antonio, Texas, for my first job, which was great. I love San Antonio. I worked with some amazing people. Our mission was a little funky. We were doing defensive cyber ops as it was kind of standing up. So, doing intel support for a mission that doesn't really know what they're doing is a little difficult at the time. Now, knock on wood, hopefully things have gotten a lot better since I was there, but building the plane as you're flying was our moniker that we would use. And so it was definitely challenging. And then a lot of it just felt like doing homework and giving briefings over and over again. So, you have a lot of hours in the SCIF doing researching on different cyber threats and then going and briefing the commanders. It was a cool job; I learned a ton. But it wasn't very fulfilling for me. I wanted to get out, be more helpful to other people and have more of a direct impact. And so that led me to teaching ROTC at Texas State, which was a great three years, and really kind of re-blued me. I loved that job. Can't recommend it enough for people that are looking to take a break from their career field. But then when they said, “Hey, you got to go back to intel,” that was my big decision, or my the point where I was like, “All right, I don't think an active-duty career is left in the cards for me. I'm gonna take my next step, moving on.”   Naviere Walkewicz  10:09 So, you even talked about before you decided to transition out of the Air Force, you had pivoted within your career field and took a temporary job outside of your career field as an ROTC instructor, and you said it re-blued. You talk about that and how did it grow you as a leader? I mean, what did you learn about yourself in that?   Jake DeRuyter  10:29 I learned that I really cared about the people more than the operational mission, and so, building up the people, building out the future lieutenants. Like, “Hey, that's how I can better serve the Air Force.” And the whole reason I got the job was because they had to give a waiver for me, because I was technically still a lieutenant, which was not allowed. But I was really upfront with my leadership and my intel job, and they knew I didn't love the career field and I wasn't really a good fit for that world. But they're like, “Hey, Jake's out, great at recruiting. He's good at getting people to go out and do things and help others. He'd be a natural fit there.” So they called all the ROTC leadership to vouch for me to get that job. And then one of the biggest things I took away is that when you go to the Academy, if you're in the Academy, you're in. You have a spot in the Air Force, assuming you pass all your classes, you don't get kicked out for X, Y, Z reasons, and then you'll have a job. ROTC is completely different. You could have 4.0, max your PT scores, be the perfect cadet. And then the Air Force decides, “Hey, we're only taking 40% this year,” which happened my second year in the job and we just had to lose half of our class. So, learning to deal with that rejection when there's nothing that you personally could have done was really challenging. And we had a ton of mentorship sessions with the cadets. “Hey, what are second, tertiary options?” Things like that. Kind of like what I did where it's like, “You're going to be— the doors will get slammed in your face over and over again in life. How do you respond to that, that resiliency and then that flexibility to adapt and overcome?” I mean, those are stuff I'll take with me for the rest of my life.   Naviere Walkewicz  12:01 Wow. And so you got to be a mentor in a way for those Air Force ROTC cadets, if they didn't get a slot, and kind of navigating. And then you found yourself in that seat when you decided to transition yourself, right?   Jake DeRuyter  12:14 Yeah. So, they were gonna send me to another intel role, and I had just met my wife at the time. We were gonna get married soon. I'm like, “Man, the time to deploy and kind of live the Air Force life isn't my main goal anymore, and so I tried to push out my separation date as long as possible, so I had time to do the job search and really see what else is out there. And I didn't really know what I wanted to be once again. But I was like, “Hey, I love living here in Austin, Texas. I figure I can get something tech related or sales related,” I'm kind of naturally inclined to both of those things. And one of my classmates, Keith Link,  he reached out to me because I host a big March Madness pool every year for a ton of grads. And he's like, “Hey, man, just started this role here. I think you'd be a great fit for the company. We're trying to build out our Air Force team. Our boss is a Navy grad. Would you be interested in interviewing us?” And then I was like, “Yeah, man, that sounds great.” You know, I'd still be working with the Air Force in a tech- slash sales-type role. I'm like, “Yeah, this is everything that I wanted. Sounds awesome…” having, once again, no idea I was getting into. But I go through the interview process and I'm trying to sell myself on SkillBridge, trying to get that free internship saying,  “Hey, I could be a free worker for y'all for a couple of months here.” I'm trying to sell myself. And at the end of the interview process, John Podolak, '88 Navy grad, I believe. He's like, “Jake, you've had a bunch of people vouch for you. I really believe in the grad network; it doesn't matter which Academy you went to.” He said, “Hey, if you're gonna come and do SkillBridge with us, I want you to know you have a job offer at the end of it.” And he handed me my job offer right there. I think we were four months out, so I was in shock. To this day I can't believe it. He took the risk on me that coming fresh in a completely separate career field, no background besides being able to speak Air Force. And it all goes back to our Long Blue Line. I don't know what Navy calls it, but it's a “Hey, we all have similar backgrounds.”   Naviere Walkewicz  14:17 Long Blue Navy Line, maybe? I'm not sure.   Jake DeRuyter  14:21 Yeah. He's like, “Hey, I know I could put trust in you because of your background, what you're all about.” and that's something that I really internalized and leading to my role now. It's like, “Hey, we'll give you the benefit of the doubt if you're a fellow grad,” right? Doesn't matter which Academy, you know? In particular, we're gonna favor the Air Force. But yeah, that's like, one thing I just really want to make a pillar of my life. Like I said earlier, it's like, hey, I want to help out fellow grads. Because if it wasn't for Keith and John taking a risk on me out of the blue, I wouldn't be where I am today.   Naviere Walkewicz  14:53 It seems like that's been a thread in your life. You know, finding a network and supporting and taking care of people, and then seeing that reciprocated to help continue to fuel what is important to you. Talk a little bit about what that transition was like, though, because it almost sounds too easy. I mean, has it been just rainbows since you kind of took that leap.   Jake DeRuyter  15:17 Oh, God, no. Year 1, any career field, especially, you know, a sales driven one, it's a challenge. You don't know what you're doing. You're fish out of water. I was going to a million different Air Force bases, walking on base, trying to meet people, not even knowing what I was doing, let alone convincing other people what we do. And so that was a challenge. I think I went to 19 different bases my first year; I was on a plane every chance I could get, just trying to make a name for myself and say, “Hey, I'm Jake DeRuyter, we can do anything help you. What do you need?” And people were always like, “Well, we don't need anything. Like, we want one specific thing. Can you do this?” And so you really kind of have to find yourself, because the Air Force, especially as an officer, you're leading a team, right? Or you're part of some overarching team. But in this role, when I started, it was me, myself and I. So that was just a huge lifestyle change. It was a little refreshing. That's like, “Hey, I don't have to worry about my cadets or my airmen outside of the job.” And this was a nice refresh. But like everything else, it's like, “Hey, I am the only one providing for my family, to pay the bills,” everything like that. Like, how hard am I going to work? And how am I going to put in the effort to grind day in and day out. Just getting good at any job, you can't just have one great day, just like working out. You can't just have one great day and expect to bench 500 pounds, right? It's the things that you do day in and day out and building up the right habits and having the right communication with people, and then just being relatable. One of the other biggest things: Say you're gonna do something and follow up and do it. We always joke that it's a weird that it's a skill to follow up with people and respond to them in a meaningful time. It shouldn't be, but that's just one of those things where people need help. We want to be the ones that are there. And it's just doing that over and over again. Because, man, that Year 1 was like, “Why did I pick this job? Why did I pick this career choice? I should have gone into consulting. I should have gotten started in literally anything else.” Thank God I stuck with it. It's, again, been one of the greatest decisions I've made, and we have an awesome team, but we've brought in a few other Academy grads with us as well, and it's been a lot of fun since.   Naviere Walkewicz  17:31 May I ask why you stuck with it when it and everything against in your core was, “Why did I do this? I could have picked anything else?” Why did you stay?   Jake DeRuyter  17:41 I really wanted to prove it to myself and really prove it to Keith and John. You know, they took the risk on me, so I didn't want to let them down. And I think that was the biggest thing, where it's like, “Hey, you guys took the risk on me out of the blue.” And I'm like— you know, Keith and I were classmates, you know, we were never close, right? Like, you know, we barely kept in touch over the years. And it's just like, “Hey, you stuck your name out.” Like, this is the real world, right? In the Air Force, if you want to do the full 20 years you can do 20 years, right? In the real world, it's “Hey, if you're not have a nice day.” You gotta find new employment. And so I was like, “I'm not gonna let you guys down. I'm gonna fight for this.” Being a small company, we're not a big name brand, right? No one knows who we are. So, it's a little bit that underdog mentality, and just like, “Hey, how am I gonna outhustle the next guy? How am I gonna outhustle XYZ company that's a competitor?” And it's just that competitive drive that I've just always had. I'm not playing sports every day anymore, but how do you still stay competitive and still stay active and still have that drive to be the best you can be, and go on and go forth?   Naviere Walkewicz  18:52 Well, it sounds like this competitive drive is something you said, it was something you've always had. Can you share a story from when you recall, when, gosh, even something, you know, back in early-Jake days that this is a moment I realized, “I'm a competitive person. I'm driven by this desire to prove myself.” Is there something that pops to mind? Because I can only just imagine if it was already part of your core when you kind of knew this about yourself?   Jake DeRuyter  19:18 Oh, yeah, I've got a good one. So, my dad was coaching with the Academy going into my junior year of high school, and his goal was always to get me all three years at one school, which we had at the time, we had never lived anywhere longer than three years in a row. So, that was a tough task. And I just finished up my junior year of playing football, and things were going good, and then he gets a job offer down in Texas, and he comes to me. He's like, “Hey, what do you think? I don't want to move you going into your senior year, but I want to talk to you first before, yeah, I make any decisions.” And I'm like, “Wait, I get the chance to play Texas high school football. Are you kidding me? Let's do this. I get one year for it. That's awesome.” So, yeah, that's the No. 1 story that comes to my mind where it's like, “Hey, I want to take the risk on myself and be competitive and go play the best of the best.”   Naviere Walkewicz  20:18 Play with the best of the best. And that does seem to be a theme, right? Air Force Academy, putting yourself out there, jumping in full feet into this new role. You know, what have you learned about yourself? You talked about motivating. It's different when you have people that you have to take care of, and I guess maybe your translation is your family you have to take care of. But how do you motivate yourself when it's a you, yourself and you — you said “me, myself, and I” and I couldn't think of the other way to say it. But when it's just you, what keeps you motivated?   Jake DeRuyter  20:52 Yeah, I'm definitely very externally motivated. So it's my team. When you want to talk about the Monday-through-Friday grind, and then my wife and, the overarching family, growing up, family has always been really close and a huge motivator for me. And, you know, I've just always wanted to be able to provide for others and provide for myself, and you never want to have to worry about that next meal, or the job, employment — things like that. And just saying, “Hey, you know, these opportunities you get there — don't take it for granted.” And it's like you've got to fight and earn everything. You're not just going to be handed out anything. And that's just something always back in my mind, where it's like, if I'm not doing it like somebody else is going to, I'm going to lose that opportunity, or someone's going to step in, right? And so it's just one thing where it's just being like the Academy grad, like you don't, we'll move up to the name brand. That's another huge thing I always have in my head. It's like, I want to represent the brand. Well, I'm like, “How do you do that?” Is because, like, we've all met those people. It's like, hey man, like, you know, like, shoot. Like, “I really like you, but like, I don't think you represent us. Well, I never want to be that type of person, right? And so that's one of those things I just really like the kitchen, going day in and day out.   Naviere Walkewicz  22:01 So the daily grind… You said, in the first year you think you visited like 19 bases just to try and figure it out. What does the daily grind look like now?   Jake DeRuyter  22:10 Completely changed, thankfully, I really only focus on three, which still has me plenty busy, but at least I'm not in all these crazy places, which is nice. Now it's weird because I set my own schedule. No one's ever asking, “Hey, you got to be here at 7:30 and clock out at 4:30.” It's a complete polar oppositie of the Air Force. Like, if I want to go golf every Friday at noon, no one's stopping me from doing that, except for, that'd probably be a detriment to my team and our success, right? And so it's this complete mindset change where it's like, “Hey, I'm going to still put in a full day's work and get everything I can out of the day.” But I'm not sitting down at my desk. So when I'm home, I'm following up with teams making sure everything is good internally at the company, and then a lot of the time I'm on the road. So, I go to Eglin Air Force Base a lot, Hill Air Force Base and Edwards. Those are my three where I'm constantly rotating through. So, if anyone's at those bases, please let me know. Love to reach out to you guys, grab a beer, dinner or anything. You know, it's a lot of lonely nights in the hotel. So, every chance I get to meet up with fellow grads, see what else is going on — I love taking advantage of that opportunity. I've done that numerous times, and that's one of my favorite things and one of my favorite parts of the job. So, I don't know what a standard day looks like for me. That's one thing I love about this job. And kind of why I stuck with it, so I'm never bored. No day is the same. You're always finding a new opportunity, someone new to talk to, some new base, a new program, that there's infinite possibilities. It's such a big Air Force and it gives me a chance to stay involved with our community, give back, and just, hey, if there's another grad out there that's looking to separate and needs a job, any grad — I've offered this plenty of times and stepped through it — any grad that's trying to separate, you have an instant interview at a minimum, with us right away. Please reach out anytime.   Naviere Walkewicz  24:03 That's amazing. I think you know you talk about there is no standard, but maybe you actually... the standard is that you hold yourself to a standard so that you're seeking opportunities when they're there, you're prepared, and you're trying to connect with other grads and make ways for them as well, or at least a potential opportunity. Let's talk about that, because I find— you know, you're a 2015 graduate, you're in your career trajectory, and you've made time to become the chapter president for the Central Texas chapter. And, you know, chapter services, that's when you bring grads together. I don't know how you manage that, as well as build a business. Let's talk about that. How did that even happen?   Jake DeRuyter  24:43 Yeah, so Mike Lambert started our chapter. He's a '70 grad, one of the coolest, most informative, just unique individuals. He is the greatest guy. Now, I wish I could live half the life that he has when I get to be his age. I reached out to him a couple years ago now saying, “Hey, the baseball team's in town playing UT, we have plans to all go to it, like, what's going on? Because I, this is bad on me... I didn't know that the chapter existed at the time. And he's like, “Oh shoot. I didn't know about it. Yeah, that sounds great. I'll send out a message, let's start rallying people to go as a big group.” I think we got maybe 20 to 30 people. It's a decent showing. And then after he's like, “Hey, I'm looking to pass this on to somebody. Would you be interested in it?” And I'm like, “Yeah, of course. I don't really know what it entails.” And then without me kind of having a say in it, everyone there is like, “Oh, hey, let's all have a vote right now. Raise your hand if you want Jake s the next president,” and Neil Wendt, Harry Keyes, a bunch of other grads were there all raising hands, like, “Hey, here's our new president.” So, yeah, I mean, I definitely wanted it, not like I didn't have a say in it, but yeah, it was nice having that little motivational push from everybody else. And then Neil Wendt, he's been my VP, and almost had a year going just now, so we still got a lot of work to do. We're still building a lot of things, but we're pretty proud of the steps that we've taken to kind of build this community. But yeah, it's definitely tough. You got work and then home life, and then family, and then you're just like, “Oh shoot, I still got to do this.” So, I mean, we all got a million things on a plate, so just like the Academy teaches you, how do you put 25 hours into a 24-hour day?   Naviere Walkewicz  26:18 Right? So I found that curious, what you'd mentioned. You said, “I didn't even know we had a chapter,” but you reached out to Mike Lambert. So did you already have a mentor-mentee relationship with him, or how did you know him?   Jake DeRuyter  26:29 No, I heard about it a little bit before that, because I kind of, in the back of my head, knew it existed. I just didn't know what all entailed. And it didn't say Austin. It just said to Central Texas. So, I didn't really know what all it meant. And then meeting with him and getting involved with him, and all in the whole group that he's started and been a part of for a long time. Yeah, it's really cool hearing their stories. And we do a monthly lunch every Friday or every first Friday of the month, and we get to hear all the cool war stories and everything. It's honestly one of the things I look forward to most every month is listening in to those guys. There's just so many funny connections all over the place. And, yeah, it's awesome. If anyone's listening in Austin, we'll be doing it again next week, or the first Friday this upcoming month of April.   Naviere Walkewicz  27:13 That's wonderful. So talk a little bit about what it's been like being the chapter president. You know, I think when we think about times at the Academy, you're leading a group of your peers, and obviously these peers are various years. But what has that been like, and what have you seen to be challenging so far?   Jake DeRuyter  27:29 Yeah, so it's completely different than on active duty, because you have positional power, right? And your airmen, the younger officers, they've got to listen to you, right? The chapter president sounds cool. Like, what authority do I have? Right? Absolutely nothing. It's just more of I'm the one coordinating and leading the charge, right? So you got to be the one to say what you're going to do and actually follow through and do it. And that's tough when you've got a million other competing priorities, and you're always trying to schedule your time and so I've been thankful I've had a great team. There's been times I can't make that monthly lunch and your others fill in. So we've had a pretty good core group there. But trying to find ways to motivate people to participate is extremely difficult unless they have like a direct buy in or impact or return on their investment. I think I saw in our last AOG election, we had like a 22% voting rate. And so we see that at the local chapters too, where it's tough finding people, so I'll go on LinkedIn, just trolling, just looking for anyone that says Air Force Academy grad, outside of any major city in Texas besides Austin. So, trying to get that direct touch. But it definitely takes time and effort and you've got to be willing to show that you're willing to go forth and put it in. Otherwise everyone's gonna be like, “Hey, I'm just getting another spam email. Why would I listen to this?”   Naviere Walkewicz  28:43 Right? And I just find it even more just impressive. What compelled you to reach out in the first place and say, “Hey, I'd like to get more involved?” Because you were already doing all these things through your job. So why the additional responsibility?   Jake DeRuyter  29:00 I think that's a great question. I think it's just because… You said: I was already doing it, and so I was like, “Hey, this is a natural fit for what I enjoy doing and what I could truly care about.” And as we've mentioned, all those grads in the past have helped me out and made me who I am today. You know from my dad and  my teachers, the officers that are ahead of me. It's like, “Hey, how do I give back?” Because I know I wouldn't be standing where I am without our fellow grads and then the whole overarching community. So it's like, “What little can I do to make one person's life that 1% better?” I'll take that chance any day of the week.   Naviere Walkewicz  29:33 Well, we talked about some of the challenges you've experienced and your deep desire to give back. So, share a success that you've had since being chapter president, and what's really kind of filled your bucket in this giving back piece.   Jake DeRuyter  29:44 Oh, so we did a watch party for the Air Force/Army game; that's pretty standard chapter president stuff like, “Oh, hey, you threw a watch party.” That's not the big thing. But the really cool part was the people that showed up. And I feel horrible. I forget his name right now, but the oldest living graduate, he had his daughter drive him because, “Hey, I'm not going to miss this.” And so I was like, whoa. Like, that was like...   Naviere Walkewicz  30:13 I'm going to look that up myself. That's amazing.   Jake DeRuyter  30:16 Having that moment like, “Wow, that's really cool.” Where it's like, “Hey, that wouldn't have happened without the work of my team  putting this together. And, yeah, putting together watch parties is nothing crazy. But it's still— hearing those stories and meeting those people that were there when this first started. Like, we were joking earlier: They don't even know what Founders Day is because they were there for it. That wasn't really a thing for them. Now it's like our annual celebration, but to them it's just like, “Oh yeah. We just started it.” Like, that's just how...   Naviere Walkewicz  30:48 ...on the shoulders of giants, right?   Jake DeRuyter  Yes.   Naviere Walkewicz  Jake, it just sounds like you had such an incredible ride so far. And I know you're you know your journey is in the midst of it, and I can't wait to hear how you'll continue to do so as a graduate, as we support you. But right now, I'd like to ask you some specific leadership lessons, the first one really pertaining to you: What do you do every day to be a better leader?   Jake DeRuyter  31:12 That reach out. Like, always that checking in. I don't necesarilly schedule it, but if I ever have 20 or 30, minutes, nothing's on my calendar for work, or things are slow, it's like, “Hey, who haven't I talked to in a while?” Whether it's one of my classmates, one of my freshmen, one of the people that served with me… And then I spend a lot of time on the road, so, I'm driving. I always try to reach out and call and reconnect with people that you haven't talked to in X amount of months. Because I always know that I really appreciate when I always hear from people like that. And so that's like one thing I always want to do is like, “Hey, what's going on in life? Where are you at now?” That's what's so cool about the Air Force community as a whole: People are moving, doing cool new jobs all over the place. So, I love getting to hear those stories and truly listening in. The leadership question: Actually listen. Take interest and don't just be waiting to say what you want to say next. Like, actually, like, “Oh, hey, there's some pretty cool stories out there. And people are doing some amazing, unique things.” Shoot, look at Wyatt Hendrickson this weekend. One of the greatest college sports upsets of all time.   Naviere Walkewicz  32:19 Of all time — 100%. I think that's a really great way— just even like rallying together and talking about that. I mean, what a great way to… “Hey, I haven't talked to you in a while. Did you see Wyatt? What he did? You know, it's just amazing.   Jake DeRuyter  32:32 Yep, exactly. Wyatt, if you're ever in Austin, drinks are on me, man, congrats.   Naviere Walkewicz  32:38 That's outstanding. All right, so tell me, then, Jake, what would you share as something that an aspiring leader can do every day? So, that's something you do personally. What might you share with an aspiring leader that they can do today that will reap benefits down the road?   Jake DeRuyter  32:53 Yeah, don't just worry about your own career and your own life, because whether you look at officers, coaches— a lot of people can be judged based on the people that they've built up rather than their own career. We see that all the time in coaching, and it's like, if you're truly worried about the development of the guys around you, you're going to build up yourself and your whole team and everybody and so make that the primary goal. Not just, “Hey, how do I get that next job? How do I get that next rank?” Because people are going to spot that as being phony really quick. So, be genuine, and pump up the other ones around you. Because a rising tide lifts all ships.   Naviere Walkewicz  33:27 Gosh. And like I said, you're kind of in this rise in your career and in your life. You know, if you were to look back and talk to your younger self, Jake, whether your cadet self or even your child self, is there any advice you would give yourself, knowing what you know today?   Jake DeRuyter  33:44 Yeah, the biggest thing is be more involved. I think especially as a cadet and in early officer life, I was just like, “How do I get through the day? What do I do to get through class, or to get through the SCIF life?” Or something like that. “How do I get to the part of life where I'm spending time with my friends, or having fun?” I definitely wish I was much more involved at the Academy and as a young lieutenant, like, I definitely took things for granted back then, and that's probably the biggest thing I changed, is like, “Hey, I definitely had the extra time.” I could have given back more at that time, and maybe I'm trying to make up for a little bit for that now.   Naviere Walkewicz  34:19 Well, I think it's never too late to start. And what are you doing now that fills your bucket in that way?   Jake DeRuyter  34:25 Oh, yeah, the biggest things, the AOG chapter presidency and helping other grads transition. I can't tell you how many fellow grads I've talked to as they're looking for SkillBridge, trying to figure out what that next step looks like. It doesn't stop. Everyone's hitting their five years coming up. It happens every year, right? So there's always that influx, especially those that aren't flying. It's tough making that jump. You know, it's a scary world out there. And I said, it's just you, yourself and I. Whatever the opposite of that is. It's like, “Hey, I know I didn't feel like I had the resources when I was initially getting out through traditional means of the Air Force.” So I want to be that person that's like, “Hey, I'll offer that olive branch anytime.” So yeah, love to help out wherever I can.   Naviere Walkewicz  35:13 Well, those connections are so important, and I think one of the things I really appreciate about you, Jake, is really recognizing that connection. I think you even shared with me a story, and maybe you can share it here, about how you still are in touch with your sponsor family?   Jake DeRuyter  35:26 Yeah. I went to high school in the Springs for a little bit, and the best man in my wedding, his family was the one that sponsored me. So, they had sponsored cadets for years, sponsoring the basketball team through the 2000s. Then in high school, he made me a bet. He's like, “Hey, you idiot, if there's any way that you get in, I'll sponsor.” He's like, “I'm done sponsoring cadets, but if you make it in, you'll be my last one.”   Naviere Walkewicz  And so you were the exception for him.   Jake DeRuyter  Yeah, I was the exception to the rule. So yeah, we still get together every year to go to the opening round of March Madness. So we just did Lexington, Kentucky, for those games, and then next year we'll be doing Tampa. So yeah, college sports and that competition that you talked about that's a huge center piece of my life, and I center all my travel and my fun around it. So yeah, they've been awesome, and a huge part of why I am or where I am today as well.   Naviere Walkewicz  36:11 I love that. Well, we're going to ask for Jake's final thoughts next, but before we do, I'd like to take a moment and thank you for listening to Long Blue Leadership. The podcast publishes Tuesdays in both video and audio and is available on all your favorite podcast platforms. Be sure to stay in touch. Watch, subscribe and listen to all episodes of Long Blue Leadership at longblueleadership.org. All right, Jake, we're ready to hear your final thoughts. It's been incredible spending time with you today.   Jake DeRuyter  36:39 I appreciate it Naviere. Very humbled to be here. You just had Secretary Wilson. I'm sure you've had some astronauts and generals on here, so the fact that you picked me: I was just like, “Man, that really means a lot.” So I just want to say thank you. Yeah, I don't want to repeat myself too much, but yeah, any fellow grads, if you're ever in the Austin area, love to meet up, grab a beer, whatever we can do to help each other out. Just whatever we can do to give back to the Long Blue Line.   Naviere Walkewicz  37:03 Well, thank you for never being too busy for our graduates. I think that was one of the things that really stood out to me throughout everything you've shared, is you know, you care about people, and it's really translated to how you care about our fellow graduates, and I can't wait to see all the amazing things you'll continue to do. So thanks for being a leader in our Long Blue Line.   Jake DeRuyter  37:22 Yeah, I appreciate that, Naviere. Thank you so much.   Naviere Walkewicz  37:25 Well, Jake, one more time, thank you again, and I'm Naviere Walkewicz, thank you for joining us on Long Blue Leadership until next time.   KEWORDS Resilience, Adaptability, Mentorship, Network, Long Blue Line, Leadership, Development, Career Transition, Service, Community Support, Grit, Connections, Risk-Taking, Personal Growth, Military to Civilian Transition, Air Force Academy, Leadership Philosophy, Professional Networking, Continuous Learning, Relationship Building, Giving Back   The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation    

In our latest episode, we shine a light on the exceptional lives of military children who have been recognized as the Operation Homefront 2025 Military Child of the Year recipients from the Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force families. Join us as Isabella, Ian, and Sophia share their heartfelt stories of resilience, adventure, and gratitude that come with growing up in military families.   This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Fort Bliss Spouses' Association. To learn more, visit https://www.thefbsa.org/.   Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas. Show Notes: Resources:   Operation Homefront https://operationhomefront.org/   Military Child of the Year Award Recipients https://operationhomefront.org/military-child-of-the-year/   Bio: Isabella, the 2025 Operation Homefront Military Child of the Year® for the Marine Corps, values the unique culture of the military community.    A junior at Swansboro High School in North Carolina, she makes it her mission to welcome new students. Isabella, 17, lives in Hubert, North Carolina, with her mother and stepfather, Amanda and Chris Price. She has four siblings.     “Being a military child who is now permanently in Swansboro, I get to not only relate to these new military kids, but help ease their transition into their new environment,” she said.    Her parents served a combined 42 years in the Marine Corps. Her mother, a staff sergeant, deployed three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and humanitarian missions. She retired after 20 years.     Her father, Gunnery Sgt. Brian J. Smith, retired from service after 22 years and eight deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He was awarded a Purple Heart after suffering injuries in Afghanistan. He died in 2023 at the beginning of Isabella's sophomore year of high school after being diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic cancer.    “My father who was the epitome of hard work and dedication to his career,” she said. “I strive daily to be as committed as he was in everything I aspire to accomplish.”     Isabella is on track to earn an associate degree before graduating high school. She's considering several universities in North Carolina for completing a bachelor's degree before going to law school. She aspires to a career in the political field.     Ian, Operation Homefront's 2025 Military Child of the Year® for the Coast Guard, has achieved academic success that will help propel him to his goal of becoming a civil engineer, all while mentoring other students.    Ian, 17, is a senior at I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, where he is currently his class valedictorian, the first Black male student to hold the position in a decade. He will graduate with an associate degree from Tidewater Community College a month before his high school graduation.    Ian is the son of retired Lt. Michael Lindo and Michelle Effatt. Michael served for 27 years active duty in the Coast Guard, deploying for a total of 10 years conducting counter drug and migrant interdictions in the Caribbean, before retiring in 2019. His father lives in Georgia while Ian and his mom live in Virginia.    “My father's dedication and commitment to serving our country for so many years is something I deeply admire,” Ian said. “His loyalty and sacrifice for our nation have shaped who I am. It's not just about the uniform; it's about the values he instilled in me—discipline, resilience, and a strong sense of duty.”   “I'm really passionate about designing systems that can improve lives, especially in underserved areas,” Ian said. “I've always believed that infrastructure like roads and bridges plays such a crucial role in connecting people, improving safety, and supporting everyday life.”    Ian is currently deciding among several universities, including Virginia Tech and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, to major in civil engineering.     Sophia, Operation Homefront's 2025 Military Child of the Year® for the Air Force, has learned to embrace life following the death of her father in 2023 after he served his country for 17 years.    Sophia, now 17, was 15 years old when her father, Master Sgt. Anthony Pinero, passed away tragically… She lives at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany with her mom, Sheena Pinero, an executive services specialist and her younger sister.    As a military child, Sophia experienced 37 months of her father's deployment and five changes of station. Moving most recently to Germany meant leaving friends and family even farther away than usual, but Sophia responded with resiliency, helping plan trips around Europe with her mom and sister.    “Of all of the bases that I have been stationed at, Ramstein Air Base has been the best,” Sophia said. “I have never felt as connected to the people around me as I do here. Whether it is pitching mail at the post office with active-duty personnel or recognizing volunteer excellence in the community, Ramstein Air Base has always felt like one big, connected family.”    Sophia is considering pursuing a career in engineering or medicine. She wants to attend the United States Air Force Academy or a university with a strong Air Force ROTC program, and she hopes to become an officer in the Air Force.     Full biographies can be found at https://operationhomefront.org/2025-military-child-of-the-year-award-recipients/?internal_medium=internal&internal_source=banner&internal_campaign=thd-oh-25-03-internal-mcoy-traff&internal_content=D2503W61SB&sourceid=1153486.              

Lacy Schilmiller was nominated as a Beck's Player with Heart for her commitment and passion on and off the range. What she loves most about high school sports is how they bring excitement and challenging possibilities to life for all who participate. Lacy believes all school sports provide a mental break from schoolwork and she can put forth the best of her abilities. Lacy participates a lot in NJROTC (Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) and she is in the running for future Commander of her school's NJROTC. She volunteers at her school in various ways such as doing the presentation of colors (national anthem) at the football and basketball games, teachers assistant, participating on the Precision Rifle Team, helping with annual fundraisers such as the pancake breakfast, color run, and more. Lacy is deeply involved with her local 4-H, where she is the media producer, and has written and received two 4-H grants for her club. She enjoys helping the fair board to set up parking and animal barns, running the "My Little Farm," guiding younger kids with animals, and being the go-to help for a lot of people. She also shows meat pen chickens, pigs, and goats and helps the mini-4H'ers with their animals. Lacy is also very involved with her local church. She regularly attends the youth choir, serves at mass, helps with the High-School Hangout youth group, and attends camps and conventions. Lacy feels as though she has made an impact on her community by selling Kennebec potato bags and donating the money she made to a different organization each year. Agriculture means a lot to Lacy. It has taught her over the years that everything starts small like a seed, and as it grows or changes, adaptations and resources flourish. If she had to say one word that describes the agriculture grown in her, it is initiative. She has learned that in agriculture she needs to make her own decisions and be resourceful. In the future, Lacy has some possible college choices, but she does know that she would like to go into the Air Force ROTC or the Army ROTC to continue her passion for rifle and then become an officer in the medical field. Her overall goal is to work for the VA hospital so she can give back to those who gave their all and hear their stories of the good times with their friends and family.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Madeline chats with Fr. Zach Glick, a priest of the Diocese of Gary and a military chaplain in the Air Force. During their conversation, they discuss the podcast he co-hosted with as a seminarian, his mechanical engineering degree at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Air Force ROTC, why he chose Rose-Hulman, coming back to and owning his faith in college, the power of personal invitations, what a come-and-see retreat is like, St. Francis of Assisi, why he chose to become a diocesan priest, and so much more!During the course of their conversation, they make many references which you can explore. Some of these references include the Faith In Focus podcast (which he co-hosted with past guest Fr. Steven Caraher) and episodes 29 and 32 of this podcast.Feel free to like, subscribe, and share the episode! Follow us on Instagram! @sbltfpodcastDon't forget to go out there, and be a light to this world!

https://linktr.ee/truthstreamhttp://republicforusa.orghow to save America https://rumble.com/v1ycpk0-how-to-save-america-reinhabited-republic.htmlShe received her degree in astrophysics and completed the Air Force ROTC program. In the Air Force, Sandy became a pilot, instructor pilot, and test pilot during her career. She was injured by a vaccine in the 1990's and barely completed 20 years of service, retiring in 2007. Because of her health issues, she transitioned to a non-flying career to teach physics at the Air Force Academy Preparatory School, running the physics program for the Prep students whose goal is to attend the Academy after a year of extra studies. During the Covid scamdemic, she fought against the mandates and helped students with their religious exemptions. She faced disciplinary actions and eventually was fired in Sept 2022. She immediately filed a lawsuit with the Merit System Protection Board (MSPB) for illegal firing and whistleblower retaliation.The lawsuit is in its final stages, only waiting for the final decision from the judge. As she was facing disciplinary actions, God led Sandy to the Republic for the united States of America, the reseated Republic that our founding fathers gave us and which was abandoned in 1871 when a corporation hijacked the government. She has taken an active role as outreach liaison and volunteer coordinator in the Republic.

Send us a textMary Jennings Hegar is the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor, the Purple Heart, and five Air Medals for her service as an Air National Guard HH-60 Pave Hawk Combat Search and Rescue Pilot on three deployments in Afghanistan and many domestic civil humanitarian missions. When her aircraft was shot down in Afghanistan, she sustained back injuries that prevented her continued service as a pilot. The existing Ground Combat Exclusion Policy that prohibited women from serving in ground combat roles meant she could not apply for re-designation as a special tactics officer where her skills and experience could best support the mission. In 2012, she was the lead plaintiff against the Secretary of Defense in a case to abolish the Ground Combat Exclusion Policy and enhance military effectiveness. The policy was repealed in 2013.  MJ's journey began in Air Force ROTC with a follow-on Air Force commission. After she was sexually assaulted by her Flight Surgeon during a qualifying flight physical, and witnessed his subsequent impunity, she made the difficult decision to leave active duty and pursue her dream of ‘becoming Han Solo' through the Air National Guard.  In this interview we talk about why she felt it was important to share her story to educate the public, politicians, and policy makers on both the achievements and contributions of women in combat operations, and the challenges they face in navigating military careers from negative individual and institutional biases.  Shoot Like a Girl is the November 2024 Aviatrix Book Club discussion book. There is also a young adult version, Fly Like a Girl, for readers ages 12-16. If you haven't read this book, add it to your TBR list.  https://literaryaviatrix.com/book/shoot-like-a-girl-one-womans-dramatic-fight-in-afghanistan-and-on-the-home-front/ https://literaryaviatrix.com/book/fly-like-a-girl-one-womans-dramatic-fight-in-afghanistan-and-on-the-home-front/Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree. Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening!-Liz Booker

Join me Jenny D in this heartfelt episode as we celebrate Veteran's Day by spotlighting Military Families and Veteran-Owned businesses. This November, I'm so honored and thrilled to feature my special guests, Meredith and Jason Camilletti, both proud Air Force veterans. Tune in for this inspiring journey of Meredith and Jason, from their beginnings in the Air Force ROTC program to their dedicated service and eventual transition to civilian life. Discover how their shared experiences in the military have shaped their lives and their strong bond as a couple. Learn about the challenges and rewards of military life, including the camaraderie, the sense of purpose, and the unique lifestyle that comes with serving one's country. Our episode also highlights the significant role of community support and understanding for veterans, with a focus on mental health and the contributions of organizations like the VFW. Meredith shares her efforts in organizing military appreciation events and emphasizes the importance of connecting with veterans and learning their stories. Listen how this remarkable couple continues to impact their community positively, embodying the spirit of service and dedication. Don't miss this insightful conversation that pays tribute to the sacrifices and achievements of our veterans. Please follow and Subscribe to my Youtube Channel for the newest video podcasts. www.youtube.com/@Spillwithmejennyd   Thank you to my Spotlight Supporters for November.  Modcon specializes in residential makeovers and real estate transformations.  https://modconstruction.us/ The Cheese Queen has Specialty Meats and Cheese selections for your next occasion. https://www.thecheesequeen412.com/ I'm so grateful to St. Clair Health for partnering with Spill with Me Jenny D. this November for Men's Health (No Shave November) and Family Health History Day! https://www.stclair.org/

Join me Jenny D in this heartfelt episode  as we celebrate Veteran's Day by spotlighting Military Families and Veteran-Owned businesses. This November, I'm so honored and thrilled to feature my special guests, Meredith and Jason Camilletti, both proud Air Force veterans. Tune in for this inspiring journey of Meredith and Jason, from their beginnings in the Air Force ROTC program to their dedicated service and eventual transition to civilian life. Discover how their shared experiences in the military have shaped their lives and their strong bond as a couple. Learn about the challenges and rewards of military life, including the camaraderie, the sense of purpose, and the unique lifestyle that comes with serving one's country. Our episode also highlights the significant role of community support and understanding for veterans, with a focus on mental health and the contributions of organizations like the VFW. Meredith shares her efforts in organizing military appreciation events and emphasizes the importance of connecting with veterans and learning their stories. Listen how this remarkable couple continues to impact their community positively, embodying the spirit of service and dedication. Don't miss this insightful conversation that pays tribute to the sacrifices and achievements of our veterans. Please follow and Subscribe to my Youtube Channel for the newest video podcasts. www.youtube.com/@Spillwithmejennyd   Thank you to my Spotlight Supporters for November.  Modcon specializes in residential makeovers and real estate transformations.  https://modconstruction.us/ The Cheese Queen has Specialty Meats and Cheese selections for your next occasion. https://www.thecheesequeen412.com/ I'm so grateful to St. Clair Health for partnering with Spill with Me Jenny D. this November for Men's Health (No Shave November) and Family Health History Day! https://www.stclair.org/

RePete and Fig are joined by “G,” a highly experienced pilot who instructed in both the T-37 and T-38, flew the A-10 Warthog (Thunderbolt), and operated the Reaper. She shares her remarkable journey into aviation. “G” recounts how she initially pursued the military without knowing much about it, joining Air Force ROTC and landing a pilot slot after what was initially thought to be a medical disqualification turned out to be a non-issue. Overcoming airsickness and various other challenges, “G” talks about her first assignment as an instructor pilot, where she developed a love for teaching. She candidly shares how she earned her callsign, “G-Spot,” after an amusing and confusing misread of her HUD during an A-10 attack training flight. The episode also delves into a nerve-wracking engine failure during her first A-10 flight in Korea and wraps up with a light-hearted story of encountering a persistent praying mantis en route to the Yokota Airshow. “G” is far too humble in her approach to her accomplished career. Her insights into the world of aviation are both inspiring and entertaining, making this an episode you won't want to miss.

In this episode of The People of Penn State, we're joined by Dr. Lori Johnson-Vegas '83, '22 PhD. In 2023, Lauri was awarded "National Mother of the Year" honors from American Mothers, Inc. She has also previously been recognized as the AFI "Military Spouse of the Year." Having grown up, served, and married into the military, Lauri has dedicated her life to bettering the lives of those around her. A Human Resources Consultant and Personal and Professional Life Coach, she serves on the Board of Advisors for several local and national organizations, and is a certified Master Resiliency Trainer for the Air Force.Lori is a founding member of Lion Ambassadors and during her time as a student was also very involved in student government, Air Force ROTC, and other organizations.  Learn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookX (Twitter)InstagramLinkedIn

 Lt. Col Chay Derbigny commander and professor of aerospace studies for SIUC's Air Force ROTC detachment 205 chats with Megan Lynch about the stair climb tomorrow.

52. Carolyn Rocco: Military Shadow Policies  This week on The Feds, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Carolyn Rocco joins the podcast to talk about the culture of lying within the military. She is familiar with this as she discovered through a FOIA, that the military command was creating a false narrative in order to justify the denial of her Covid shot religious accommodation. We discuss the deterioration of the military, where senior leaders reward those who protect the institution over the Constitution. Carolyn gives examples of shadow policies she has seen within the military.  Carolyn is a two-time Office of Special Investigations (OSI) commander and was an Air Force ROTC instructor in the Pacific Northwest when the DoD vaccine mandate was implemented. She was unable to return to OSI after she declined the Covid-19 shot. Carolyn was denied a medical and religious exemption, even after showing a high level of Covid antibodies post natural infection. In August 2022, Ohio Judge McFarland issued a preliminary injunction for Air and Space Force members, which protected Carolyn from being removed from service. Connect with Carolyn: https://linktr.ee/carolyn.rocco Lance Castle information: https://x.com/LANCECASTLE490  https://www.givesendgo.com/2ndCourtMartial Shawn Ryan interview with Navy Captain Brad Geary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OFBHZBo5gc Sam Shoemate X: https://x.com/samosaur  Re:Public launches in late August 2024: https://republic.us  —------------------------------------- Check out Feds For Freedom's new Substack!  Sign the Feds for Freedom DEI Petition: https://conservativechange.org/petition/dei-must-die-ban-taxpayer-funding/ Watch and listen to The Feds on any of these platforms:  https://taplink.cc/fedsforfreedom Support the Work and Become a Member of Feds For Freedom www.fedsforfreedom.org/join Follow Us on Social Media Instagram/X (Twitter)/Facebook:  @feds4freedomusa

Finding and fighting against national security threats is a crucial job. In any election cycle, it's even more necessary as political enemies and disinformation can pose serious threats to our democratic process. As a career veteran and defense specialist, Vance Cryer helps spotlight the threats we may face in the intersection between polarization and national defense and how we can overcome them. Vance describes America's external threats, what they stand to gain by a weakened America, and how they are using America's division as a tool to undermine democracy.Vance Cryer was born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1968. To help pay his way through school, Vance worked as a journeyman plumber and also helped his grandfather in a business that prewired new houses for telephone service. During his first semester of school, he joined the Air Force ROTC. He then got a job at the local airport filling airplanes with gas and scraping bugs off windshields, using the cash he earned to pay for flying lessons thereby fulfilling his lifelong dream of being a pilot. By the end of that first semester, he contracted with the Marines to compete for one of two slots in north Texas for Officer Candidate School. Vance's 27-year career with the Marines took him through flight school in Pensacola, Florida; to Top Level School at the National War College in Washington, D.C., where he earned a master's degree in national strategic studies; to four AV-8B squadron tours, including as the commanding officer of Marine Attack Squadron 211. He completed six combat tours in Iraq and served two tours of duty at the Pentagon-Headquarters Marine Corps in the Department of Aviation. In 2013, he was promoted to colonel and commanded the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Pendleton. In 2016, he was handpicked by Secretary Ray Mabus as the Marine Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy.In August 2018, Vance retired from active duty in the Marine Corps and is now serving as a Director for Special Programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control (MFC). He serves as the liaison between MFC and Lockheed Martin Aerospace, working on the leading edge of missile and sensor technologies and future capabilities.Thank you to Starts with Us for their collaboration on this series. Starts with Us is an organization committed to overcoming extreme political and cultural division. Check them out at startswith.us.

In this episode, we discuss significant updates to the Air Force ROTC High School Scholarship Program (HSSP) for the application year 2024-2025. Key changes include: Reintroduction of the Type 2 Scholarship: After a period of offering only the Type 1 scholarship, the Air Force ROTC has reintroduced the Type 2 scholarship, which provides $18,000 annually toward tuition, significantly less than the full-tuition coverage of Type 1. Major Selections and Criticality Ratings: A new criticality rating system from one to four prioritizes majors during the scholarship selection process, emphasizing certain technical and language majors over others. Key Points: The Type 2 scholarship offers limited financial coverage compared to the Type 1, affecting choices for attending private or out-of-state public schools. ROTC scholarship boards run three times a year, with early applicants locked into the scholarship type awarded. Strategic major selection is crucial, with higher priority given to majors like electrical and computer engineering, and languages such as Russian and Chinese due to their criticality ratings. Financial Considerations: States like Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Texas, and Oklahoma offer in-state tuition rates to ROTC scholarship recipients, which can mitigate the financial gap for Type 2 recipients. Closing Remarks: Listeners are encouraged to make well-informed decisions and consider how these changes might impact their application strategy. ROTC Scholarship Consulting is available to assist with the application process, including interview preparation and essay editing. For More Information: Visit ROTC Consulting

On this episode of Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different we have an in-depth conversation with Shelane Etchison, a veteran who is currently running for office in the US government. This episode is a compelling exploration of Shelane's remarkable journey from a non-military background to serving in the Army, her experiences in combat, and her motivations for running for political office. You're listening to Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different. We are the real dialogue podcast for people with a different mind. So get your mind in a different place, and hey ho, let's go. Shelane Etchison on her Journey of Overcoming Challenges Shelane begins by recounting her early life, noting that she did not come from a military family. Growing up in a dual-citizen household with her mother from British Columbia, Canada, she developed a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunities available in the United States. The events of September 11, 2001 profoundly impacted her, sparking her interest in the military and leading her to join ROTC during her undergraduate studies. Initially, Shelane faced significant challenges in ROTC, feeling out of place and unsure of herself. After a brief withdrawal, she explored Air Force ROTC but ultimately returned to Army ROTC, where she found her footing. Her determination to serve was fueled by a sense of duty and a desire to prevent future attacks on American soil. She reflects on the internal dialogue that motivated her: "Someone has to go and bear the burdens of defending this nation." - Shelane Etchison Shelane Etchison on her Views on Military Service and Leadership Shelane articulates her views on the significance of military service in shaping effective leaders. She believes that the skills and values learned in the military—such as discipline, teamwork, and strategic thinking—are essential for political leaders. Her perspective challenges the conventional notion of leadership, advocating for a model that prioritizes service and accountability. Throughout the conversation, Shelane emphasizes the need for political reform, particularly in how veterans are treated and represented in government. She shares her vision for a more inclusive political landscape, where diverse voices, especially those of veterans, are heard and valued. This vision is rooted in her belief that true leadership involves listening to the needs of the community and acting in their best interests. Motivations for Running for Congress Shelane expresses deep concern about the current polarization in American politics, which she believes is detrimental to the country. She argues that there is a significant crisis of genuine leadership, and she feels compelled to step up and represent the values she believes in. Drawing from her military experience, she emphasizes the importance of leaders who prioritize the needs of the people over party interests. Shelane's decision to run as an independent candidate is rooted in her desire to challenge the two-party system, which she views as increasingly out of touch with the electorate. She points out that a majority of Americans are registered as independents, yet they often lack viable candidates on the ballot. By running as an independent, Shelane aims to provide a new choice for voters who are frustrated with the current political landscape. To hear more from Shelane Etchison and her views on how to change the government from within, download and listen to this episode. Bio Shelane Etchison is a former Army officer and aspiring congressional candidate. Raised in Florida, she became the first in her family to join the military after the events on September 11. She served in Iraq and was part of a Special Operations program in Afghanistan. After 11 years of service, she earned an MBA and MPP from Harvard. Shelane has worked on economic development and security consultancy projects and is committed to bringing principled leadership to North Carolina,

In this episode, Maeve Collins-Tobin speaks with Jupneet Singh, an MPP student, Rhodes Scholar, and 2nd Lieutenant in the US Air Force. They discuss:Jupeet's personal story before coming to Oxford, including her time at MIT and volunteering at high schoolJupneet's Sikh heritage and cultureJoining the US Air Force and Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) while at universityQuestions of identity within the US military, and the experience of walking in different worldsJupneet's personal and professional interests in medicine, healthcare, and public service Volunteering and public service, and Jupneet's role in establishing "Pathways to Promise", a nonprofit program supporting children affected by domestic violence in Ventura, CaliforniaPolicy issues such as education, equity, healthcare, diversity and belongingLeadership and the importance of mentorshipJupneet's experience at Oxford, and advice for future MPP students***Jupneet is originally from Somis, California, USA, and graduated from MIT where she majored in chemistry (with a flex in biomedical engineering) and concentrated on history.Jupneet is currently a 2nd Lt in the U.S. Air Force and will be attending medical school immediately after her studies in Oxford. As a trauma surgeon in the Air Force, Jupneet hopes to advocate for the representation of minorities and culturally adaptive practices in healthcare. At MIT, Jupneet was Commander of the Air Force ROTC detachment. She also worked in the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology Program in the Shalek Lab studying fatty liver disease.This past summer, Jupneet worked in de-addiction centers in India. She previously worked at the Ventura County Family Justice Center and Medical Trauma Center, and published a paper as first author in The American Surgeon. She also received four fellowships for the program she founded, Pathways to Promise, to support the health of children affected by domestic violence.Jupneet is a Rhodes Scholar.

The AFROTC interview, worth upwards of 40% of the AFROTC scholarship score, can be extremely intimidating for students, especially those who have little to no interview experience.  In this episode, we play 5 examples of interview responses that students have given and discuss what makes them good (or bad) and how they could be improved. If you want to ensure your interview performance is as strong as possible and listen to additional examples of answers from real students, take our AFROTC Interview Course.

Dr. Melissa Corley Carter says: Your epic life actually IS rocket science!I was the epitome of vroom vroom veer, beginning with 20 years on the fast track chasing my dream to become an astronaut. Despite two Stanford engineering degrees, an Air Force officer commission, a PhD in astronautical engineering, and perfect vision after corrective eye surgery, my pre-surgical eyesight disqualified me and shattered my dream.I continued on the fast track of an Air Force career that looked like traditional success, but internally, I was adrift. I could have followed in the footsteps of the high-powered and inspiring women I worked for, but I realized I wanted to inspire people in a different way - and with a lot more life balance.When I came to a major decision point, I leaped into the unknown and left my active-duty military career. At the time I didn't know what my life purpose was, but I knew it was bigger than what I was doing.In the years since, I've realized that my astronaut dream emerged from an intuitive knowing of my spiritual connection with the universe, from a desire to inspire people to greatness the way astronauts had always inspired me, and from the vision of a unified and harmonious world.Now I use basic principles of rocket science to help rockstar humans reclaim their power, own their awesomeness, and take giant leaps of faith. I'm living my true dream every day!Also a 7 continents marathoner, I'm the author and photographer of the award-winning coffee table book, "Running the World: Marathon Memoirs from the Seven Continents," and the companion wisdom card deck, “Running YOUR World." Dr. Melissa Corley Carter Vroom Vroom Veer Stories Wanted to be an astronaut since the 5th grade; parents were suppportive of that goal Melissa has an identical twin sister who also was in Air Force ROTC and their paths diverged after college On the Air Force officer fast track; got to attend a prestigious graduate program as her 2nd assignment; maybe graduating from Stanford had something to do with that Next prestigious Air Force assignment was an aide to a general; she also witnessed the historic nose-to-nose meeting of Enterprise and Discovery (Star Trek fans?) There was fine print in the astronaut qualification criteria that stated if your eye sight was "this bad" then don't bother with the corrective surgery; Melissa's pre-Lasik eye sight was "that bad" After realizing her dream of being astronaut was over; she looked at the amazing career track of her bosses in the Air Force and discovered that path wasn't appealing to her She found a new calling teaching leadership as an Air Force reservist; she also did a Marathon on every continent and wrote a coffee table book with stunning images and words of inspirational reflection Show Summary In this episode of "Vroom Vroom Veer," host Jeff Smith welcomes Dr. Melissa Corley Carter, a former astronaut candidate turned life coach. The conversation starts with Jeff introducing Melissa, who shares her background and leads into her website, "Epic Life Actually." Melissa dives into her personal and professional journey, explaining how she transitioned from being deeply involved in aerospace engineering to discovering her true passion in life coaching. She discusses the concept of everything being like rocket science in that it's about moving from where you are to where you want to be, acknowledging progress, and making adjustments. Jeff shares a personal anecdote about observing different thinking styles during an informal experiment at LA Air Force Base, which leads Melissa to reflect on her own experience growing up in Dallas with an identical twin and her dreams of becoming an astronaut since fifth grade. Melissa opens up about her educational path through Stanford University, where she studied mechanical engineering and astronautical engineering. She talks about her intense academic and extracurricular commitments,

In this episode Jeff “Odie” Espenship, a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and safety leadership speaker, shares the impact of leadership fails, the importance of humility, task saturation, decision-making under pressure, and the indelible influence of personal experiences. Espenship shares personal anecdotes from his military and aviation career, offering insights into overcoming adversity and leading with integrity. This episode is a potent reminder of the weight of our actions and the legacy of leadership we leave behind. Episode Highlights: 05:50 Leadership Lessons from the Cockpit: A Personal Tragedy 11:11 Sharing Near Misses: Learning from Mistakes 20:49 Cultural Influence and Accountability in Leadership 24:58 Identifying the 'Bud Hollins' in Your Life 29:14 The Deadly Consequences of Mediocrity and Complacency 29:28 Embracing SOPs and the Power of Listening in Leadership 32:24 The Art of Decision Making and Flexibility in Leadership 46:28 The Power of Inspiration and Legacy in Leadership Jeff “Odie” Espenship is an international airline pilot, professional speaker, founder of Target Leadership, author, USAF fighter pilot, husband, father, and all around good guy! He graduated from the University of Georgia, where he received a full academic scholarship from their Air Force ROTC program. Due to his demonstrated officership and leadership skills, Jeff received top ROTC graduate honors and was commissioned as an officer in the Air Force. He earned his “silver wings” at Vance AF, Enid, OK where he won the coveted “Commanders Trophy” as the overall top graduate of his entire pilot training class. Jeff also won the pilot training T-38 Talon's “Hard Charger Award” for his overall dedication to excellence and training. You can learn more about Jeff “Odie” Espenship here: https://targetleadership.com/   Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us as we delve into the world of Air Force ROTC at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Captains Pierre Sutton and Captain Sledge share their personal journeys from different corners of the country to the skies above, discussing the transformative nature of the program and what it takes to become an officer in the United States Air Force. From the recruitment process to the academic curriculum and practical training, discover how UNLV's Air Force ROTC program prepares students for leadership roles in the military while emphasizing character, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence.

Captain Rodriguez is an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a prior enlisted member of the United States Air Force and has served in England, Utah, Canada, and more. If you have questions for Captain Rodriguez or any staff at Chapel Hill's Air Force ROTC program, reach out to afrotc@unc.edu

Drysdale “Dale” H. Hernandez is the Chief Learning Officer (CLO) for Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command where he serves as the Chief, Force Development Division in the Directorate of Manpower and Personnel. In this position he serves as the primary advisor to the MAJCOM Commander on all Learning Strategy issues. His A1D Division plans, develops, and directs advisory and support services for command-wide Professional Development.In this episode, Colonel retired Hernandez discusses the importance of education in Air Force Global Strike Command and the efforts made to develop and educate strikers. Global Strike Command was created in 2009 to address the atrophy of nuclear expertise in the Air Force. The command offers over 20 courses and has invested over $23 million in the development of strikers. The education programs aim to build courageous problem solvers capable of critical thinking and problem-solving. The command also focuses on leadership development and strategic stability through a credible long-range strike force.Mr. Hernandez was raised in El Paso, Texas and was commissioned in 1991 as a graduate of The University of Texas at El Paso's Air Force ROTC program. His Masters-level education includes degrees in Human Resources Management and Administration from Webster's University, Military Operational Arts and Science from Air University, and Strategic Studies from the Army War College. Mr. Hernandez began his professional career in 1992 as the Chief of Social Actions at Griffiss AFB, NY. His Air Force career included multiple deployments, staff positions at Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces in Africa, Headquarters U.S. Air Force and The Joint Staff. He has served as the 48th Mission Support Squadron Commander at RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom and as the 52d Mission Support Group Commander at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Socials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to NucleCast@anwadeter.org

Brigadier General Bill Murphy discusses the importance of the Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) system and their role in strategic deterrence. He explains that NC3 is a system of systems that ensures the President has command and control over nuclear forces and enables mission essential functions. General Murphy highlights the challenges of modernizing NC3 and the role of the NC3 Enterprise Center in overseeing the process. He emphasizes the importance of digital engineering and modeling in making informed decisions about future capabilities. General Murphy also calls for increased understanding and support for strategic deterrence and recognition of the work done by the men and women of the NC3 Enterprise.Brig. Gen. William D. Murphy serves as the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, United States Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. He is the principal advisor to the Commander on Reserve Component matters related to the Command's diverse missions, including strategic deterrence; cyberspace operations; integrated missile defense; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; and global strike. Brig. Gen. Murphy also flies as an Airborne Emergency Action Officer conducting strategic deterrence and operations missions aboard the Looking Glass Airborne Nuclear Command Post, supporting the president and National Command Authorities. Brig. Gen. Murphy was commissioned in 1990 as a graduate of the Air Force ROTC program at University of Nebraska, Omaha. He was a Distinguished Graduate in the MMII and MMIII weapon systems and has served in numerous wing, Numbered Air Force, Air Staff, Combatant Command and Joint Staff assignments. He has served on faculty for the Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University and as guest lecturer for the Air Force Nuclear Fundamentals Course and Nuclear Concepts Course. He was awarded Joint Qualified Officer (Level III) in 2012. In his civilian capacity, Brig. Gen. Murphy serves as Vice President of an Independent Consulting Firm based in Omaha Neb. Prior to his current position, he served as Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations and Communications, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.Socials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to NucleCast@anwadeter.org

CTL Script/ Top Stories of February 10th          Publish Date: February 9th           From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Award-Winning Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast    Today is Saturday, February 10th, and Happy 81st Birthday to singer Roberta Flack. *** 02.10.24 – BIRTHDAY – ROBERTA FLACK*** I'm Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cherokee is talking about, presented by Credit Union of Georgia.  Church Seeks a New Home on Cumming Highway Near Canton Cherokee County Firefighters Honored for Outstanding Service Three Cherokee County Seniors Earn Top JROTC Scholarship   We'll have all this and more coming up on the Cherokee Tribune-Ledger Podcast, and if you're looking for Community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!    Commercial: CU of GA STORY 1: Church Seeks a New Home on Cumming Highway Near Canton Our Lady of La Salette Catholic Church, located near Waleska, seeks to relocate to a new site along Cumming Highway near Canton, Cherokee County. They aim to rezone over 42 acres for an office institutional designation to build a church, rectory, and other facilities. The proposed location is chosen for its central accessibility and potential traffic reduction. The Cherokee County Planning Commission recommended approval with conditions including no access to Water Tank Road and limited building use. The church plans to offer various services, Bible studies, and programs for members. A decision on the rezoning request was postponed to February 20 for further discussion. STORY 2: Cherokee County Firefighters Honored for Outstanding Service Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services honored eight of its members during the "Breakfast with Our Best" event, hosted by the Cherokee County Fire Chief's Foundation. Fire Chief Eddie Robinson presented awards for various categories including Volunteer Member, Support Services Member, Special Operations Member, EMT, Paramedic, Firefighter, Fire Officer, and Chief Fire Officer of the Year. Additionally, the foundation presented a check to Sgt. Chris King, who is battling cancer, following a successful fundraiser that raised over $32,000. Firefighters face an increased risk of cancer, making support for those battling the disease a priority for the department and its foundation. STORY 3: Three Cherokee County Seniors Earn Top JROTC Scholarship Three seniors from the Cherokee County School District have been awarded the highly esteemed Air Force JROTC J-100 Character-in-Leadership Scholarship. The honored students are Davis Clanton from Etowah High School, Savannah Mouritsen from Sequoyah High School, and Sydney Watson from Cherokee High School. This illustrious scholarship is awarded to only 100 students across the globe annually. It provides full coverage for college tuition and fees at any public or private institution that hosts an Air Force ROTC program. In addition to this, recipients receive a generous $10,000 annual allowance for university housing. The scholarship selection criteria focus on academic excellence, leadership abilities, and a strong commitment to serve in the U.S. Air Force or Space Force. The three awardees from Cherokee County have showcased remarkable leadership within their respective JROTC units, along with stellar academic performance. Their accomplishments have earned them recognition both from their school district and the Air Force JROTC program. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info.  Back in a moment  Break: DRAKE STORY 4: Canton Lions Club Announces Cherokee County STAR Students The Canton Lions Club honored eight local STAR students and their teachers, with Kinley Michelle Sikes of Creekview High School recognized as the overall winner for Cherokee County. STAR students are high school seniors with the highest SAT score and top 10% GPA, selecting a STAR Teacher. Sikes chose Jason Hardin as her STAR Teacher. Each high school winner received $500, while the county winner received an additional $1,000. The program, sponsored by the Canton Lions Club since 1958, aims to recognize academic excellence. Camryn Dean from Mountain Education's Cherokee campus was also named a STAR student, with Denise Shaw as the STAR teacher. STORY 5: Marietta Man and Brother Arrested for Participation in Jan. 6 Capitol Breach Two Georgia men, Cepane Sarty of Marietta and Seth Sarty of Rockmart, face a series of felony and misdemeanor charges for their involvement in breaching the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. They are accused of assaulting law enforcement during the riot. The charges include assaulting officers, disorderly conduct, and unlawfully entering restricted areas. The brothers were arrested by the FBI and allegedly entered the Capitol building shortly after the initial breach, eventually reaching the office suite of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The investigation into the Capitol breach continues, with over 1,300 individuals charged so far. Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI. Commercial: GCPS LIVE READ – CHEROKEE CHAMBER ***GCPS READ*** Hey, Cherokee County! The GCPS Teacher Job Fair is today! Join us at 8am at the Gas South Convention Center. This is a golden opportunity to be a part of Gwinnett County Public Schools - Georgia's largest school district and a top employer recognized by Forbes. Whether you're kick-starting your career or seeking a change, your passion for education could find its perfect home with us. Say 'yes' to GCPS, where passion meets opportunity!   STORY 6: "Serving Up History" Exhibit Open in Canton History Cherokee's latest temporary exhibit, "Serving Up History," is now open at the Cherokee County History Center, showcasing the culinary heritage of Cherokee County through local cookbooks, kitchen tools, and more. The exhibit features cookbooks from churches, garden clubs, and civic organizations, offering glimpses of history through ingredients, stories, tips, and advertisements. Open until May 26, the exhibit is free for History Cherokee members and included in general admission for non-members. Visitors can also contribute to a food drive benefiting local food banks, with discounts on admission for donations. The Cherokee County History Center is located in Canton and is open Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, visit historycherokee.org or call 770-345-3288. STORY 7: Tax Relief Package Clears Georgia House The Georgia House of Representatives unanimously approved an election-year tax relief package, including measures introduced on behalf of Gov. Brian Kemp. House Bill 1015 would accelerate a state income tax cut, saving taxpayers about $1.1 billion by reducing the income tax rate from 5.49% to 5.39%. Another bill, House Bill 1019, proposes doubling the state's homestead tax exemption from $2,000 to $4,000, a change not seen since 1978. Additionally, House Bill 1021 aims to increase Georgia's child-tax deduction from $3,000 to $4,000. These bills now move to the state Senate for consideration. We'll have closing comments after this.    BREAK: INGLES 8   SIGN OFF –   Thanks again for listening to today's Cherokee Tribune Ledger podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, the Gwinnett Daily Post, the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties, or the Paulding County News Podcast. Get more on these stories and other great content at tribune ledger news.com. Giving you important information about our community and telling great stories are what we do.     Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? 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Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.   Produced by the BG Podcast Network   Show Sponsors: ingles-markets.com drakerealty.com gcpsk12.org/jobs com   #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversations See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3rd generation warrior, RC-135 pilot, and thought leader, Major Nathan Dial '10, describes his connection to USAFA, his bond with the cadets and how the leadership lessons he learned fuel his drive to serve and support the Long Blue Line. ----more---- SUMMARY Major Dial shares his journey from growing up in a military family to attending the Air Force Academy and becoming a leader in the Air Force. He emphasizes the importance of relationships, approachability, and accountability in leadership. He's kept his connection to the Academy through mentoring cadets and serving on the Association of Graduates board. He is continuously learning and contributing to the discourse through research and writing. Major Dial also discusses the challenges and responsibilities of leadership, including the need to practice what you preach and prioritize personal development, controlling the controllables and dealing with adversity. Finally, the conversation concludes with a discussion on whether leaders are born or made.   OUR FAVORITE QUOTES "Relationships really matter. I think some of my successes would not be available without classmates or upperclassmen who poured into me or offered opportunities or offered help along the way." "Control the controllables. And by that, I mean you control your energy, you control your attitude, you control your effort. And most importantly, you control how you respond to adversity." "Don't be afraid to be vulnerable. Now, you can't be oversharing. But, you're going to know those spots where you can be vulnerable." "I'm a big believer in that you need reps. I think to really hone your skills, your potential, I think you have to have some type of environment that nurtures that out of you." "I think all the best leaders I saw, whether it was cadets or staff or faculty or AOCs, were all approachable and accountable."  - Major Nathan Dial '10   NATE ON OPRAH, AGE 11, APRIL 15, 1999   SHARE THIS EPISODE  FACEBOOK  |  LINKEDIN  |  TWITTER  |  EMAIL   CHAPTERS 00:00:  Introduction and Background 01:32:  Early Life and Influences 03:06:  Choosing the Air Force Academy 05:04:  Journey at the Academy 09:08:  Leadership Development at the Academy 12:50:  Staying Connected to the Academy 18:05:  Leadership Principles 20:20:  Giving Back to the Academy 24:06:  Navigating Highs and Lows 27:40:  Influence of Background on Leadership 29:37:  Making Time for Others 34:06:  Contributing to the Discourse 36:35:  Challenges and Responsibility of Leadership 38:52:  Practicing What You Preach 39:24:  Personal Development and Growth 40:24:  Balancing Personal Interests 41:00:  Controlling the Controllables 42:18:  Dealing with Adversity 43:20:  The Talk: Passing Down Wisdom   OUR FAVORITE TAKEAWAYS - Building strong relationships and treating people with respect are essential in leadership. - Leaders should be approachable and accountable to foster trust and accomplish goals. - Continuous learning and contributing to the discourse are important for personal and professional growth. - Leaders have a responsibility to navigate challenges, practice what they preach, and prioritize their own development. - Balance personal interests to maintain a well-rounded life. - Control the controllables, including energy, attitude, effort, and response to adversity. - Adversity can be a catalyst for growth and empathy. - Passing down wisdom through 'The Talk' is an important tradition that evolves with time. - Leaders are made through nurturing and developing their skills and experiences.     NATE'S BIO 14-year Active-Duty Air Force Officer, Combat Pilot, PhD with a concentration on NATO in the 21st Century. Well-versed in qualitative and quantitative research of public policy and sports analytics. Interested in opportunities advising/helping think-tanks, startups, boards, and private companies analyze, break down, and solve complex problems.  US Air Force Academy 2010  Harvard Kennedy School MPP 2012  ENJJPT 2013  Northwestern Political Science, Ph.D. 2021 ASG Rising Leader 2022 EC-130 Pilot  RC-135 Pilot Facebook:  Nathan Dial  |  Twitter:  therealnatedial  |  Instagram:  dial_like_thesoap  |  Linkedin:  Nathan Dial - Bio copy and image credit:  www.drnathandial.com  CONNECT WITH NATE  |  LEARN MORE  | AN IMPRESSIVE BODY OF WORK   ABOUT LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP Long Blue Leadership drops every two weeks on Tuesdays and is available on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn + Alexa, Spotify and all your favorite podcast platforms. Search @AirForceGrads on your favorite social channels for Long Blue Leadership news and updates!   FULL TRANSCRIPT SPEAKERS Our host is Dr. Doug Lindsay '92  |  Our guest is Major Nathan Dial '10   Maj. Nate Dial  00:00 I think we all have strengths, weaknesses. And so, being authentic to yourself of how are you building a team that highlights your strengths and weaknesses and being self-reflecting self-critical and doing what those are. So, I think that's probably the first thing I think for any leader. I think all the best ones I've been around have all been very, very self-aware. And so, I think that will be the challenge. I think for everybody, how are you self-aware around strengths or weaknesses. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable. I think, you know, you're gonna kind of pick and choose those moments. You'll know those moments. And so, I would try to tell people as they try to think about that.   Doug Lindsay  01:13 My guest today is major Nate Dial, a 2010 graduate of the Air Force Academy, with a bachelor's degree in economics. As a cadet, he was the fall 2009 Cadet Wing Commander, who was also the summer 2009 Basic Cadet Training Director of Operations, soaring instructor, Naval Academy exchange cadet, and he even spent a summer in Peru in an immersion program. He's a 13-year active-duty Air Force officer currently flying RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft out of Omaha, Nebraska. Major Dial's desire to feed his mind and grow as a leader is pretty insatiable. He earned a Master's in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School in 2012. He completed the Euro NATO joint jet pilot training program in 2013. And he even received a doctorate in political science in 2021, with his concentration being on NATO in the 21st century. He is a 2021 Air Force Academy Young Alumni Excellence Award winner, and in 2022, completed the Aspen Strategy Group Rising Leaders program. He is a student and analyst of public policy, and commits time to solving the complex problems that think tank startups' boards and private companies sometimes face. He is also a member of the United States Air Force Academy Association of Graduates' board of directors. Major Dial, thank you for being with us today on the Long Blue Leadership podcast.   Maj. Nate Dial  02:32 Happy to be here. Looking forward to the conversation.   Doug Lindsay  02:35 Do you mind telling us a little bit about where you grew up, you know, kind of where you started and what that was like, and what kind of influences had an impact on you when you started?   Maj. Nate Dial  02:43 For sure. So, my dad was in the Army 30 years. And my mom is a professor who traveled the world with my dad getting a job at the local college, wherever that was. So obviously military was huge for me growing up with around a bunch of the kid. And then education was huge, too with my mom. So naturally with those two items, discipline, reading a lot. And I was a pretty decent little athlete growing up — I played basketball, golf and soccer growing up as a kid. So, you put all that together and naturally kind of led me towards a life of service and a life of service through the military with hopefully one of the academies.   Doug Lindsay  03:18 You moved around a lot during that 30 years. I'm assuming were there any places that really left an impact on your memory for you.   Maj. Nate Dial  03:25 For sure. So, just to give you a quick rundown: So, born in Buffalo, New York, spent time in Seoul, Korea; Richmond, Virginia; Columbia, South Carolina; Carlisle, Pennsylvania; and my dad ultimately retired in '03 in Richmond — that's pretty much home now. They've been there ever since [in?] the same house. The places that stick out, everybody has a kind of an indelible mark on my life. But Richmond, Virginia, really is home. I mean, I was there kindergarten through third grade, and then I returned 10th through 12th grade. So, it's pretty much my central upbringing at this point. So that's, that's probably the place I would call closest.   Doug Lindsay  04:00 And was that idea of, kind of with your dad serving? And if I remember right, your grandfather served as well. A path for you. Is that why the Academy kind of resonate or you decided to go there? What was that thought process?   Maj. Nate Dial  04:12 That was huge for me. And so, you're trying to figure out a place to serve that you feel comfortable. As a kid, when my dad was at the Army War College from 1999 to 2003. You get to see a lot of different Academy people come through Naval Air Force army, my dad's ROTC guy from Northern Illinois. So, a lot of those people, when they would see me — especially as a kid — I played a lot of golf. So, my dad ironically didn't play a lot of golf or wasn't very good. And so, as you know, as an officer, especially, oh 506 is at the War College golf huge. And so, he would actually have to go fill in for him a lot of times because I was a pretty decent player. And so, I would be 12, 11 years old playing with these Academy guys like, “Hey, Nate, like if you keep progressing you'd be a great Academy kid.” So that was pretty much embedded in me from age of about 9 to 13. And it kind of never really shook away from me growing up, so it was always kind of in the background in the foreground for me my whole life. Like all kids around my generation, I was 6 years old, I saw “Top Gun.” So, I wanted to be the black Maverick. I wanted to go mach 2 with my hair on fire. But a couple family, friends and uncles have boats and I got seasick every time. So that eliminated the Navy. And I don't swim the greatest. Definitely eliminated the Naval Academy. I didn't like camping as a kid either. And so, my dad, being an Army guy, was like, “You're just not built for it. You're not built to be an Army. So, you should do that we do the Air Force Academy thing.” It's kind of matched up to the dad's wishes, and also my desire to fly. The Air Force Academy was the only Academy I applied to; I only did that in Air Force ROTC coming out of high school. So, I was pretty determined that that was my direction.   Doug Lindsay  05:42 When did this idea of leadership really kind of start to come on if you could spend a little bit of time talking about that?   Maj. Nate Dial  05:48 Yeah, I'll kind of back up in time on that one in terms of service and leadership. It really started when I was 12 years old. So, in fifth grade, again, moved around a lot. So, I went from a really affluent area in Chesterfield County in the suburb of Richmond, Virginia, to Carlisle, and went from a brand-new school with one of the best libraries you could ever imagine to a not-as-great school and not a great a very old library. And so, as a huge reader as a kid, I was pretty determined to try to help and try to figure out a way to improve that library at the school I was at and Carlisle. And so, I was inspired by Oprah Winfrey; she had this campaign going at the time where she put these large water jugs in the 50 largest malls in America and said, “Hey, people, just throw your loose change in these jugs and our goal is to try to send 50 kids to college.” And they ended up raising a ton of money — enough to send 56 Honestly, kids to college. And that really resonated with me as a kid, I was like, I want to do something like this on a smaller scale for my elementary school to raise money for books. So, I had this idea. I pitched it to people at my dad and mom's work, and they agreed to match whatever money we raised at my local school to buy books for kids. And so, I made this presentation to the school principal and he said we had other funds coming in — “We're not really interested in your program that you want to try to pitch us on.” I continue to read and kind of do it on a local level in my own house; I ended up having over the course of the year about 120 150 bucks that I made, got the matching from my mom and dad's work, and then bought books for every kid in my elementary school class. And so, I wrote Oprah about it and about she inspired me everything else. And then she had me on the show and then donated $5,000, worth of books in my name. And so, at that point, it really kind of made a mark on me of, you know, you can make an impact on this world if you're passionate inspired about a problem or a challenge that you want to go solve. And so, I think that as a 12-year-old kind of got that going in me. And so, it was kind of always looking around places. And so, given the dad service, and then all the absolutely amazing opportunity at the Air Force Academy that kind of led me towards that of like this place will help me go to my highest of heights, whatever is possible for me for sure.   Doug Lindsay  08:08 That idea of wanting to make a difference, right? Why did you feel that calling to want to do that?   Maj. Nate Dial  08:14 I'm not sure if it's really like, “Why me?” I think it's more like, “Why not?” It's kind of how I would answer that. And my parents were always really good about anything that I was passionate about, if nurturing, and if it's educational. If it was about impact, my parents really nurtured it. And they were like, OK, like, let's continue to explore, like, let's ask questions, like, help you. And so, I think having a foundation of a family like that, that didn't put any limits on me and said, “We want to nurture that desire to help.” I think that's probably the why — was that I had this idea. My parents didn't shut it down or poopoo it; they were actually like, yeah, they put gasoline on the fire — let me go burn a little bit more. So that was probably how I would say that's the why. What drew me to the academy over other schools was, I wasn't going to be judged just on my academic performance. It was the academics, it was the military, it was the athletics, it was the leadership. There was so much going on there that I was very much a busybody as a kid. And going there was going to be able to feed that busy bardenas Because there's so much going on, there's 36 hours' worth of things to do what a 24 hour day. So, you were never going to be bored at that institution. So, that really spoke to me. And what's also nice about that, too, is when you have a bad performance, let's say in a Physics 215 class, you can take your frustration down on the intramural field, or help instruct somebody as a soaring IP. So, I think that ability to try to nurture every piece of my brain, any kind of desire I had, was awesome there. So, I think it was just super enriching because again, I would talk about the Academy is it's a, it's a will issue, not a skill issue — that if you have a willpower, there's people at that place that want to help you get there and want to help you succeed. Whether that's your classmates, your upperclassmen are the instructors, people really invested in people becoming their best selves. So, I think that's how I would probably encapsulate my journey there.   Doug Lindsay  10:08 And so there was obviously the individual drive from yourself. But did your faculty staff play a role in that? I mean, how did that shape how you showed up as a cadet?   Maj. Nate Dial  10:17 Yeah, huge. So, I was a track, I think my first two years at the Academy, and my career got ended because of two knee surgeries. So that happened. But what spoke to me around the track team was the late Ralph Lindeman, who was the coach there for many, many years. When you're in your offseason there, he gave you every Wednesday off to go to EI. And so, I always helped me as a freshman understand that athletics isn't my job, my job is school and being the best kid that I can be. And so, I think that's me with a really big foundation around like how to balance and compartmentalize the many parts of your life. So, that was a great foundation as a freshman have, I have this athletic performance I have to do. But at the same time, at the end of the day, like, I'm still a student, I needed to get the best grades I can get, I need to try to make sure I can perform as much as I can. So, I think having that was really huge for me initially. So, that was a great foundation, and an amazing AOC. My freshman year was all about performance. And so, he was a pilot beat to pilot and he was about the numbers. And so, I was a pretty good performer in terms of, like, the knowledge test and my academics and athletics. And so, he was much like, “Hey, man, based on your numbers, like, you can go as far as you want at this place.” And I never really thought about that until we really sat me down and [he?] told me that after my first semester, so that again, like, continue to fuel the fire of, like, just keep pushing the envelope and do as best as you can here. And then the same like my sophomore in junior year at an amazing AOC F 16 pilot type, who continued to nurture me. And then my senior year, my IOC was a maintainer who, again, like, just gave me a lot of that, like broader leadership around how to inspire others. So, I thought all that leadership from the AOCs was great. And then my instructors were amazing. I still talked to my adviser, and my thesis adviser to the Academy. Now, I probably sent him an update email every six months. So, those people who invest in me, I'm always very thankful. And I know I wouldn't be here without a lot of their help and, just, nurturing for sure.   Doug Lindsay  12:15 Was Cadet Wing Commander ever kind of something you've thought about? Or is it just something that kind of just happened as a byproduct  of your ability to kind of lean in and take advantage of those opportunities?   Maj. Nate Dial  12:24 Also a crazy story. So, I actually was pretty determined to leave the academy after my sophomore year. So, I just, I think everybody that sophomore year is just like the doldrums where everybody kind of just does not like that place. And I was definitely one of those people. And, you know, who's grinding, nobody cares, right? You're a 3 degree, you're not the cool freshman everybody picks on. And you've got so many more days left junior senior year that you're like, “I'm just out on this place.” So, I applied to a couple of universities to transfer and there was two other friends of mine who were doing the same thing and we were helping each other out. The other two people ended up leaving — one went to [the University of Pennsylvania]. And one went to UCLA. But I ended up staying. And so, I just kind of prayed about it and said, “Hey, you know, should I leave? Or should I stay.” And I made a pact with God that if I got into a couple of different programs, I would stay because it meant that I was doing really well. So, I was soaring IP, a Navy exchange, and then it was the summer immersion to Peru. If I got all three of those. I was like, “I have to stay, like, I'm just doing so well here. And it's such an amazing opportunity. You got to kind of have to stay.” And so, I stayed. I went to the Naval Academy. And while I always wanted to go there. And back on the East Coast, I'm seeing a ton of my friends on the weekend who I grew up with, being a Virginia kid, I was absolutely miserable at the Naval Academy. I don't want to get too much into I but it was bad. It was bad in terms of the kids I had a room with weren't the greatest. There's tons of rules. They're how they trained freshmen is so different than how we do. The culture is very different. And so, it actually made me appreciate the Academy that much more. And I got back to the Academy my second semester, junior year after the exchange, and I was like, “We got to make this place fun. Like you guys. We don't know how great we have it here compared to the other academies.” And so I was on this campaign of like, we got to make being a cadet fun again, like that's what we got to do. And maybe people appreciate this place. And so, I remember talking to my IOC at the time, and having this kind of epiphany that no, this place is awesome. I'm so happy to be here. This is great. So, it's so much awesome opportunity here. You know, “What job should I apply for as a senior?” and he was like, “Nate, like, you should apply for wing commander. That's like “Nah, I'm not that guy. I'm not that person.” And then he kind of broke down whatever the cadet equivalent to a surf was. And then just that kind of inspiration that I had the time to try to help him make it a better place for cadets and he was like to take that energy and try to pour into the cadet wing I think it'd be great for him and so his again his fuel to the fire for be maybe think about it and then we're pretty determined person so once I kind of get myself locked onto a vector then I give it my best effort.   Doug Lindsay  15:01 Did it end up working out? You kind of had that epiphany — that kind of figuring it out of I own this, right, this is me and what I can do, and I'm gonna make the most out of it, You came to the Academy, did you know that flying was the way to go? Maj. Nate Dial  15:12 One-hundred percent. I mean, I set up for the Academy to fly, pretty standard person. And that way, I got to appreciate it more though, because I had this really interesting peanut allergy. And there was a time where I didn't think I was able to fly because of this peanut allergy. And so, I didn't go through all these DOM or physicals which I'll describe what it was, I had to eat peanut butter over the course of eight hours, and every 20 minutes, they doubled the dose started with an eighth of a teaspoon all the way up to a half a cup. And they had all the like the gonads on me that monitor everything. And so, that was like the ultimate last test — I had to do the past to make sure I'd you know, wouldn't die if I ate peanut butter, I guess in the plane or have like some type of shock or incapacitation. So, I passed that. But that, like, 3-month process of all the physical tests I had to do around this peanut allergy had me really thinking about what else what I would do. And I just felt really fortunate to be able to get through that and so be able to live my dream. And so, I really do empathize with people who have some type of medical issue who got to the Academy, thought they were gonna be able to fly, then found out later that they couldn't, and then, you know, what do they do next? And so having had that journey, I can definitely empathize with cadets who have that I've talked to decent people who've had that.   Doug Lindsay  16:30 With the success that you had at the Academy, what were some of the, maybe the leadership principles that you pulled out of your time at the Academy.   Maj. Nate Dial  16:38 The first thing I would say is, relationships really matter. I think some of my successes would not be available without classmates or upperclassmen who poured into me or offered opportunities or offered help along the way. I think we all can talk about as grads, people who are still in our lives, right, they're the best men in our wedding, the groomsmen in our wedding or bridesmaids in our weddings, right? That's kind of how it works out. So that kind of family atmosphere there, it's very important, and the relationships matter too because you're going to fast forward from graduation, you know, eight, nine, 10 years, you're going to weapon school with these people, you're in combat with those people, you're in on the radio. So, having that relationship builds trust and builds Trumps means accomplishing whatever the goal is, or the mission, especially in hard times. So, I would say relationships matter. Therefore, how you treat people is very important. When in doubt, take the high road. When in doubt, err on the side of grace. Those are the kind of messages that would tell somebody. So, that's a very interpersonal skill I would talk about for the leadership part of it. And then the second thing I would talk about is being approachable and accountable. I think all the best leaders I saw, whether it was cadets, or staff, or faculty, or AOCs, were all approachable and accountable. So, I thought those were the two things I would hang my hat on going forward. And they just understand that you'll get better with reps. So, putting yourself out there, trying new things out, not being afraid to fail. When in doubt, ask questions to people who've already been there before. I think those are probably the biggest things I've definitely learned as a cadet.   Doug Lindsay  18:11 You graduated in 2010. You kind of went off doing the flying thing. Very intentionally you have stayed connected to the Academy.   Maj. Nate Dial  18:20 It's hard to give you a “why” but I can kind of give you a feeling I think of the why. So, the feeling I can talk about in this is around kind of like your first relationship with a significant other, where you have all the highs or the lows, you care about that person a lot. Even if you go your separate ways to something else, you always kind of keep tabs and you want to make sure that person is in a better place than when you whenever you kind of broke up or did something different. It's kind of the same way I feel about USAFA. It's the first decision that I made on my own was choosing to go to that school, obviously, I talked about choosing to stay to and stay committed to it and that process. And I knew I wouldn't be here without those four years. And so, I think that kind of feeling of connection and that relationship being such an integral part of my life — I could never really just separate away from it completely. And so, I think that's part of the reason why of always staying connected and then always figuring out ways of how can I support in a way that is meaningful?   Doug Lindsay  19:27 Can you talk a little bit about some of those ways that you support in terms of what you do to kind of help give back with your time and what you do?   Maj. Nate Dial  19:34 I think like many graduates find cadets or cadets find you. So, I think it's a very basic one that I've done from Day One is given the profile. A lot of people hear about my story are interested in some of the similar things I already did. So, cadets will reach out and I could probably talk you through a litany of cadets since I've graduated who I help out with that and stay connected with this. The second thing too is obviously now with the endowment that we started. So, put money in at a small amount was $20.10, a little bit of class pride there a month into a fund that went with the EO G. And then, over time, our goal was to come back to the 10-year reunion, and then figure out what we want to do with the sum of money. So, through that program, we were able to raise $330,000, of which we put to her and 10,000 of those dollars into an endowment, that at the time 2021, you all remember COVID. Seeing some of the stories online around the cadet experience was really heartbreaking. And so, we wanted as a class to try to help with their morale. And so, we have this endowment that gives $5,000 to the No. 1 cadet squadron for their morale fun. So, it's as no strings attached you can kind of get given DoD and government. But it's if they want to redo their SAR they can do if they want to go to Chipotle and have a big Chipotle dinner, they want to go to Top Golf or rent it out with like whatever they want to do to increase their morale as a squadron. We fund that with $5,000 every semester. And so that's a way of giving back if you're trying to find we have these funds, we have a need of the cadets. And so that's how our class decided to do that. And I just know, I'm a connector, I'm a conduit for that. So, I'm able to help with that. And then obviously, recently, this past May, when some people on the board call it so it wouldn't be an appointment or on the cog board jumped at the opportunity to try to lend my services and ideas for sure.   Doug Lindsay  21:31 There were highs and there were lows. To have those highs and really have those successes, we've got to understand those kind of low points too, and who we are. And it sounds like the highs may not have been possible if you didn't kind of sort through those lows as well, right?   Maj. Nate Dial  21:45 For sure. I think it's Conor McGregor's Trainer that has a book that either we're winning or we're learning, we're accomplishing the goals, and you're gonna get some things out of it. I think all of my greatest growth moments come through some type of failure or hardship. And so, I think I'll give an example as a cadet right is, I had never done poorly, right, academically, but I remember failing a GR in a super high level Spanish class as a freshman that I, like, I validated into. And so, it was the first time where I had to humble myself and ask for help. I was the only non-native Spanish speaker in this class. And so, asking people for help of like, “Hey, I don't get this,” or, “Hey, I need to study with somebody or something else.” I was a first time I had to humble myself in academic setting to do that. And so that was an opportunity to learn of that you can't just blast off on your own. If you want to get to this place, which was get an A in this course, you're going to need to lean on some classmates and ask for help. And it'd be like, “Hey, I don't get this.” And that is a strength. And I think a lot of us, when we get to the Academy, we're also Type A personalities who are highly successful, who have a lot of positive affirmation coming into that place, it's the first time you get smacked in the face with any kind of not high performance, slash average performance, slash below average performance. And so, I think how do you recover from that is huge in the growth. And so there's tons of opportunities, like, that I can talk through at the Academy where, at the time, it was a low, but it really was something to kind of harden me for the next situation, whether that was to give empathy for another person, or it's prepared me and harden me for the next challenge that's coming second, when it comes again, then I'm successful, and he would overcome this situation.   Doug Lindsay  23:25 It sounds like, you know, from early on, you know, again, your example, your grandfather example, your father, your mother and all that, that idea of service. And that really idea of kind of giving it your all — how does that influence your leadership today?   Maj. Nate Dial  23:38 So, the first thing I tried to do is just offer two things that one, I'm available. So, this isn't a onetime relationship is what I always tried to lead with is that if I'm taking time out of my day to talk with you, whether that's in an official capacity because you're in my chain of command, or an unofficial capacity, that this isn't a onetime conversation, that I understand that not everybody is prepared or has questions or answers or challenges right now, that might come in the future. So, hey, I'm available when future things happen, if I'm the person that you want to come to with these things you think I can help. So, that's the first thing of establishing that is, this is a lifetime relationship. If as long as you want to tap back in, you got me that I'm here. So, I think having that kind of long-distance trust is really huge to establish to you're saying it's a journey that people are going to it's cyclical that we're going to have certain periods or seasons in life. And then the second one is: I normally try to lead with how can I help you? Because I think a lot of times we want to give people advice and not try to answer people's questions. And so, I tried to lead with answering your questions of, “Hey, like, how can I help?” and sometimes it'll lead you to a lot of places, but I want to just be impactful. I want to leave everybody when I meet them better than when they before they met me. And same with every organization will leave every organization better than when I entered it. That's kind of the goal is every time.   Doug Lindsay  24:59 How do you find time to do that? Or how do you make time to make sure that you're setting the time to be available to folks when they need it?   Maj. Nate Dial  25:07 It's gotten crazier over the years. And my wife is really good about this in terms of helping me schedule my own time. But I have a literally a standing 6-hour window every Sunday from after church to like 11 o'clock to 1700 to 5:00 p.m. every Sunday, that I just block out for people to be available. So, people hit me up and say, “Hey, Nate, I was like, well, x, y, or z.” And I just send them, “Hey, this is the time blocks, the next couple Sundays. Let me know when you want to fill in.” And so, I kind of compartmentalize that, because another part I think of leadership is being fully present. So, we're all super busy as you're talking about. But for that six hours, I am yours, for whatever block of time, 30 minutes, hour or 45 minutes, I am yours. And I'm fully committed. And if you ever read ahead for me, I've prepped for that for 1015 minutes really quickly to get myself smart on it. And then I'm here and I'm available. So, I think having a dedicated predictable time for people is heavy. And then I always tell people to, like — if you email me, give me, like, 72 hours, but I never know what's going on in the world. But pretty much now we're always connected to the internet. So, it sent me two hours, I'll see it now even I'm busy. I'll tell you, “Hey, I'm super busy. I'll get back to you in (insert timetable).” But I try to make it predictable, and then hold myself very accountable to those times.   Doug Lindsay  26:20 So, you put that block of time there, right, where you're really being fully present and investing. What is it that you've taken away from that intentionality on time to be with other people?   Maj. Nate Dial  26:29 Ninety-five percent of the time it's enriching. Because I am a classic extrovert, people energize me. So that's all start with that. And most times, people are really inspiring, whether it's some of these new cool things that they're doing, or they're trying to pursue that it's like, "Oh, man, that's awesome. I hope that person gets there.” Or I'm inspired by their tenacity to try to overcome something or get there. Or I'm just inspired by them to keep my game up. Because when you have a mentee who's climbing these ladders and doing it, it's not like we're always keeping score, but where we got to get better. It's like, "Hey, like, I need to keep pushing the envelope,” to like, ”What am I doing right now?” If these people are calling me and asking, I can't stagnate, I gotta keep pushing too. So, it's kind of a pseudo-inspiration to kind of keep my game up, too. So, I think all the above is always really helpful. More recently, in my 30s, I have noticed and tried to make myself more available for the tougher conversations, especially with friends, as people have recently had one of my best friend's son died, who's under 2 years old. So, making time for people like that to sometimes the inspiration is just being there as a friend to be that they're willing to share their vulnerabilities with you because, right, like, it's really easy to celebrate things with others; it's kind of tough to talk about when you're not in the best places. But I think as a friend, when people can find you in those areas, that's really powerful. The older I get that people were comfortable being vulnerable with you, and trust you enough to be vulnerable with you. And so, I think those times, while they're tough emotionally, make me feel good about myself that people feel that they can come to me with those items as well. And so, we're talking about a lot about my successes, which obviously, I'm very humbled by and pray to God that they continue to go, but some of it is about how do you help people get through those turbulent times? I think those are some of the things that I think through myself that are some of the most rewarding items, when people are kind of going through those doldrums, or going through those dark places, or those valleys, of helping them get on the other end of it to be a part of that process. That's really, really, really, really powerful for me.   Doug Lindsay  28:41 You'd also mentioned that it kind of challenges you to be better. So, I've noticed what you've chosen to do both educationally you get a master's, Ph.D. Not everybody does that. So, you were kind of doing that to kind of challenge yourself mentally and intellectually, but also your writing, and you're putting out pieces — thought pieces— and research as well. What's been the impetus for that? Is it just to contribute or to continue to push yourself?   Maj. Nate Dial  29:04 My dad used to always talk to me about as a kid, don't just bring me problems bring me a problem and a solution or a potential solution. And so, when I identify items that I think are suboptimal, I think I have a duty to whatever I'm criticizing, to add to the body of work to try to get to a solution. So, talk about some of the research right on the NBA. I'm a huge basketball nerd. And so, the research I did around the impact of college basketball and McDonald's All-Americans it was because I was truly curious about is the one and done rule that great or was two years of college be optimal? Or how about more? Right? So that's a question I had. And so, I was like, “Well, I have this skill set around quant research. I'm passionate about it. So, let's push it there.” Or more recently of the debate around the best 75 players in the NBA or 70 in the 75-year history of the NBA. That paper that I put out there was OK, like how could you evaluate that more quantitatively and objectively than writers talking about how they feel about people? So those kinds of items, there are obviously the piece that did back in 2020 around race in the military. Like those are kind of identify a problem or identify a situation and just try to help move the conversation forward through my either skill sets, or works or experience.   Doug Lindsay  30:21 Nate, one of the things that you had written before was a conversation that you shared a little bit about between your grandfather and your father to you about the talk. Do you mind talking a little bit about that and sharing a little bit about what that meant to you?   Maj. Nate Dial  30:34 Sure. So, The Talk, it's a tradition where minorities explain to their adolescent child really males who are coming of age, some of the stereotypes that they gotta overcome, and try to give us some techniques of how to overcome them that they've developed over their time as an adult, or in their same situation. Talking a lot of friends, obviously, since my article published, you got a lot of highlights back in 2020, around the George Floyd summer. It's a tradition of a lot of different minorities. So, you kind of takes different shapes, but it's very similar overall concept. And so, with the talk, there's a couple of things that are pretty important is that it's dependent on time, and it changes and evolves. So, I'll use my own family as the examples that kind of talked about in the article, which is, so my grandfather was in the conscription World War II segregated enlisted military. And so, he served there, finished his tour of duty, moved to Chicago, had a GI Bill tried to use the GI Bill to buy a house and a VA loan, but couldn't because right, redlining was very apparent in Chicago. And so, you can only buy a house in certain parts of Chicago, where you get a loan. And so, you know, what he learned in his time was that what's on the piece of paper, in terms of what happens may or may not apply to you as a Black person in America in his time. So, that's what he kind of taught my dad. So, my dad has had situation he goes on to college ROTC Commission's he's out in Germany on his first assignment, and my grandfather goes and visits and so he has my dad go through the gate multiple times, and my dad at the end of it. So, the second or third time through the gate is kind of like, "Hey, Pops, what's up?” and essentially, my grandfather, so my dad is like, “I never thought I would see a day where a white enlisted member would have to salute my son,” you know? Right, showing like, OK, like this, this progress is happening. And America and so he's seeing that in real time, too. And so that kind of similar moment, I think, happened with my father and I, where my dad's probably cried in front of me, like three times his entire life. And I can definitely remember the first time which was the parade for Parents Weekend, the fall, when I was cut Wing Commander, where you come down the parade field, you're the No. 1 person coming out, you lead everybody, the 4,500 cadets, and the wing. And so after the parade happens, you talk to your family, and everybody's around. And my dad was like, visibly emotional. Because I think for him, he never thought in his wildest dreams, his son would ever have that kind of an opportunity or potential, like he thought I could get to the academy, and graduate and probably get a pilot slot and do my thing, but I don't think he ever thought I could be the cadet Wing Commander. And so I think he was just really overtaken about again, like the progress that has been made, and in our country and whatnot. So that's kind of the talk. And so I'm quite looking forward to what that looks like with my kid, right? Like, I don't have kids yet. But hopefully, God blesses me with a split some kids. And so, they'll be able to share that kind of similar moment with them. I'm really looking forward to in terms of what I've learned, but then what they're going to teach me too, about how America is progressing.   Doug Lindsay  33:46 I think a lot of times when we look at leaders, and especially successful leaders, we just assume it's all good and it's there's all this good stuff, but we don't always understand that kind of behind the scenes that sometimes you have to do is downshifts, right? It's not all up. Sometimes we have those ups and downs we've got to deal with right?   Maj. Nate Dial  34:00 One-hundred percent. And sometimes yourself taking a knee, right? Like, I'm not all here either. And being again, approachable and accountable of saying, “I'm not all here, so I need to work on me.” And in practice what you preach. I always think it's quite funny when I see squadron commanders talk about family time and balance, and then I see them in their squadron at 7:30 p.m. at night, right? If you're doing that, everybody then feels obligated to a TOS if you want balance right it's how are you practicing what you're preaching there, right? Are you leaving at 5 even though we know we have a lot of work to do, but we'll get to it tomorrow? Or hey, um, when I was a flight commander, I used to always show up at 8:15, so, like, 45 minutes afterwards, because I always worked out in the mornings based on like, I prioritize my fitness. I know the duty days or 7:30 but I'm gonna show up at 8:15 because I prioritize my health and like working out. I hope you do too. And that I would always on Fridays if I could, I'd let everybody go around like to And then just stay for the rest of the day. The treadle people have balanced around, like, hey, like, everybody else can leave, I'll handle myself on a Friday and start your weekend off now. So, try to, like — that's part of the accountability, responsibility. I think that we all, as leaders, or people, and the hardest part is practicing what you preach, especially when things get hard, is how do you sustain the idea or the principle, when sometimes the short-term benefit will feel good in the moment, but overall, for the principle or the objective, you might not be achieving that?   Doug Lindsay  35:36 What do you do for your own development, to kind of keep you sharp, you keep showing up ready for the next rep?   Maj. Nate Dial  35:42 I have a lot of mentors and friends outside of the military. And so sometimes I normally try to reach out to them of challenges that they're facing and dealing with, and asking questions around that, to try to get a feel for how different industries are dealing with certain items or friends of mine. So, that's an enriching part of it. And then I could also offer, like, some of my military experiences to those same people. So, that's kind of a nice back-and-forth of kind of intellectual jabbing, and support for one another.  A big thing for me is I start pretty much every day off 30 minutes every day with a devotional, some, again, religious so I started with the Bible, then, like, kind of meditation. So, that kind of keeps me centered, balanced every day, kind of a consistent foundation every day if I'm going to start my day. And then for the enriching part of I'm a huge biography person. So, I read biography, I think real life is always better than fiction. So, I try to read up on that, and then I'm a big self-health person, I'll go that's podcast. So, those are that but then again, to the balance part of it. I'm a huge sports guy. So, your Rich Eisens, Dan Patricks. Bomani Jones's, Stephen A Smith, like I listen to those people to try to let myself come down and be a normal person and be relatable to others who are who I lead. So, I try to nurture both sides of it, like my personal like, let's just be entertained and decompress. But also, hey, I see what else is out there.   Doug Lindsay  37:09 Sounds like there's a lot of different ways that you invest into there to make sure that you show up and be present the way you want to right? Maj. Nate Dial 100% 100%. N   Doug Lindsay  37:09 Nate, one of the things that sometimes people will have debates on is that leaders are born versus leaders are made or somewhere in between. Do you mind sharing your thoughts about kind of how you think about that based on your the work that you've done and your own practical experience or leaders born and they made? Or what does that? What does that look like?   Maj. Nate Dial  37:34 I definitely have a nurture-over-nature person. I just think too much of life has shown me that, especially around high-leverage moments, right? So there, my dad taught me something very similar. But the quotes, in easier way to articulate the idea that people don't rise to the occasion they revert to their training, so in necessitates the obvious question is, “How good is your training?” And so I think, while people could have some, like natural skill sets around leadership, I think, to hit your full potential, you've got to be nurturing that over time. And you only really get that through reps; you only get that through leadership challenge. That's why the Academy is so awesome with the leadership laboratory that we have there. And why in a lot of ways, I prefer the Air Force Academy model over West Point where West Point, a lot of their top cadets stay the same over the whole year, versus our Academy changes essentially three times the summer, the fall and the spring, because it gives more people more opportunities to have some of those leadership challenges to try to grow and develop. So, I'm a big believer in that — that you need reps to be able to get there. Could you get lucky once or twice, but I think to really hone your skills, your potential, I think you have to have some type of environment that nurtures that out of you.   Doug Lindsay  38:51 Exactly right. You know, we may all have different starting points on how we show up. But how we engage in what we do and how we do those reps and how often we do those reps are fully up to us and how we're going to how we're going to manage that right? I can't necessarily control where I start, but I can control how I finish and how I engage with the process. Right? Different for sure. A-firm. 100% agree with that. You we're successful at the Academy, you're successful in the Air Force, you're a little over midway through your career, what advice do you have for young leaders?   Maj. Nate Dial  39:20 The biggest thing is control the controllables. And so, by that, I mean you control your energy, you control your attitude, you control your effort. And most importantly, you control how you respond to adversity. People are always taking notice of that. So, if you control the controllables and you worry about you show up every day with high energy or positive energy, you give everything great effort, people are going to want to help you. People are going to see that and follow you with that. And then you control your attitude. So how do you treat people? How do you approach people? How do you operate in your day-to-day life? People respond to that. And so, I think always having that in mind of control the controllables, especially around those four items, I bet people would tell people to focus on that. And through those reps, as you get older, you'll get more tools in the toolkit. But I would start with that.   Doug Lindsay  40:12 Do you mind maybe sharing one of those adversities you faced and how you kind of move through that in terms of maybe a challenge that you faced, and you had to sit there and go, “How am I going to respond to this?” and maybe how that shaped you, or maybe a pivotal one that you wouldn't mind sharing?   Maj. Nate Dial  40:27 I'll go with, yeah, I'll start with pilot training, I think. So even though we talked about a little bit at some of these like valleys before, I never had really been in a dark place before. But pilot training was pretty dark for me, because it was the first time where I was, you know, an average or below average performer. This thing I always wanted my whole life, as we've talked about already, of being a pilot in the Air Force, I've done all the right things, and hit all the highs. You can hit educational at the Academy that to get so close to your dream and not be a great performer was rough. And so, I think part of that was a great journey of just how do you deal with that kind of adversity and not performing as you thought you would, or how you could? I was, you know, went to an 89 ride and T-6s. So, for people who aren't familiar with a pilot training that's like your, if you fail this, right, like you're out of the program, pretty much. And so, it takes some hooks to get there. And so, I was flying and got through that. So, that was kind of, you know, seeing the precipice of the cliff, and then getting yourself off of it. But what was nice about that was like the light bulb went off later, and T-38. And I had the tie for the top check ride for the initial check ride to gates at Shepherd. So, the light bulb eventually went off. And so, some of that with me, too, was being at Shepherd, it's designed to be a single seat fighter pilot place. And so, you know, just trying to deal with that whole situation there at inject was very interesting for me. Obviously, I wrote about in one of my pieces. But what that experience taught me about seeing the precipice and then coming back being somebody was trying so hard but not performing. What it helped me do? Honestly, it's empathize with people who are struggling. So, I know a lot of people who are at the Academy talk about, like, you know, “Chemistry was my crucible,” or “Water survival was my crucible,” and like, I gotta always go at it. And while I had not great performances, everything was really high, right? So, you don't get to become the cadet wing commander and not perform at a pretty high rate in the fall. So, while I had challenges, it was nothing that I didn't overcome or weren't essentially speed bumps, that was the first like, no kidding, like, I might not make it through this program moment. And so, with that, that just gave me a lot of empathy for people and allowed me to ask better questions, when especially people who are high performers who are in this weird doldrum, I can ask a lot more questions. And I kind of get some of those feelings that I felt back then. So, that's one of those challenges that I think that I would talk through around just making me a better leader were in the in when I was living in it, it felt horrible and terrible. But being on the other end of it, 2, 3, 4 years from then, and I'll give you an example. So, I had an airman who worked for me, you can fast forward see, it's probably 2016-ish, who was top linguist coming out, was a distinguished graduate of his cryptological program came to me and he was going through doing some crazy stuff, right? How to get like an article 15 from the commander or whatnot. And so, when that was happening, I just sat him down and we have a really good conversation around like, “Hey, man, like, this is weird, like, whatever this is, right now, it's not it.” And so, I got to share a little bit about my story about pilot training or whatnot. And so, we got to talk and I said, “Hey, man, so I'm gonna do usually take a week leave, go home, get away from this place, like, reset, come back and then let's, let's talk again.” So, he was able to do that. And then we put them right into the ALS program. So, that's like the airman leadership school. So, when they go from being an airman to sergeant's and our Air Force, everybody it's a it's a big kind of bridge moment for them to have educational development for their personal military education. And I challenged him. I said, “Hey, man, let's get back on this DG train. Let's, let's have this be a top performer. Again, this is your opportunity to recover, right? We, we hit this high, we got this whole group of teens, and now we're coming back. And so let's, let's make it happen.” And he finished No. 1 this class, and he was back on the train. So, I could use that example of where, you know, my personal crucible was able to hopefully help me as a leader relate to somebody and then hopefully, now granted, the kid did all the work. He's amazing; he's doing great things now. But to have a little bit of an impact on that, I think, was only because I went through my own hardship. So that's kind of that empathy that I talked about as a leader of having this moment knowing that it's going to prepare me to lead somebody in the future.   Doug Lindsay  44:44 It wasn't just that you had gone through a hardship but then you were open, honest, transparent about that as well that you were able, willing to share that aspect with him so that you can go through that process, right? So, it's just to be human about it. Anything else that you'd like to leave our listeners with respect to, you know, leadership or any other topics that we talked about today?   Maj. Nate Dial  45:08 I think the biggest thing is, just be authentic. I think we all have strengths, weaknesses. And so, being authentic to yourself of how are you building a team that highlights your strengths that covers your weaknesses, and being self-reflecting self-critical and knowing what those are? So, I think that's probably the first thing I think for any leader, I think all the best ones I've been around have all been very, very self-aware. And so, I think that will be the challenge, I think, for everybody try to how are you self-aware around strengths and weaknesses? And then, the second one is, you know, don't be afraid to be vulnerable. Now, you can't be oversharing. But you're gonna kind of know those spots where you can be vulnerable. And don't be afraid of that. Some of the — I can think about a wing commander who talked about his divorce in a public forum, and how he had to take a knee and go to mental health and everything else. I was like, that's really inspiring for where the wing commander didn't talk about that openly at an all call, I was like, “Man, that's powerful to me.” And so, I think, you know, you're gonna kind of pick and choose those moments. And I was gonna be a wing commander, but you'll know those moments. And so, I would try to tell people as I try to think about that.   Doug Lindsay  46:21 Thank you for your transparency. Thank you for your journey, and the example that you're setting for all the grads out there and everything that you do. And thank you for your time today and being on the Long Blue Leadership podcast. Nate, in case some of our listeners want to reach out to you and connect with you, do you have some social media handles or some ways that they can get a hold of you?   Maj. Nate Dial  46:38 Yeah, sure. If the first one so all the publications and whatnot are on my personal website. So that's www.drnathandial.com. So, drnathandial.com, is my personal website. You can see all the publications, my Twitter handle, where I publish a lot of things there is therealnatedial  is the handle. LinkedIn, Nathan Dial, you can find me sure if you're part of the long blue line probably have a common connection or two. So, feel free to add me there. And that's my socials and look forward to connecting with you all.   Doug Lindsay  47:12 Sounds great. Thank you so much.   Maj. Nate Dial  47:15 Thank you so much for having me and look forward to talking to you sometime in the future.   KEYWORDS people, cadet, talk, Academy, leadership, place, years, dad, Air Force Academy, put, nurture, kid, leaders, pretty, person, reps, wing commander, challenge, huge, thought   The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation   

From Struggle to Success: Jim Hunt Shares His Road to Self-Sufficiency(#9)Prepare to be captivated by the extraordinary tale of Jim Hunt, a man who defied conventional norms in pursuit of true contentment and fulfillment. In my captivating conversation with Jim, he unveils the pivotal moments that prompted him to reassess his priorities and embrace self-care as an essential component of holistic well-being. From grappling with migraines to rediscovering the joy of physical activity through an unexpected 5K run invitation, Jim's story is one marked by resilience and unwavering determination. As he candidly shares his struggles with fear, tension, and unexpected challenges, Jim imparts invaluable wisdom on harnessing gratitude and mindfulness as tools for navigating life's twists and turns.On this episode, We'll talk about:Jim Hunt's total health journey prioritized happiness and fulfillment as a fatherRealized life lacked fulfillment and joy in 2018, focusing on self-care and helping othersReintegrated activity through a running which he couldn't do before due to migrainesLife transition included career, marriage, and location changePrioritized physical activity, diet, and rest for self-carePromotes self-paced course Codependent to IndependentThe decision to leave everything due to dysfunctional life and COVID-19, faced challenges in marriage and financial stabilityEmphasizes gratitude and minimizing time spent strugglingSelf-care and meditation are crucial for managing tension and stressUsing fear as an advisor rather than letting it drive life decisionsAppreciation for openness and valuable lessons learned from the shared journeyThe views and opinions expressed on the “Life In Transition” podcast are solely those of the author and guests and should not be attributed to any other individual or entity. This podcast is an independent production of Life In Transition Podcast, and the podcast production is an original work of the author. All rights of ownership and reproduction are retained—copyright 2023Jim Hunt's BIOJim attended public high school, graduating with multiple scholarship choices.  He declined a football scholarship to the Colorado School of Mines & Technology in favor of an Air Force ROTC scholarship which took him to Carnegie Mellon University.  Jim studied Electrical Engineering there, graduating in 1994.  In his 24-year career that followed, almost all of Jim's Continuing Education classes covered soft skills like leadership, team-building, mentoring, and communication skills.After Jim left his tech career he underwent an intensive education program around human behavior, relationships, and mental health.  Today Jim is back in school, pursuing a master's of Social Work at the University of Kentucky, to become a licensed therapist.Professional LifeJim started in the automotive electronics and wiring sector but took the opportunity to reset back into the microchip side of the tech industry after a contract was terminated in Detroit.  In San Jose California, he began what would be a 21-year career with Cadence Design Systems, in the Hardware/Software verification space.  At cadence, Jim was consistently promoted and was running an international team with groups in San Jose, Boston, and New Delhi, when he decided to change his life.Life TransitionsJim reports feeling like much of his life has been in transition, but specifically mentioned a few of the more challenging or impactful transitions. When he found himself without a home as he began his Senior year of high school, was one of them.  The generosity of a kind family is why he did not end up homeless.  It turned out well for him, but that period of uncertainty was particularly difficult.  Another big transition is when he left his "adopted" living situation unexpectedly and had to find a place to live while working a full-time job and taking three classes, all preceding his final semester at CMU.  Jim weathered a lot of chaos in his personal and professional career in the 2000 - 2019 time period, ultimately leading to burnout and initiating major changes in his life.  In early 2019 he made the self-described "terrifying decision" to divorce his wife of 19 years, leave his career, and leave California.  This was the life transition he describes as requiring the most courage because it was intentional and self-driven.  Several smaller transitions since then lead to the present, as Jim embarks on a very different education and career path - another transition.   

As a pilot in the initial wave of women to fly modern combat aircraft, Erin “Aero” Orga actually grew up dreaming of being either a professional roller coaster rider, Olympic figure skater or an astronaut for NASA.  Her passion for air and space finally won out and she attended the University of Notre Dame on an Air Force ROTC scholarship, where she graduated as one of only two females in her class with a degree in aerospace engineering.  Aero was also a distinguished graduate out of AFROTC and was awarded a highly coveted Air Force pilot training slot.  During her initial training at Columbus Air Force Base, Aero was ranked high enough in her class to earn the right to track select into fighters and she was eventually chosen to fly her favorite fighter aircraft, the F-15E Strike Eagle.   During her 10 years in the Air Force, Aero flew over 50 combat missions in Iraq, where she provided air cover for the US Army and Marine units on the ground in places like Bagdad, Fallujah, and Mosul.  She also provided air cover for the first democratic Iraqi elections and the second inauguration ceremony of Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan.  When she wasn't flying F-15Es, Aero spent time as a T-38 instructor, training many young Air Force pilots who would go on to fly fighter jets.   Aero eventually left the military to focus on her family and her newborn son.  She moved back to her hometown of Pittsburgh and began working as a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Program Manager for Westinghouse Electric, a nuclear engineering company.  During her time at Westinghouse, Aero has run global teams of engineers delivering successful projects in the US, the UK, Canada, India, and China, with many of those projects valued at over $100 million and is currently managing the design and testing of a brand-new type of nuclear microreactor.   In addition to her professional careers, Aero has devoted over 15 years to training in Tae Kwon Do, in which she holds a third-degree black belt.

https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion In today's interview episode where we are digging into the story of Major James "Hook" Knauss. Hook is former A-10C Instructor and Experimental Test Pilot with over 3,000 flight hours in more than 25 aircraft types. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Test Pilot School and currently serves as a Flight Safety Officer at Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command specializing in the analysis of MFOQA (Military Flight Operations Quality Assurance) data. During his time on active duty, Hook earned a Master of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. He now serves on staff at Heritage Bible Church in Greer, SC as Director of Discipleship and Training. Hook resides in the upstate of South Carolina with his wife of 15 years and their two boys ages 10 and 5.  Resources: ROTC Heritage Bible Church DoD Skillbridge Program SBTS Active Duty Military Grant Episode Notes: Background: Grew up Baptist in Georgia, joined Air Force ROTC to get school paid for, majored in Civil Engineering, then took a pilot slot. Testimony: Accepted Christ and was baptized in Middle School after retreat weekend sermon on repentance Successes and failures: Failed checkride in Introductory Flight Screening and graduated Test Pilot School Calling: Completed degree at SBTS while on active duty with tuition assistance and military grant. Military prepared Hook for vocational ministry leadership and teaching.  Favorite Books of the Bible: Psalms, Gospel of John Daily Spiritual Growth: Flying career taught Hook how to prepare and learn (chairfly) and apply that to spiritual growth. Make God's Word and Biblical community a priority. Contact Hook Reflect: What does this episode reveal about God's character? How does this episode cause us to see our need for a Savior?  How can we apply lessons learned from this episode to our life? Follow Christ for this day! ✝️ “Choose this day whom you will serve...” ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭15‬ ‭✝️ “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬  Next steps: SHARE with another armed forces member FOLLOW Instagram, Facebook, Podcast https://linktr.ee/thunderinglegion

As a member of the UMS Class of 1958, Brigadier General Grover E. Jackson, began a remarkable journey both academically and professionally with a degree from Sewanee: The University of the South, as well as completing college as a distinguished member of the Air Force ROTC. From this point forward, the achievements and service of Brigadier General Jackson have been a sterling example of what a servant-leader should do with his life.  In July 1989, Brigadier General Jackson was assigned the duty of Director of Intelligence, Headquarters U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii. His assignment was to provide accurate and timely intelligence for the United States Pacific Command as well as other significant commands. Only a person with the highest professional credentials and the finest personal character could receive such an assignment that is so essential for the protection of the United States. This impressive promotion was the result of 25 years of dedicated service to the citizens of the United States.  In addition to completing a Master of Arts degree in Economics from Syracuse University in 1967, Brigadier General Jackson received training at the best military colleges in the U.S. and among these was the prestigious Air War College in 1982. At various times he was stationed in Texas; Saigon, South Vietnam; RAF Station Chiscksands, England; Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii; Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska; Stuttgart, West Germany; and Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.  UMS-Wright is fortunate that Brigadier General Jackson has moved permanently to Baldwin County and recently honored our school with a visit along with his daughter, Paige, his son, Garrett, and his wife Anita.  Subscribe to The Wright Way Podcast on your favorite podcast platform so you don't miss out on any upcoming episodes. Have someone you would like to hear on the podcast, or want to be a guest yourself? Drop a line in the comments or email asmith@ums-wright.org

Got an idea for a guest or topic?   If you would like to share your own story, complete the form on OCF's “Be a Guest” webpage. Alternatively, if you have an idea for a guest or topic I should consider for a future episode of the show, send an email to podcast@ocfusa.org.    Show Notes What is resilience? Is there a correlation between resilience and the prevalence of suicide in the military? How do you know if you've become resilient? Minutes after leading a session about the topic of resilience during OCF's annual Local Leader Conference held at Spring Canyon earlier this year, Col Tim Hale, USAF (Ret.), sat down with me in the dining hall of Hartley Holmes Lodge to address these questions and others.  Raised in a military community near Scott AFB, Tim began his own career in the Air Force after completing Air Force ROTC at St. Louis University. Throughout his decades of service, Tim's command positions at a variety of levels, bolstered by post-retirement experiences as a cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Department of Veteran Services and as an elder at his church, enabled him to see the importance of resilience firsthand. Tim now resides in Oklahoma, where he serves as OCF's Area Coordinator for Central Oklahoma, Southern Kansas, and Northern Texas.   Check out the various resources mentioned throughout this episode “March or die”: Turning to Christ & community in times of trauma, OCF Crosspoint episode with Jeremy Stalnecker that focuses on topics related to today's episode with Tim Path to Resiliency by Chad Robichaux, Jeremy Stalnecker, and John Mizerak (foreword by MG Bob Dees, USA (Ret.)) Days of Anguish, Days of Hope by Bill Keith The Resilience Trilogy by MG Bob Dees, USA (Ret.) As you listen to this conversation with Tim, here are a few questions to ponder in your personal time, with a small group, or with a mentor Tim says the best time to build resilience is before a traumatic event takes place. How can you build resilience now so that you're better prepared if and when potentially traumatic life events occur? Referring to Path to Resiliency, Tim reminds us that God can heal our trauma and enable us to move forward. What examples, biblical or personal, come to mind as you think of God restoring people after a traumatic event? Specifically, what spiritual disciplines can you cultivate now so that those habits are already established if and when traumatic experiences occur? Who do you consider your community to support you through trauma and recovery? Tim shares 2 Corinthians 1:3 as a biblical encouragement that God sustains us through trials. What scripture can you begin clinging to now that will encourage you through the hardships of life?  Tim suggests that a self-examination of behavior in day-to-day life–even when things are good–can help assess personal resilience that will prove necessary in hardships. Reflect now on how you're handling the “small things” during this season of life, and ask yourself if there are spiritual disciplines to pursue as you seek to develop this resilience. 

We hope that you had a wonderful 4th of July! Today's episode is one that we're really excited to share with you. It was a privilege to have Tammy Baker in the studio with us! She has a story that is unlike any other that we've heard and we're so thankful for her openness in sharing how God worked an incredible change in her heart. Tammy grew up in California and Alaska with a single mom and had one sister. Life was tough and because of the hardship her family experienced Tammy began to view having children as a burden and vowed that she would never get married. She was feeling these things even as a child herself. She was very driven in academics and ended up pursuing aerospace engineering at Embry-Riddle while being involved with Air Force ROTC. In her time in college, she met a young man named Glenn and even though she had vowed to never be married her love for him eventually changed that idea and they married. Both Tammy and Glenn were on the same page about never having children and everything seemed to be falling into place. They both had great careers and were moving across the U.S. for various job opportunities and were truly enjoying life together. There would be people along the way who would ask if they were planning to have children and Tammy was adamant that children would never be a part of their plan. She had compiled a whole list of reasons to not have children. But as we know with God saying "never" can be a funny thing. This is an amazing story about how the Lord slowly but surely began to work in and soften Tammy's heart to the idea of becoming a mother. Her list was eventually surrendered. Tammy shares how she was able to fall in love with the idea of being a mother all while still pursuing her career. A major theme in her story is the concept of letting go and what that looks like when you're following God and become truly open to His plans. We encourage you to open your heart and mind as you listen to this story!Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We'd love it if you'd share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Wednesday to hear another story of God's faithfulness!

Al Jorgensen was born on May 10, 1933 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He had two older sisters, and eventually two younger brothers. His neighborhood was full of friends and baseball games. When he was seven years old, his dad was called to be the bishop of their ward during World War II. Al was very aware of the war, and what was happening. He had a newspaper route as a teenager. In 1951 he graduated from high school and joined the Air Force ROTC. He attended the University of Utah, and then was called to serve a mission in Norway. He spent 2 1/2 years serving in Norway. When he returned home in 1956, he returned to the University of Utah, joined the Army Utah National Guard, married Elaine and started his life as a provider, father and husband. Join me today as Al shares the 90 years of his life and lessened learned. bethnewellcoaching.com. bethnewellcoaching@gmail.com.

LT COLONEL RAYMUNDO M. VANN JR. is the Deputy Commander of the 90th Operations Group at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base (AFB), Wyoming. The group he serves operates fifteen Missile Alert Facilities and one hundred and fifty Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), a third of the nation's ICBM nuclear alert force, which stand on alert and are constantly ready to launch at the direction of the President of the United States. Lt Col Vann graduated and was commissioned from Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas through the Air Force ROTC program in May 2003. He has been qualified in the Minuteman III weapon system. Lt Col Vann has deployed in support of Operation Southern Watch.CAPT GABRIELLA C. GRAHAM is the Wing Executive officer at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base (AFB), Wyoming. She plans, performs, and manages executive support functions, programs, and policies for the wing commander and assists with administration of over 42 units and wing staff. She is accountable to the President, SECDEF, and DUSSTRATCOM for critical launch actions of 150 ICBMs upon direction. Capt Graham graduated and was commissioned from the University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming through the Air Force ROTC program in May 2016. She has been qualified in the Minuteman III weapon system.EPISODE NOTES:Follow NucleCast on Twitter at @NucleCastEmail comments and guest nominations to NucleCast@anwadeter.orgSubscribe to NucleCast podcastRate the show

Description: Captain Heather McNatt, Recruiting Officer at AF ROTC UTSA, discusses how leaders aren't born, but made in the Air Force ROTC. This episode was made possible thanks to the Air Force Officers' Spouses' Club of Washington, DC. https://www.afoscdc.com/   Show Notes: US Air Force ROTC: https://www.afrotc.com/ US Air Force ROTC at UTSA: https://www.utsa.edu/afrotc/ ROTC Application Process with UTSA Webinar: https://youtu.be/tr_R3uk90b0   Bio: Captain Heather McNatt is an Assistant Professor and Recruiting Officer at Air Force ROTC Detachment 842 located at University of Texas in San Antonio. Detachment 842's mission is to mentor, train, and equip personnel and cadets for entering into Active Duty while attending college. Capt. McNatt was commissioned in the Air Force in 2017 as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer, receiving her commission through Texas A&M University. She gained experience at a B-1 maintenance unit as well as working in the 7th Equipment Material Squadron. She served as the Maintenance Flight Commander and the Assistant Director of Operations in the 60th Maintenance Squadron where she lead the mission effort for 135 military and civilian personnel who managed Repair and Reclamation for 58 KC-10s, C-5s, and C-17s, as well as Home Station Checks for the KC-10s. She furthered her experience with C-17s as the Officer in Charge for over 250 personnel.  

In this episode, host Dave Fiore speaks with Dr. Jim Murdaugh, president of Tallahassee Community College. Dr. Murdaugh grew up in Orlando and followed a girlfriend to Tallahassee where he joined the Air Force ROTC at Florida State University and earned undergraduate and master's degrees in criminology. He soon began a long career in law enforcement that included time with the Leon County Sheriff's Office and investigating the high-profile Ted Bundy murders. Dr. Murdaugh would later lead the transformation of the Florida Public Safety Institute and considered retirement before a bear hug from a grateful mom caused him to reconsider the impact he could still have on students. That led to following the advice of close associates and his wife, Sara, to apply for the TCC president position. The 30-year veteran of the Air Force Reserve has a passion for continuing education, entrepreneurship and providing students opportunities for success. But in case you think Jim Murdaugh is all business, he also used to spend spring breaks with son Austin crisscrossing the country visiting theme parks and riding roller coasters.

In this episode, host Dave Fiore speaks with Dr. Jim Murdaugh, president of Tallahassee Community College. Dr. Murdaugh grew up in Orlando and followed a girlfriend to Tallahassee where he joined the Air Force ROTC at Florida State University and earned undergraduate and master's degrees in criminology. The post Episode 46: Dr. Jim Murdaugh appeared first on Fiore Communications | Content-Focused Marketing | Tallahassee.

John Pyon is a part of the "GJH Ministry" new church development located in Duluth, Georgia and is currently working at the Air Force ROTC department at University of Georgia as an Instructor and serves in the United States Air Force as a Captain. He is also attending Memphis Theological Seminary to pursue a Master's Degree in Divinity and praying to become a chaplain following graduation. John loves to golf and exercise and is happily married to Hyeji and they have one dog: Daisy, and one cat: Songtan. Music is provided by Pierce Murphy, Caldera Blue. Source:  https://www.freemusicarchive.org/music/Pierce_Murphy/through-the-olive-branches/caldera-blueComments: http://freemusicarchive.org/Additional comments:  modifications made to shorten and loop song for introduction and closing of podcast.Copyright Attribution and License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Julius Pegues was the first Black varsity basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh, and went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force as a weather forecaster and later as an advisor to the Federal Aviation Administration.A star basketball at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, he was forced to matriculate to the University of Pittsburgh because University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and the University of Tulsa did not allow Black players.Julius quickly transitioned from a walk-on to a scholarship player after averaging 20 points per game in his first month. He finished as one of only 34 players in the program's history to score 1,000 career points.The NBA's St. Louis Hawks picked Pegues in the fourth round of the 1958 draft, but he had to serve in the military as he was in the Air Force ROTC at Pitt.In Tulsa, he was best known for his work to memorialize Tulsa's 1921 Race Massacre and the history and culture of Black Tulsans through the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation. His efforts laid the groundwork for the Greenwood Rising History Center.Julius served on the boards of the Tulsa NAACP, Tulsa Urban League, Tulsa Comprehensive Health Services, Family and Children's Services, Hutcherson Branch YMCA, Tulsa Housing Authority, and Tulsa Board of Education Human Relations Committee. He was a member of the City of Tulsa Economic Development Commission.Julius Pegues was 86 when he died March 29, 2022.

Daniel's BioHello, I'm Daniel – husband to Anna, widower to Sarah, Air Force veteran, business owner, writer, speaker, CFP® Professional, financial planner, and Christ-follower. I'm the founder of Wise Stewardship Financial Planning where we offer fee-only, fiduciary financial planning and investment advice with a special focus on young widows and widowers as well as servicemembers and their families.Grief changes everything. I know that all too well from personal experience as I became a widower at 31 and before that, father to 3 children in heaven. My passion and purpose now is to take what I've learned from those experiences combined with financial planning and advice to be a help to you in your own unique grief journey. Wise Stewardship works together with you to help gain stability in your current financial situation, prioritize next steps, and walk with you into a new and different future.Here's the rest of my story and why I became a financial planner. I've always been interested in money since I was a little kid, including out-bidding my siblings for chores-for-hire, to providing loans to my siblings and friends when they had spent all their money and diligently saving my allowance for future goals. Over time this evolved into reading the stock pages in the newspaper as a young teenager and then choosing to major in economics in college. After completing Air Force ROTC at Purdue University, I commissioned as an officer into the Air Force in 2009 but continued my personal interest into personal finances, investing, and all things money-related.In my college years and early 20s, I read hundreds of books and spent thousands of hours studying financial planning topics. I also had the opportunity to be a volunteer financial counselor during many of the years when I was on active duty in addition to helping and educating family and friends over the years. Thanks to countless help along the way, I learned more about the financial services industry and found my way to fee-only, fiduciary financial planning. It was through these experiences that sparked my passion and helped me realize what I wanted to do whenever I decided to leave the military!As an officer on active duty for almost 9 years, along with a brother, sister, and brother-in-law in the military, I experienced firsthand the benefits and challenges that military life can have on all aspects of life especially finances. Frequent changes like TDY's, deployments, and PCS's add unique potential opportunities and obstacles to meeting goals and dreams. Add in the often disparate and sometimes confusing military pay, benefits, scattered military benefits and discounts, and countless people offering advice or services, and there is often a lack of clarity on how best to optimize all of these to best meet goals.I've seen almost everything military life can throw at you and been through much of what you probably have questions about. I've learned a lot about what works and what doesn't; what's important and what isn't. I'm now able to use these vast experiences to help my clients navigate the challenges of the busy military life, get the most out of your hard-earned benefits, and help you achieve your goals.Social:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielmkopp/Twitter: @danielmkoppInstagram: wisestewardshipfinancialplanMusic in this episode was obtained from Bensound.

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Ed Hollandsworth of the Joint Forces Staff College shares his observations related to career-level US military officer education and the recently released joint doctrine: JP 3-04 Information in Joint Operations.  Research Question: Ed suggests that researchers consider a cluster of inter-related questions that could be considered as a research agenda. This means each question by itself could be the focus of a separate research effort.  Building on the podcasts of Major Cassandra Brooker (#81) and John DeRosa and Alex DelCastillo (#82), Ed challenges scholars to ask “How can the US Government validly, accurately, and rapidly measure the effectiveness of its operations in the information environment in time to influence leader decisions about future plans and operations?  What social science methods and performance measurement models are well-suited to this complex task?  How should the Intelligence Community posture itself to support OIE performance measurement?  Downstream, what are the implications of integrated OIE strategies, and the measurement of their effectiveness, for future changes in intelligence collection, predictive analysis, and training and education curriculum development?” Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #38 Lori Reynolds on Operations in the Information Environment #20 Chris Paul on the Firehose of Falsehood #125 JP 3-04 Information in Joint Operations Joint Forces Staff College Book Recommendations: Joshua A. Sipper.  (2021).  It's not just about cyber anymore:  Multidisciplinary Cyber Education and Training Under the New Information Warfare Paradigm, Joint Forces Quarterly, Spring 2021, pp. 49-56. Mark M. Lowenthal, Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy, 9th edition, 2023. Amy B. Zegart, Spies, Lies and Algorithms:  The History and Future of American Intelligence, 2022. Martin C. Libicki, Cyberspace in Peace and War, 2d edition, 2021. Link to full show notes and resources https://information-professionals.org/episode/cognitive-crucible-episode-126 Guest Bio:  Dr. Edgar “Ed” Hollandsworth reported to the Joint Forces Staff College in September of 2021 as the DIA Academic Chair, a 3-year rotational assignment.  In September 2022, National Defense University appointed him as an Assistant Professor.  He teaches lessons on intelligence studies, information warfare, space and cyberspace operations, and national defense organization in all three JFSC colleges. Ed joined DIA in 2007.  His positions included Director of National Intelligence Pat Roberts Intelligence Scholar, 2020-2021; Deputy Career Field Manager and Lead Career Development Officer, Mission Management (MM) Career Field, Joint Staff J2M (MM Workforce Development Division), 2015-2020; Deputy Chief, Mission Integration Division, National Measurement and Signature Intelligence Office (NMO), Directorate for Science and Technology (ST), 2014-2015; Chief, Enterprise Integration Division, DoD Special Communications Enterprise Office, ST, 2012-2014; Space Policy Analyst, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, 2011-2012; Chief, Functional Management Division, Office for Collection Management Enterprise, Defense Intelligence Operations Coordination Center (DIOCC), 2009-2010; Senior Intelligence Officer (Policy and Strategy) and Acting Chief, Policy and Strategy Division, DIOCC, 2007-2009. Prior to his DIA career, Ed served for 20 years as an Air Force intelligence officer, retiring in 2006 as a Lieutenant Colonel.  His Air Force assignments included Assistant Director of Operations, Air Force Technical Applications Center, 2004-2006; Assistant Air Attaché to Germany, DIA, 2001-2004; Intelligence Requirements Certification Officer, Joint Staff J2P, 1999-2001; Joint Warfighting Capabilities Assessment Studies Lead, Joint Staff J2P, 1997-1999; Chief, Multi-Force Assessment Division, Chief, Joint Analysis and Reporting Division, and Section Chief, Misawa Cryptologic Operations Center, Air Intelligence Agency, 1994-1997; Chief, National Systems Collection Management, OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT C2, 1996; Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, Air Force ROTC Det. 520, Cornell University, 1991-1994; Arms Control Analyst, Soviet Politico-Military Affairs Officer and Watch Officer, Headquarters Air Force Intelligence Agency, 1988-1991; Student, Naval Postgraduate School National Security Affairs program, Air Force Institute of Technology, 1986-1987.  He also served as a desk editor for the Foreign Broadcast Information Service and as a security escort at the Central Intelligence Agency, 1984-1986. Ed is a graduate of the Defense Senior Leader Development Program, 2012; Army War College, 2011; Armed Forces Staff College, 2000; Air Command and Staff College, 1998; and Air Force Academic Instructor School, 1991. He holds a B.S. in Foreign Service majoring in International Politics from Georgetown University, a masters in East European Area Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, an MBA from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, a masters in strategic studies from the Army War College, and a Ph.D. in Public Administration/Public Affairs from Virginia Tech.  Ed co-taught Cornell University and Ithaca College undergraduates as an Air Force ROTC instructor; adult undergraduates in business administration at Columbia College, Patrick Air Force Base, as an adjunct faculty member; and graduate students in the Joint Forces Staff College as a full-time faculty member.  His research interests include government reform, public management theory and practice, intelligence studies, and challenges of governing the global commons. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

"Juice" joins me to discuss Air Force ROTC and some of the things he has experienced as a ROTC CommanderAfterburn Podcast: https://www.theafterburnpodcast.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-afterburn-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

We wondered what it was like to be a Citadel Staff member that was in charge of ROTC cadet while at the Citadel.  This episode we bring on Metzy's old Air Force ROTC instructor, Lyndon Bartlett.  He is a graduate from the Air Force Academy, so he had some working knowledge of what a military college lifestyle was like.  What he did not realize was how different it would be from what he experienced at a service academy.  We get to hear how the Air Force Academy differed from the Citadel from Lyndon as well as some of the games he played with cadets while a teacher at the Citadel as well.  He provides some great insight as well into how the contract and scholarship process works within the ROTC departments.

The Air Force ROTC HSSP scholarship changes starting in July 2022 are perhaps the most significant revisions of any of the Armed Services' ROTC scholarship programs in recent memory.  It drastically decreases the likelihood of an Air Force ROTC scholarship in high school and moves the selection process and scholarship money to Air Force ROTC detachments on campus.   LTC Kirkland discusses these recent changes and their impact.

Andrew is an executive and board leader with a deep understanding of technology, innovation, and complex systems. As a physicist, program manager, and officer in the USAF he applied systems thinking to the full technology stack of command, control, communications, and intelligence (C3I) systems in airborne and space-based platforms. He has used that same approach across a broad array of industries and products to create value and sustainable superior performance.Over his career, his experiences in developing teams and implementing strategies have enabled innovation, growth, and profitability improvements in aerospace, commercial electronics, fast-moving consumer goods, and industrial sensors and safety products. He is an NACD Certified Director with experiences on Fortune 500 wholly owned subsidiaries, start-ups, private, and non-profit boards.He currently serves as Chairman and CEO for RealWear, and as a board member on the Finance Committee for the Rogers Group. RealWear is building the world's first voice-driven and fully ruggedized head-mounted tablet solution for connected industrial workers. It is the only wearable computer that has an inherently safe ATEX Zone-1 certified product for use in hazardous environments such as oil and gas production and chemical processing. RealWear's approach to augmented and assisted reality solutions is transforming how work is performed by addressing key challenges in workforce training, safety, and productivity with IoT data visualization, remote mentoring, and workflow applications. In this conversation, Andrew and I discuss the true meaning of leadership, the power of solitude, and how your strengths can become your weaknesses. Connect with Andrew on Twitter - andrewchros and LinkedIn - /in/andrewchrostowskiBook suggestions included; Team of Teams, Out of the Crisis, How to Win Friends and Influence People, and anything by Simon Sinek—-Prior to his current role, Andrew served briefly as COO, chaired the Advisory Board for RealWear, and was a member of the Audit Committee. The Rogers Group Inc. provides crushed stone, sand and gravel, asphalt and highway construction to the southeastern United States. In 2014, the company was ranked as the eighth largest aggregates producer in the nation (Aggregates Manager, July 2015). For the past several years, has remained the largest privately owned company in the aggregates industry.Additionally, Andrew consults and advises on issues of technology development, innovation, productivity, operations, cybersecurity, and digital strategies.Other roles included increasingly responsible positions in general management, operations, quality, compliance, and information systems with industry-leading companies such as Johnson Controls, Tyco, United Technologies, Goodrich, Energizer, Pfizer, Warner-Lambert, and Hitachi.He holds two undergraduate degrees in Engineering Physics from Oregon State University's Honor Program where he was a distinguished graduate of Air Force ROTC. He has a Master's Degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California and later completed a certificate of professional development at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.He is a founding member, Faculty Instructor, Board Advisor and Qualified Technology Executive of the Digital Directors Network, the only curated global network of digital executives, directors and organizations working together to improve digital competence and diversity in the corporate boardroom to shape and secure the digital future for everyoneDiscover more:Interested in coaching services, check out Live for Yourself Consulting and Dr. Benjamin Ritter

In the final episode of the series of featuring members of the 2021 U.S. Curtis Cup team, Rachel Heck stops by The Back of the Range.  We spoke about her journey that led her to Stanford and how she balances a busy collegiate golf career with her schoolwork.   Rachel Heck - Stanford Women's GolfRachel Heck - Artist Instagram Page "Raindelayz"Subscribe to The Back of the Range Subscribe in Apple Podcasts and SPOTIFY!Also Subscribe in YouTube,   Google Play , Overcast, Stitcher  Follow on Social Media! Email us:   ben@thebackoftherange.comWebsite: www.thebackoftherange.com  Voice Work by Mitch Phillips 

This week on The KORE Women podcast, Dr. Summer Watson welcomes Tammy G. Barlette. She is a Minnesota native, who grew up with a heart to serve her country. At the University of Minnesota she joined Air Force ROTC and this is where her love for aviation started. Tammy completed Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training in April of 2000 for the Air Force, where she flew the T-37 and T-38, and moved on to fly the A-10 Warthog. There were some life changes and she went on to join the Air National Guard and piloted the MQ-1 Predator and the MQ-9 Reaper, accumulating over 1500 hours of combat support time in both Iraq and Afghanistan supporting and protecting our troops on the ground, providing real time reconnaissance and lethal support. She has over 3000 hours of flying time, has a Master's in Christian Ministery, wife, mom, and also run's an organization called Athena's Voice.  You can connect and follow Tammy G. Barlette on LinkedIn on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and at: athenasvoiceusa.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammybarlette/ https://www.facebook.com/tammy.barlette @tambarlette on instagram https://www.athenasvoiceusa.com Thank you for taking the time to listen to the KORE Women podcast and being a part of the KORE Women experience. You can listen to The KORE Women podcast on your favorite podcast directory - Pandora, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, YouTube, Spotify, Stitcher, Podbean, JioSaavn and at: www.KOREWomen.com/podcast. Please leave your comments and reviews about the podcast and check out KORE Women on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You can also learn more about Dr. Summer Watson and KORE Women at: www.korewomen.com

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Lt. Col. Lisa Hillhouse is an independent educational consultant and the founder of Hillhouse College and Career Advising, based in Atlanta. Prior to launching her practice, Lisa retired from the Air Force after 26 years of active duty and reserve service. Much of that time focused on officer recruitment and leadership development. Lisa began her admissions journey with a special assignment to Air Force ROTC at the University of California, Berkeley. She loved educating and mentoring young leaders and continued that work at the United States Air Force Academy as a deputy liaison officer director and admissions liaison officer. There she helped lead and manage one of the largest recruiting areas in the nation while evaluating and developing candidates for military careers. While in college, Lisa enrolled in AFROTC and went on to earn a scholarship and a commission. Lisa has a Bachelor's degree in Politics from Assumption College, a Master's degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma, and a College and Career Planning graduate certificate from the University of California, Berkeley. Lisa is nationally recognized for her expertise and specialty of guiding and supporting students through the complex process of becoming commissioned officers. Many of her students are focused on earning ROTC scholarships, military service academy appointments, or becoming officer training school candidates. Lisa also collaborates with other consultants around the country. She frequently presents at admissions conferences and webinars and has served as a guest presenter for college advising courses. Lisa first appeared on our podcast in episode 104 to discuss Applying To A Military Academy and in episode 184 Demonstrating Leadership In College Applications. You can find out more about Lisa at www.HillhouseCollegeAdvising.com. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.

Bowman's Friends is a podcast created to connect and inform UK students of issues, events, and cool stuff on campus and in the Lexington area. It is hosted by UK students, for the UK community. Our goal is to amplify student voices through equity, inclusion, and representation of all. In honor of Women's History month, Julia Price sat down with Major Lindsey Phillabaum and Captain Nichole Nicholson, who are UK alumni & current instructors to Air Force ROTC cadets. Lindsey & Nichole talk about their return to UK & the ways that the ROTC program has made a positive impact on their lives. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!