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 available.

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MICHAEL'S LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS

• Develop a personal leadership philosophy that guides your actions (like Michael's 5F's: Family, Fitness, Flying, Fairness, and Fun).


• Always be aware that people are watching you and learning from your example, even when you don't realize it.


• Nurture relationships continuously - they are critical for long-term success and mentorship.


• Practice empathy and compassion, especially during difficult moments like delivering challenging news


• Maintain a holistic approach to fitness - physical, mental, and spiritual well-being are interconnected.


• Take pride in leaving organizations better than you found them and focus on developing future leaders.


• Be fair and be perceived as fair - understanding different perspectives is crucial to effective leadership.


• Incorporate fun and balance into your professional life to maintain team morale and personal resilience.


• Stay connected to your roots and be willing to mentor the next generation, sharing your experiences and lessons learned.


• Continuously practice self-reflection and ensure you're living up to your core values and leadership principles.

CHAPTERS

Chapter 1 - 0:00:00 - 0:08:55 : Family and Military Roots  

Michael Black shares his background as a military brat and the educational legacy of his family.

Chapter 2 - 0:08:55 - 0:12:10 : Delivering a Difficult Notification

A profound leadership moment where Black sensitively delivers news of a combat-related death to a staff sergeant's family.

Chapter 3 - 0:12:10 - 0:18:40 : The 5F Leadership Philosophy Introduction

Col. Black explains the origin and core components of his leadership framework: Family, Fitness, Flying, Fairness, and Fun.

Chapter 4 - 0:18:40 - 0:25:59 : Detailed Exploration of 5F Philosophy  

In-depth breakdown of each leadership principle, including personal anecdotes and practical applications.

Chapter 5 - 0:25:59 - 0:32:21 : Family Legacy and Academy Experience  

Discussion of his son's Air Force Academy journey and the importance of nurturing relationships across generations.

Chapter 6 - 0:32:21 - 0:38:36 : Mentorship and Relationship Building

Michael shares his approach to mentoring cadets and the significance of maintaining long-term professional connections.

Chapter 7 - 0:38:36 - 0:40:13 : Leadership in Civilian and Nonprofit Sectors

Reflection on applying military leadership principles in private and nonprofit environments.

Chapter 8 - 0:40:13 - 0:41:28 : Personal Reflection and Leadership Advice 

Final thoughts on leadership, self-improvement, and the importance of continuous personal development.

ABOUT COL. BLACK

BIO

Michael “Mike” B. Black, vice president for Defense, joined the nonprofit Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association International in July 2022. He is a senior cyber/information technology leader with more than four decades of experience in cyber operations, communications, project/program management, leadership disciplines and organizational development.

As AFCEA's vice president for Defense, Col. Black builds strong professional relationships with government, industry and academia partners to position AFCEA International as a leader in the cyber, defense, security, intelligence and related information technology disciplines. Col. Black leads defense operations in support of planning and executing global, large-scale, technically focused, trade shows/conferences supporting Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Operations, Cyber and Homeland Security. 

Col. Black is focused on providing opportunities for engagement between and among government, industry and academia. Prior to joining AFCEA International, Col. Black served as chief operating officer at Concise Network Solutions for four years, directly supporting the CEO in developing, executing and managing CNS’s master business plan.

Prior to joining CNS, he served as the COO and chief corporate development officer at JMA Solutions for two and a half years, working in concert with senior executives to lead operations and the planning and execution of strategies. Prior to joining JMA Solutions, he served as the COO at Premier Management Corporation for four years, where he was responsible for day-to-day operations, all business units and the company’s profit and loss.

Prior to joining the private sector, Col. Black spent 26 years in the U.S. Air Force holding various communications and leadership positions at many levels. He culminated his distinguished military career as a colonel, commander, White House Communications Agency, leading a 1,200-person team of selectively manned military, then-Department of Defense civilian and contract personnel to provide “no fail” telecommunications services for the president, vice president, named successors, first lady, senior White House staff, National Security staff, U.S. Secret Service and the White House Military Office.

Col. Black holds a Bachelor of Science in basic science from the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he was a Distinguished Military Graduate. He holds a Master of Science in national resource strategy, with an information operations concentration, from the National Defense University, Industrial College of the Armed Forces; a Master’s Degree in military arts and science from the Army Command & General Staff College; and a Master of Arts Degree in management from Webster University.

He is a published author, including writing several leadership articles for The New Face of Leadership Magazine as well the thesis Coalition Command, Control, Communication, and Intelligence Systems Interoperability: A Necessity or Wishful Thinking?

BIO EXCERPTED FROM AFCEA.ORG

CONNECT WITH MICHAEL

IG: @chequethemike

FB: @michael black

LinkedIn: Michael Black

CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP PODCAST NETWORK TEAM

Send your feedback or nominate a guest: socialmedia@usafa.org

Ted Robertson | Producer:  Ted.Robertson@USAFA.org 

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Ryan Hall | Director:  Ryan.Hall@USAFA.org 

Bryan Grossman | Copy Editor:  Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org

Wyatt Hornsby | Executive Producer:  Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org 

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TRANSCRIPT

SPEAKERS



Guest, Col. (Ret.) Michael Black ’85 | Host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99

Naviere Walkewicz

Welcome to Long Blue Leadership, where transformative journeys of Air Force Academy graduates come to life. There are moments in a leader's life that leave a permanent mark. For my guest today, Col. (Ret.) Michael Black, USAFA Class of ’85, one such moment came when he was actually sent to deliver news of a combat-related death. It was the first time he'd ever been tasked with that duty, and knew he only had one chance to get it right. As he sat with the widow, Michael found the strength to guide the family through their grief. That part of Michael's story speaks to the depth of his empathy and the calm steadiness that defines him as a leader. We'll explore much more of Michael's journey, from leading the White House Communications team to mentoring cadets at the Academy to daily practices that ground him and the framework that guides him today, what he calls the five Fs of leadership: family, fitness, flying, fairness and fun a guide not only for his life, but for the leaders he inspires. Michael, welcome to Long Blue Leadership.



Michael Black

Naviere, thank you for having me, and thank you for that very kind introduction. I'm so happy to be here, and I'm just thankful for what you guys do, the AOG and putting this together and telling stories. I think this is amazing. So thank you for the opportunity.



Naviere Walkewicz

Well, we're grateful you’re here. You got your silver on. You got your ‘85 Best Alive, you know,