LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP
Leadership stories told by the leaders who live them.
Episodes
Leadership isn't about changing who you are; it's about becoming the fullest expression of who you were meant to be.
SUMMARY What does quiet leadership look like? From military deployments to the flight deck at Alaska Airlines, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Kimberly Ford ’90 explains how preparation, trust and listening can be just as powerful as command.
COL. FORD'S TOP 10 LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS
1. Leadership doesn't have to be lo...
What builds trust when you don't have a title or position of authority?
SUMMARY
According to Lt. Col. Joe Bledsoe ’11, it's honesty, integrity, humility presence and action. Tune in as he shares practical leadership lessons learned from the Academy, combat aviation and years of mentoring others.
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COL. BLEDSOE'S TOP 10 LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS
1. Leadership starts before the titl...
A devastating injury nearly ended her dreams of becoming a pilot.
SUMMARY Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jannell MacAulay ’98, Ph.D., says the accident was merely the first chapter in a career defined by perseverance, service and leadership.
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DR. MACAULAY'S TOP 10 LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS
1. Choose your hard: You don’t escape difficulty in life or leadership, you intentionally...
U.S. Air Force Academy boxing coach Lt. Col. (Ret.) Mark Clifford ’97 shares how the sport shaped his approach to leadership, service and mentoring the next generation of cadets. A strong conversation on resilience and growth.
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COACH CLIFFORD'S TOP 10 LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS
- Leadership is about others, not you. Elevate the people around you—when your team wins, you w...
Leadership isn’t about perfection — it’s about accountability, especially when things don’t go as planned.
SUMMARY
From lessons learned as a cadet to leading her teams through complex challenges, Col. (Ret.) Erin Staine-Pyne ’98 reflects on how transparency, empathy and trust define strong leadership in uncertain moments.
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ERIN STAINE-PYNE'S TOP LEADE...
Sometimes leadership is modeled in small ways — like leaving work at 4 p.m. and meaning it. Not because the job’s done — but because you’re showing your team that life outside of work matters too.
SUMMARY
In this Long Blue Leadership podcast, Mark Michalek ’99, human capital director for the FBI, shares leadership tips for more resilient teams.
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MARK'...
A simple but powerful leadership lesson: show up — whether in loss, transition or everyday life. SUMMARY Jessica Whitney ’10 reminds us that we often know what to do — the difference is actually doing it. Small acts of showing up can mean everything.
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JESSICA'S TOP 10 LEADERSHIP LESSONS
Here are 10 leadership lessons from this conversation:
1. Align y...
In this episode of Long Blue Leadership, Joel “Thor” Neeb ’99 explains this simple framework. “Yes” builds experience. “No” protects focus and time.
SUMMARY In this episode of Long Blue Leadership, Joel Neeb ’99 explains this simple framework. Yes builds experience. No protects focus and time. Leadership is knowing when to shift.
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JO...
From combat missions in the F-22 Raptor to more than five months aboard the International Space Station, Lt. Col. Nichole “Vapor” Ayers ’11 has seen it all.
SUMMARY
In this episode of Long Blue Leadership, Col. Ayers reflects on mentorship, teamwork and building the next generation of warriors and astronauts.
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TOP 10 TAKEAWAYS
1. Leadership is fluid: sometimes y...
What does courage look like under fire? In captivity? In command? In service?
This edition of Long Blue Leadership was recorded on location at the U.S. Air Force Academy’s 33rd National Character and Leadership Symposium. We've explored these questions with our guests and captured the conversations for you.
Ted Robertson, Multimedia and Podcast Specialist for the Air Force Academy Association and Foundation, hosts this specia...
In our Season 4 retrospective, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99 and Wyatt Hornsby, the Association & Foundation’s senior vice president of marketing and communications, revisit the clips that stuck with them.
- “Mind. Body. Spirit.” - “What can I do for others?” - “Be humble. Be credible. Be approachable.”
These aren’t just soundbites. They’re ...
Purpose, trust and laughter matter.
SUMMARY
Dr. Heather Wilson ’82, former secretary of the U.S. Air Force, and Gen. Dave Goldfein ’83, former chief of staff of the Air Force, highlight the human side of leadership — honoring family, listening actively and using humility and humor to build strong teams. Their book, Get Back Up: Lessons in Servant Leadership, challenges leaders to serve first and lead with ch...
Leadership demands grit, clarity and conviction. SUMMARY On Long Blue Leadership, Congressman August Pfluger ’00 reflects on these qualities through his experiences at the U.S. Air Force Academy, in the cockpit and as part of the U.S. House of Representatives. His story challenges every leader to ask where courage is calling them to go next.
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CONGRESSMAN PFLUG...
When Rebecca Gray ’94 arrived at her first duty station, she thought she was ready to lead — until a senior master sergeant told her to get a coffee cup and led her away from the safety of her desk. “You’ve got to know who people are, so that you know how to relate to them,” he told her. That simple moment became the foundation of her entire leadership journey.
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LINKEDIN &...
From aircraft maintenance officer to professional fitness champion to executive coach, Tanji Johnson Bridgeman ’97 has exhibited leadership on many stages.
SUMMARY
In the premiere episode of Focus on Leadership, she joins host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99 to share how resilience, self-care and feedback transform challenges into growth — and why caring for yourself is key to leading with presence and impac...
The path to progressing as a leader isn’t always linear.
SUMMARY
Col. (Ret.) Mike Ott shows how a childhood dream can evolve into a lifetime of impact—from commanding in uniform to leading innovation in healthcare and national defense. Hear more on Long Blue Leadership. Listen now!
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MIKE'S LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS
- A leader worth his or her salt shou...
From the Pentagon on 9/11 to keeping service members safe through timely innovation, Dave Harden ‘95 embodies what it means to run toward the fire. SUMMARY
In this episode of Long Blue Leadership with host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99, hear how adversity, gratitude and courage forged a leader others would follow anywhere. From his harrowing experience during the 9/11 attacks to overcoming childhood adversity ...
What does leadership look like at the highest levels of service?
SUMMARY
In this episode of Long Blue Leadership, Col. (Ret.) Michael Black ’85 discusses his journey from cadet to commanding the White House Communications Agency. He reflects on what it means to be a calm, steady presence in high-pressure environments — and how small daily practices can shape a lifetime of leadership. The full episode is now a...
As a U.S. Air Force Academy cadet, now-Capt. Garrett “Kap” Kauppila ’19 experienced a life-changing moment involving his older brother. SUMMARY
That trial taught him success doesn’t involve rank — it’s about being present, showing gratitude and supporting others. Hear his powerful story on Long Blue Leadership. Listen today and be a better leader tomorrow!
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FACEBOOK &nbs...
People matter more than position, and leadership starts with taking care of others. Doing that right means a million acts.
SUMMARY
Those are lessons Lt. Col. Steven “Meathead” Mount ’08 shares with listeners in the Season 4 premier of Long Blue Leadership. For Col. Mount, becoming a pilot was a major milestone, but becoming a husband and father had the biggest impact. Don’t wait, listen today and become a be...
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