The Professionals Playbook

*Ranked "A 2019 Top Podcast" by Stitcher* Join Air Force F-35 fighter pilot Justin Lee as he interviews world-class performers. From NASA astronauts to NFL Super Bowl Champions to Top Gun fighter pilots to undercover CIA agents--he talks with the top people in their field so that you can be ahead of the curve at your job. He dives into their routines and mindset behind success--exploring decision making, prioritizing, exercise, time management, self-talk, and more. Major Lee has 8 years of experience flying both the F-16 and F-35. In 2016, he was selected as Shaw Air Force Base’s Top Instructor Pilot of the year. In 2017, he returned from Afghanistan where his squadron dropped the most ordnance since the opening days of the war. He has 4 Air Medals and nearly 400 hours of Combat Flight Time. Crush your job using these experts' techniques in leadership, goal setting, family balance, character building, social media, mental toughness, visualization, emotional intelligence, rapport bui... Show More

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USAF Thunderbird #1: The Air Force's top ambassador and warrior on life, loss, combat and more--John "Brick" Caldwell

May 27, 2019 • 62 min

Lt. Col. John "Brick" Caldwell is the Commander and Leader of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. I had never met Brick before this interview, but several pilots I've flown with have a tremendous amount of respect for him. After our conversation, I do as well. He is an accomplished warrior with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He has over 660 combat flight hours, a Distinguished Flying Cross, and is a graduate of the USAF weapons school. He served for several years in the Air Force's Test and Evaluation Squadron, overseeing the latest fighter aircraft technology. He now leads the 130-person Thunderbird organization and flies the number 1 jet.

Brick is a world-class professional who is also a great communicator. He talks about some emotionally difficult topics as well lessons he's learned along the way. I think everyone can take away something from this interview. Feel free to share this episode with someone who you think would benefit most.

In this episode, we talk about, in order:

His first passion for aviation (minute 0:00)

Turning a dream into reality (minute 5:00)

Lessons learned (minute 6:00)

Deployment to Iraq (minute 07:00)

Losing a friend in combat (minute 10:10)

Taking enemy life (minute 19:15)

Deployment to Afghanistan (minute 21:15)

The mission he received a Distinguished Flying Cross (minute 24:00)

Combat Lessons learned (minute 28:15)

Test and evaluation experience (minute 31:00)

F-16 Viper evolution (minute 37:15)

Decision to join Thunderbirds (minute 41:45)

Being Thunderbird #1 (minute 50:15)

His crazy schedule (minute 53:00)

Thunderbird debriefs (minute 57:00)

Looking forward to most this season (minute 58:30)

Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Check out all the interviews at https://www.professionalsplaybook.com

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