THE LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP PODCAST

By: U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation
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  • Summary

  • Leadership stories told by the leaders who live them.
    © 2024 - 2025 | U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation | All Rights Reserved
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Personal Success
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Episodes
  • UNSCRIPTED LIVES: A Long Blue Leadership Retrospective

    UNSCRIPTED LIVES: A Long Blue Leadership Retrospective
    Jan 7 2025
    In this episode of Long Blue Leadership, Co-Hosts Naviere Walkewicz and Wyatt Hornsby reflect on the leadership lessons shared by accomplished graduates of the U.S. Air Force Academy over the first two seasons. SUMMARY The hosts highlight key moments and insights from various guests, emphasizing the importance of personal connections, resilience, and the role of mentorship in leadership. They discuss the unique experiences of leaders like Coach Troy Calhoun, Brigadier General Gavin P. Marks, Nicole Malachowski, Madison Marsh, Lieutenant General BJ Schwedo, and Carl Falk, showcasing how their journeys can inspire others in their leadership paths. SHARE THIS EPISODE LINKEDIN | FACEBOOK TAKEAWAYS - Leadership is deeply personal and requires understanding your people. - The importance of resilience and the ability to bounce back from setbacks. - Mentorship plays a crucial role in developing future leaders. - Building relationships is essential in leadership roles. - Knowing your craft enhances credibility and effectiveness as a leader. - Leadership is about doing good and positively impacting others' lives. - Embracing vulnerability can lead to personal and professional growth. - It's important to risk failure in pursuit of big dreams. - Support from family and mentors can shape one's career trajectory. - Leaders should encourage others to pursue their passions and dreams. CHAPTERS 00:00 Celebrating Leadership Lessons from the Air Force Academy 02:11 Highlighting Coach Troy Calhoun's Leadership Philosophy 08:09 Insights from Brigadier General Gavin P. Marks 12:59 Nicole Malachowski: Overcoming Setbacks and Embracing Dreams 19:09 Madison Marsh: A Journey of Resilience and Purpose 23:27 Lessons from Lieutenant General BJ Schwedo on Future Conflict 28:23 Karl Falk: The Importance of Support and Grit in Leadership ABOUT THE HOSTS BIOS LT. COL. (RET.) NAVIERE WALKEWICZ ’99 Senior Vice President, Engagement With over two decades in leadership roles, my current focus at the Association of Graduates - U.S. Air Force Academy is fostering a robust network of 50,000+ alumni. This commitment involves igniting a culture of engagement and inclusivity, underpinned by a strong foundation in support of our Air Force Academy. - BIO COPY CREDIT: LINKEDIN.COM MR. WYATT HORNSBY Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications | Executive Editor & Writer Wyatt Hornsby is passionate about developing marketing and communications talent and cohesive, high-performance teams. He is senior vice president of marketing and communications at the Air Force Academy Foundation and the Association of Graduates. He leads the work of the foundation and alumni association marketing and communications division, while also coordinating with various Air Force Academy offices, including Public Affairs and Strategic Communications. - BIO COPY CREDIT: LINKEDIN.COM ALL PAST LBL EPISODES | ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP PODCAST NETWORK TEAM Send your feedback or nominate a guest at: socialmedia@usafa.org TED ROBERTSON: Ted.Robertson@USAFA.org Multimedia and Podcast Specialist | LBL Podcast Network Producer and Editor RYAN HALL: Ryan.Hall@USAFA.org Assistant Director of Multimedia Production | LBL Podcast Network Director BRYAN GROSSMAN: Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org Senior Director of Strategic Communications and Publications | LBL Podcast Network Copy Editor WYATT HORNSBY: Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications | Executive Editor & Writer | LBL Podcast Network Executive Producer FULL TRANSCRIPT SPEAKERS Co-Hosts: Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99 | Mr. Wyatt Hornsby Guests: Coach Troy Calhoun ’89; Brig. Gen. Gavin P. Marks ’96; Col. (Ret.) Nicole Malachowski ’96; 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh ’23; Gen. BJ Schwedo ’87; Mr. Karl Falk ’98, Mr. Ted Robertson Naviere Walkewicz 00:20 Welcome to our Long Blue Leadership retrospective. We're celebrating our first two seasons and the countless leadership lessons shared by some of the most accomplished United States Air Force Academy graduates. Wyatt Hornsby 00:31 Naviere, seasons 1 and 2 have showcased amazing leadership stories and takeaways. From the very start, Long Blue Leadership has given listeners an inside look at real experiences, insights and advice from seasoned leaders, as well as those just beginning their leadership journeys. These deep dives have explored how leaders not only face challenges head-on but also find ways to inspire and empower those around them. Naviere Walkewicz 00:58 Yes, what really sets this podcast apart is the mix of our guests’ perspectives on leadership. These discussions have touched on teamwork, perseverance, humility, excellence and service before self. Wyatt Hornsby 01:12 In this edition of Long Blue Leadership, we're sharing a few of our favorite moments. ...
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    42 mins
  • Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Burt Field ’79 - 5 Values for Leaders

    Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Burt Field ’79 - 5 Values for Leaders
    Dec 10 2024
    In Episode 10 of Long Blue Leadership, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Burt Field ’79, now president and CEO of the Air & Space Forces Association, discusses his leadership philosophy, and emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, effective communication, family, and the five core values by which he lives. Listen now! SUMMARY Burt Field, a retired Lieutenant General and CEO of the Air and Space Forces Association, discussed his career and leadership philosophy. He highlighted his upbringing as an Air Force brat, his academic journey at the Air Force Academy, and his early leadership roles. Field emphasized the importance of continuous learning, effective communication, and avoiding being an "asshole" in leadership. He shared impactful experiences, such as leading during the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami, and the significance of family support. Field also discussed the Air and Space Forces Association's efforts in advocacy, education, and family resilience, stressing the need for strong national security and defense. LEADERSHIP BITES Values-Driven Leadership: Burt shared his 5 core leadership values - integrity, fortitude, excellence, teamwork, and service. Defining your values and using them to guide your decisions and actions is crucial.Continuous Learning: Burt emphasized that as a leader, you can never stop learning, whether it's about your organization, industry, or even topics outside your expertise. Staying curious and open to growth is key.Empowering Others: Burt stressed that a leader's job is to empower and inspire their team, not try to do everything themselves. Recognizing and rewarding excellence in others is vital.Effective Communication: Burt noted that leaders can never communicate too much or well enough. Repeatedly delivering clear, consistent messages is essential for alignment and buy-in.Humility and Inclusivity: True leadership requires humility, giving credit to others, and making the organization successful. SHARE THIS EPISODE LINKEDIN | FACEBOOK TAKEAWAYS Never stop learning. As a leader, you must continuously learn and expand your knowledge, even in areas outside your expertise.Define your leadership philosophy and values. Burt shared his 5 core values of integrity, fortitude, excellence, teamwork, and service. Having a clear set of guiding principles is crucial.Recognize and reward excellence. Identify and empower those who have put in the hard work to become experts in their fields. This builds a strong, capable team.Communicate effectively, repeatedly. Effective communication is critical, but leaders often underestimate how many times a message needs to be delivered clearly.Burt emphasized the importance of being inclusive, giving credit, and making the organization successful rather than yourself. Avoid toxic, self-serving leadership. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to General Burt Field 01:52 Growing Up as an Air Force Brat 05:40 Choosing the Air Force Academy 10:26 Life as a Cadet at the Academy 19:09 Leadership Development During Cadet Years 23:15 The Integration of Women at the Academy 24:12 Influential Leaders in General Field's Career 28:28 Learning from Subordinates 34:15 Career Path and Leadership Philosophy 37:54 A Chance Encounter: Love and Military Life 41:13 Building Resilient Families in the Military 42:12 The Journey to Leadership: From Air Force to AFA 45:57 Empowering the Next Generation: Education and STEM 49:46 Leadership Lessons: Insights from Experience 5 FRANK KEYS TO LEADERSHIP SUCCESS "You can never stop learning. You have to learn. And whether it's leadership or anything else, you have to always learn.""Everything comes from your values. When I make leadership decisions, or when I look at how we're going to move forward, or what, how we're going to accomplish the mission, it should reflect those values in my decisions, how I act, how I from the biggest thing of creating a here's the strategy, or in objectives on on what we're going to accomplish, to the smallest things, like how I conduct a meeting.""If you want to be a really good leader, you need to be really good at something. So you got to put in the work when you're young to be really good and understand how hard it is to be really good at something.""You cannot communicate enough, and you cannot communicate well enough. So I use this example all the time. I come up with a message. I craft it, I think about it, I write it down, I practice it, and then I deliver it, and it's awesome. I was perfect. I nobody could have misunderstood me when I'm done with that, and I really think that I have hit the mark with maybe 20% I probably got to say that again, that way or differently, about another 10 or 15 times when I can barely stand to hear myself talk anymore, and I'm still not going to get everybody.""I'm going to give the credit and I'm going to take the blame. That's how you become a good leader." - Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Burt Field ’79, October 2024 ABOUT GEN. FIELD BIO Lt. Gen. ...
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    45 mins
  • Col. (Ret.) Nicole Malachowski ’96 - How Leader's Defy Life's Gravity

    Col. (Ret.) Nicole Malachowski ’96 - How Leader's Defy Life's Gravity
    Nov 26 2024
    Col. (Ret.) Nicole Malachowski ’96 shares her insights on leadership, resilience, resurgence, perseverance, advocacy, and how she continues to serve her country, even after her military career. ----more---- A SHOW NOTE: There are two ways to learn from Col. Malachowski's leadership journey. - If you're short on time, the audio version delivers the highlights of her stories in 40 minutes. Her leadership bites, takeaways, keys to leadership and transcript are below. - The video version is 1:46:00 and is well worth the investment of your time. This version includes stories and details about the Colonel's journey she hasn't shared before. Click the "Play" button in the video above and settle in for a most enlightening conversation. SUMMARY Col. (Ret.) Nicole Malachowski ’96 is a trailblazer who has broken barriers in both military aviation and advocacy. She was one of the first women to fly combat fighter aircraft, accruing more than 2,300 flight hours in six different aircraft and serving in multiple high-stakes missions, including Operations Deliberate Forge and Iraqi Freedom. But her story doesn’t end there. As the first woman to fly with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, a White House Fellow, and a key advisor on military and veterans' issues, Nicole’s career has been defined by leadership at the highest levels. After being medically retired due to a Tick-Borne Illness, she turned her focus to advocacy, leading efforts to improve care for the wounded, ill, and injured service members through the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program. Now a passionate advocate for Tick-Borne Disease research, Nicole serves on several national committees and advisory boards, including the Department of Defense's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program. NICOLE'S LEADERHIP BITES "Leadership is a journey.""The runway behind you is always unusable.""Don't think you have to be perfect to be a leader.""Believe those who believe in you.""Nobody wants to lead a scripted life.""Courage, compassion, and curiosity drive me today.""It's okay to admit when you make mistakes." SHARE THIS EPISODE LINKEDIN | TWITTER | FACEBOOK TAKEAWAYS Leadership is personal - It's about understanding what motivates and drives each individual on your team, and tailoring your approach accordingly. Believe in those who believe in you - Mentors like Mick Jaggers who supported and encouraged Nicole were pivotal in her development as a leader. Don't write yourself or others out of the script - As General Matthews told Nicole, "Nobody wants to lead a scripted life." Embrace opportunities to dream big and take risks. Radical acceptance is key - When Nicole's military career ended unexpectedly, learning to accept the situation allowed her to move forward and find new purpose. Personal values guide your path - Nicole's core values of courage, compassion and curiosity have been instrumental in navigating life's challenges and reinventing herself. CHAPTERS 00:00 The Journey of Leadership 02:01 Colonel Malachowski's Early Life and Aspirations 06:01 Navigating the Air Force Academy 09:46 Leadership Lessons from Soaring 14:07 Overcoming Challenges in Pilot Training 17:50 Key Leadership Experiences in the Air Force 21:59 Becoming a Thunderbird Pilot 25:47 Transitioning to Civilian Life 30:02 Advocacy and New Beginnings 34:09 Personal Values and Resilience 37:54 Final Thoughts on Leadership NICOLE'S KEYS TO LEADERSHIP SUCCESS Leadership is a journey that requires growth and learning.It's okay to admit mistakes and seek help.Resilience is key to overcoming challenges.Personal values guide decision-making and actions.Mentorship plays a crucial role in personal and professional development.Failure is often the price of entry for success.Authentic leadership is about understanding and connecting with people.The importance of representation in leadership roles.Transitioning to civilian life can be a new beginning.Embrace opportunities and seize the moment. ABOUT NICOLE BIO Colonel Nicole Malachowski (USAF, Ret.) is a pioneering leader whose distinguished career spans combat aviation, military advocacy, and public service. As one of the first women to fly fighter jets, Nicole’s journey included over 188 combat hours and multiple leadership roles, including F-15E Flight Commander, Instructor Pilot, and Flight Lead. She also made history as the first woman to fly with the USAF Thunderbirds. Throughout her career, Nicole demonstrated exceptional leadership, serving in high-level roles such as a White House Fellow and Executive Director of the ‘Joining Forces’ program, where she advised the First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden on veterans' issues. After being medically retired due to a neurological Tick-Borne Illness, Nicole transitioned to a new mission: advocating for service members, veterans, and others impacted by chronic illnesses. She’s a leader in the national Tick-Borne Disease community, ...
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    40 mins

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