Lessons from an F-35 Crash | Alaska Air Force Fire Chief Matthew Wilson

Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Wilson of Eielson Air Force Base shares his unique perspective from the far north, detailing the lessons learned from recent F-35 and F-16 aircraft mishaps and the challenges of leading a military fire department with a high turnover rate. Discover his leadership philosophy of subordinating ego and listening to your team, why resilience is a quality you build by doing "hard things," and how he's helping to foster a new culture of mental health.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• Life in the Extreme Arctic: The unique challenges of firefighting in Alaska's extreme cold and the constant daylight of summer.

• Mishap Response: A firsthand account of responding to a real-world F-35 crash and the difference between training and reality.

• The "Wilson" Leadership Philosophy: Why subordinating your ego, listening, and asking open-ended questions is key.

• Building Resilience: Why Matthew believes resilience is a quality that is built by doing "hard things" in a controlled way.

• Overcoming Stigma: The positive cultural shift in the military toward seeking mental health support without reprisal.

• The High Turnover Challenge: The difficulties and surprising strengths of leading an ever-changing force of young firefighters.

• Mentorship Matters: The importance of intentionally mentoring subordinates to develop their skills and confidence.