Rincon Horizons

The Rincon Horizons podcast is where we talk about what it means to reach the summit on your leadership journey. We want to help you lead better so your organization can climb higher. On this episode, Dylan Mitchell and Todd Tuthill sit down with retired Air Force Major General Tom Kunkel, now COO of the Kyl Institute for National Security.USAF combat search and rescue crews know the enemy gets a vote on when they are needed. These crews train with chaos in mind. General Kunkel takes us from a rescue in Kosovo to leading NATO's airborne early warning force as Russia invaded Ukraine.He explains how adaptability, training, and trust keep leaders calm under pressure. Plus, why Tucson is poised to become a national security hub. Learn how to lead when the plan falls apart.The views expressed by our guest are his own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.Five leadership lessons from this podcast:- Know when to step in and when to step back.- Ask: Is this a leadership or management problem?- Be excellent at the job in front of you.- Master your craft to earn leadership opportunities.- Leadership lessons are everywhere; you just need to look.On the Podcast:Moderator & Co-Host Dylan MitchellDylan is the Brand Strategist, Creative Director, and Founder of DM.supply. He’s passionate about helping churches, nonprofits, and businesses of all kinds build brands that are clear, meaningful, and built to last.Find Dylan on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylnmtchll/DM.supply: https://www.dm.supplyPrimary Contributor & Co-Host Todd TuthillTodd is the Managing Partner of Rincon Aerospace—a consulting company guiding aerospace and defense companies to exceptional.Todd is an aerospace executive and systems engineer with more than three decades of experience designing aircraft flight control systems.Find Todd on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddtuthill/Rincon Aerospace: https://www.Rincon.AeroOur Guest: Tom Kunkel, Maj Gen (ret), USAFTom Kunkel serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Kyl Institute for National Security, where he leverages more than 30 years of distinguished service in the U.S. Air Force and NATO. He brings deep expertise in operations, strategy, and leadership from a career dedicated to advancing national security and organizational excellence. His military career culminated as Commander of NATO’s Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Force in Geilenkirchen, Germany, providing critical surveillance, command and control, and communications capabilities to NATO and its allies.Previously, he served as a legislative liaison to the U.S. House of Representatives and as Commander of the 23d Wing and Moody Air Force Base in Georgia. A career aviator, General Kunkel served as a special operations and combat rescue pilot, flight examiner, and weapons officer, and deployed in support of Operations Allied Force, Enduring Freedom–Philippines, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and Master’s degrees in Military and Strategic Leadership and National Resource Strategy from the Air Force Institute of Technology and The Eisenhower School, respectively.Find Gen Kunkel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomkunkel/The University of Arizona Kyl Institute for National Security: https://kylinstitute.orgLinks mentioned in the podcast:Arizona Technology Council: https://www.aztechcouncil.orgWWII with Tom Hanks in Video: https://www.history.com/shows/world-war-ii-with-tom-hanksWWII with Tom Hanks podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-war-ii-with-tom-hanks/id1896760409History That Doesn’t Suck podcast with Professor Greg Jackson: https://www.htdspodcast.com/Secretariat the Movie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1028576/

The Rincon Horizons podcast is where we talk about what it means to reach the summit on your leadership journey. We want to help you lead better so your organization can climb higher. On this episode, Dylan Mitchell and Todd Tuthill sit down with retired Air Force Major General Tom Kunkel, now COO of the Kyl Institute for National Security.USAF combat search and rescue crews know the enemy gets a vote on when they are needed. These crews train with chaos in mind. General Kunkel takes us from a rescue in Kosovo to leading NATO's airborne early warning force as Russia invaded Ukraine.He explains how adaptability, training, and trust keep leaders calm under pressure. Plus, why Tucson is poised to become a national security hub. Learn how to lead when the plan falls apart.The views expressed by our guest are his own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.Five leadership lessons from this podcast:- Know when to step in and when to step back.- Ask: Is this a leadership or management problem?- Be excellent at the job in front of you.- Master your craft to earn leadership opportunities.- Leadership lessons are everywhere; you just need to look.On the Podcast:Moderator & Co-Host Dylan MitchellDylan is the Brand Strategist, Creative Director, and Founder of DM.supply. He’s passionate about helping churches, nonprofits, and businesses of all kinds build brands that are clear, meaningful, and built to last.Find Dylan on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylnmtchll/DM.supply: https://www.dm.supplyPrimary Contributor & Co-Host Todd TuthillTodd is the Managing Partner of Rincon Aerospace—a consulting company guiding aerospace and defense companies to exceptional.Todd is an aerospace executive and systems engineer with more than three decades of experience designing aircraft flight control systems.Find Todd on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddtuthill/Rincon Aerospace: https://www.Rincon.AeroOur Guest: Tom Kunkel, Maj Gen (ret), USAFTom Kunkel serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Kyl Institute for National Security, where he leverages more than 30 years of distinguished service in the U.S. Air Force and NATO. He brings deep expertise in operations, strategy, and leadership from a career dedicated to advancing national security and organizational excellence. His military career culminated as Commander of NATO’s Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Force in Geilenkirchen, Germany, providing critical surveillance, command and control, and communications capabilities to NATO and its allies.Previously, he served as a legislative liaison to the U.S. House of Representatives and as Commander of the 23d Wing and Moody Air Force Base in Georgia. A career aviator, General Kunkel served as a special operations and combat rescue pilot, flight examiner, and weapons officer, and deployed in support of Operations Allied Force, Enduring Freedom–Philippines, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and Master’s degrees in Military and Strategic Leadership and National Resource Strategy from the Air Force Institute of Technology and The Eisenhower School, respectively.Find Gen Kunkel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomkunkel/The University of Arizona Kyl Institute for National Security: https://kylinstitute.orgLinks mentioned in the podcast:Arizona Technology Council: https://www.aztechcouncil.orgWWII with Tom Hanks in Video: https://www.history.com/shows/world-war-ii-with-tom-hanksWWII with Tom Hanks podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-war-ii-with-tom-hanks/id1896760409History That Doesn’t Suck podcast with Professor Greg Jackson: https://www.htdspodcast.com/Secretariat the Movie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1028576/

The Rincon Horizons podcast is where we talk about what it means to reach the summit on your leadership journey. We want to help you lead better so your organization can climb higher. Todd and Dylan welcome Maggie McCane, LCSW, the founder of Rehoboth Health & Wellness to the podcast.Most entrepreneurs and leaders work with advisors to improve their finances, consultants for their businesses, trainers for their health, but seeing a therapist to improve their mental health is like grabbing the third rail.High achievers often run on constant elevated cortisol and adrenaline, a state so normalized they stop even recognizing it as stress. While small bursts of these hormones are healthy and performance-enhancing in short spurts, staying flooded with them nonstop leads to long term mental and physical problems.Intense workouts like CrossFit, often framed by leaders as their "mental health outlet," can actually perpetuate this stress-hormone cycle rather than relieve it. For leaders stuck in this toxic stress loop, Maggie’s counterintuitive prescription is to slow down deliberately: gentle walks and easy bike rides meant to lower heart rate and help the nervous system re-regulate, rather than elevate it further.Slowing down is not laziness or lack of work ethic. She reframes it as being in control rather than giving something up, explaining that leaders can still work hard for ten hours a day, but they can also intentionally "turn it off" to be present with family and friends.Maggie offers this advice and much, much, more in this episode of Rincon Horizons: Nothing Changes When Nothing Changes.Key Topics:- Why leaders accept help for many things, but not their mental health- The link between stress and autoimmune disease- Why you should add some slow walks to your workout routine- Three questions to know if you need therapy‍ ‍Moderator & Co-Host Dylan MitchellDylan is the Brand Strategist, Creative Director, and Founder of DM.supply. He’s passionate about helping churches, nonprofits, and businesses of all kinds build brands that are clear, meaningful, and built to last. Find Dylan on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylnmtchll/DM.supply: https://www.dm.supplyPrimary Contributor & Co-Host Todd TuthillTodd is the Managing Partner of Rincon Aerospace - A consulting company guiding aerospace and defense companies to exceptional. Todd is an aerospace executive and systems engineer with more than three decades of experience designing aircraft flight control systems  Find Todd on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddtuthill/Rincon Aerospace: https://www.Rincon.AeroOur Guest: Maggie McCane, LCSW Maggie McCane, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Rehoboth Therapy & Wellness. She specializes in trauma and works extensively with high-achieving individuals and leaders to address the hidden impact of stress, anxiety, and burnout. Maggie has a background in child welfare, corrections, and nonprofit leadership, and was recognized as a 40 Under 40 honoree by the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She is passionate about helping individuals build sustainable mental health so they can lead stronger families and communities.Rehoboth Therapy & Wellness: https://rehobothtucson.comMaggie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-mccane-lcsw-678452286Links mention in the podcast:Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age by Dr. Sanjay Gupta: https://a.co/d/03pxONsNModern Wisdom Podcast - 33 Brutal Truths To Stop Wasting Your Potential with Chris Williamson and Alex Hormuzi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AdkwqkE20MEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures by Francine Shapiro PhD: https://a.co/d/04QGRLLXHabits of the Household by Justin Earley: https://a.co/d/0hdpxz4XThe content shared in this episode is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not therapy and should not be considered a substitute for professional mental health care diagnosis or treatment.

The Rincon Horizons podcast is where we talk about what it means to reach the summit on your leadership journey. We want to help you lead better so your organization can climb higher. Todd and Dylan welcome Maggie McCane, LCSW, the founder of Rehoboth Health & Wellness to the podcast.Most entrepreneurs and leaders work with advisors to improve their finances, consultants for their businesses, trainers for their health, but seeing a therapist to improve their mental health is like grabbing the third rail.High achievers often run on constant elevated cortisol and adrenaline, a state so normalized they stop even recognizing it as stress. While small bursts of these hormones are healthy and performance-enhancing in short spurts, staying flooded with them nonstop leads to long term mental and physical problems.Intense workouts like CrossFit, often framed by leaders as their "mental health outlet," can actually perpetuate this stress-hormone cycle rather than relieve it. For leaders stuck in this toxic stress loop, Maggie’s counterintuitive prescription is to slow down deliberately: gentle walks and easy bike rides meant to lower heart rate and help the nervous system re-regulate, rather than elevate it further.Slowing down is not laziness or lack of work ethic. She reframes it as being in control rather than giving something up, explaining that leaders can still work hard for ten hours a day, but they can also intentionally "turn it off" to be present with family and friends.Maggie offers this advice and much, much, more in this episode of Rincon Horizons: Nothing Changes When Nothing Changes.Key Topics:- Why leaders accept help for many things, but not their mental health- The link between stress and autoimmune disease- Why you should add some slow walks to your workout routine- Three questions to know if you need therapy‍ ‍Moderator & Co-Host Dylan MitchellDylan is the Brand Strategist, Creative Director, and Founder of DM.supply. He’s passionate about helping churches, nonprofits, and businesses of all kinds build brands that are clear, meaningful, and built to last. Find Dylan on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylnmtchll/DM.supply: https://www.dm.supplyPrimary Contributor & Co-Host Todd TuthillTodd is the Managing Partner of Rincon Aerospace - A consulting company guiding aerospace and defense companies to exceptional. Todd is an aerospace executive and systems engineer with more than three decades of experience designing aircraft flight control systems  Find Todd on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddtuthill/Rincon Aerospace: https://www.Rincon.AeroOur Guest: Maggie McCane, LCSW Maggie McCane, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Rehoboth Therapy & Wellness. She specializes in trauma and works extensively with high-achieving individuals and leaders to address the hidden impact of stress, anxiety, and burnout. Maggie has a background in child welfare, corrections, and nonprofit leadership, and was recognized as a 40 Under 40 honoree by the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She is passionate about helping individuals build sustainable mental health so they can lead stronger families and communities.Rehoboth Therapy & Wellness: https://rehobothtucson.comMaggie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-mccane-lcsw-678452286Links mention in the podcast:Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age by Dr. Sanjay Gupta: https://a.co/d/03pxONsNModern Wisdom Podcast - 33 Brutal Truths To Stop Wasting Your Potential with Chris Williamson and Alex Hormuzi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AdkwqkE20MEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures by Francine Shapiro PhD: https://a.co/d/04QGRLLXHabits of the Household by Justin Earley: https://a.co/d/0hdpxz4XThe content shared in this episode is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not therapy and should not be considered a substitute for professional mental health care diagnosis or treatment.

The Rincon Horizons podcast is where we talk about what it means to reach the summit on your leadership journey. We want to help you lead better so your organization can climb higher. Todd and Dylan welcome John Nixon, the Global Group VP of Process Industries at Siemens Digital Industries Software, to the podcast. Every generation believes its technology is the one that finally breaks us. John Nixon has heard it before — from Frankenstein's electricity to whale oil to kerosene to electrified streetlights — and he knows our species has always risen to the challenge. In this episode of Rincon Horizons, the Siemens Group VP of Process Industries argues that AI is simply the latest chapter in a very old story: humanity learning to hold immense power responsibly.But the challenge Nixon describes isn't abstract — it's showing up in real time, in real infrastructure. Data centers are straining power grids, nuclear is roaring back as a serious option, and countries are racing toward fusion on compressed timelines. Complexity, as Nixon puts it, isn't the exception anymore. It's the norm — and it's only accelerating.Todd and Dylan press John on what it takes to lead through that kind of moment: not fear, not retreat, but a willingness to run toward the fire. It's a conversation about the scale of what's ahead for energy, AI, and industry — and why meeting it starts with the same instincts that have carried humanity through every previous challenge.Topics in this episode:- Global energy transition - AI power demand - The power needed to explore the moon and mars- Why real leaders take risks- Mentoring the next generationLinks mentioned in this episode:The AZ Techcast:  https://www.aztechcouncil.org/podcasts/Nikola Tesla World Wireless System. Wireless transportation of power: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wireless_SystemSubstack: https://substack.comThe Wall Street Journal: WSJ.comPlaying to Win, How Strategy Really Works: https://a.co/d/07wEEYMeThe collective works of William Shakespeare: https://a.co/d/08b2uXrhSherlock Holmes Series Complete Collection by Arthur Conan Doyle: https://a.co/d/00rPDP3Z Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: https://a.co/d/0eO9yhbUFootnotes of History Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJsPQw6y4w8faZ1bQ_LVZ_H7nvkhJhbP2Naval Aviation Ready Room podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-naval-aviation-ready-room-podcast-with/id1827033159The Industry Forward Podcast: https://blogs.sw.siemens.com/podcasts/category/industry-forward