What does it take to lead at every level and shape the leaders of tomorrow?
SUMMARY
Long Blue Line podcast host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99 sat with Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Sherman ’95, the U.S. Air Force Academy’s vice superintendent, for a deep dive into leadership, humanity and building a world-class service academy. This episode is packed with wisdom for aspiring, emerging, and seasoned leaders alike.
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GEN. SHERMAN'S TOP 10 LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS
- Leadership is a human experience - focus on connecting with and caring about people.
- Love what you do and love the people you lead; passion inspires others to follow you.
- Embrace failures and challenges as opportunities for personal growth and development.
- Set the right culture and values within your team to build trust and mutual support.
- Be present and engaged with your team, understanding their motivations and experiences.
- Leadership is about more than rank or position - it's about earning genuine trust and respect.
- Invest time in understanding different generations, cultural nuances, and individual perspectives.
- Balance professional excellence with personal growth and life experiences.
- Support your team's development by providing encouragement and holding them accountable.
- Your legacy is built through individual interactions and the positive impact you have on people's lives.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to Major General Thomas P. Sherman 01:29 Choosing Leadership Over Flying 07:23 The Impact of Mentorship and Values 12:46 Heritage and Evolution of Security Forces 17:43 Personal Growth in Aviano, Italy 24:17 The Importance of Work-Life Balance 29:50 Culminating Command Experience at Bagram 42:25 The Role of Family in Leadership 51:29 Continuous Self-Improvement as a Leader 56:27 Embracing Failure as a Growth Opportunity 01:00:06 Legacy and the Impact of Leadership
ABOUT GEN. SHERMAN
BIO
Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Sherman is the Vice Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. He is serving as the chief operations officer to the Superintendent and overseeing the Academy’s blend of military training, academics, athletics, and character development for cadets.
Gen. Sherman commissioned in 1995 from the Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. He built a distinguished career as a security forces officer. He’s held command at nearly every level.
His key assignments include leadership of the 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB and critical staff positions at the Pentagon.
In May 2024, Gen. Sherman was tapped to serve as the Academy's Vice Superintendent
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TRANSCRIPT
SPEAKERS
Guest, Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Sherman ’95 | 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 today. I'm joined by a leader whose career has taken him from the flight line to the halls of Congress and now back to the very institution that launched it all. Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Sherman currently serves as vice superintendent of the Air Force Academy, where he plays a critical role in guiding the development of our future officers and ensuring the Academy remains a world class institution for leadership, character and Day 1 readiness to win the future fight. A 1995 Academy graduate, Gen. Sherman has spent nearly three decades serving in key operational, strategic and command roles. He's led at every level, from squadron to wing command, and his assignments have included everything from nuclear security enterprise to homeland defense, policy deve
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