In this episode of the Long Blue Leadership Podcast, Cadet First Class Andrew Cormier opens up about his inspiring journey from growing up in Massachusetts to becoming a squadron commander at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He reflects on the early influences that shaped his values, the value of community service and service before self, sharing the leadership lessons he’s learned along the way.

SUMMARY

Andrew also talks about launching his own podcast, designed to help fellow cadets explore their career paths and grow as leaders. Throughout the conversation, he highlights the importance of understanding diverse career opportunities, the personal growth that comes from podcasting, and the power of community engagement. With a focus on national pride and perspective, he emphasizes that true leadership is about serving others—putting the team first rather than seeking personal recognition.

5 QUOTES

1. "It's not about you. It's not about you. It's about the team."


2. "When you're a leader, it's your job. There shouldn't be any extra, you know, kudos given to you. Everyone has their own piece in the puzzle, and just because your face is more prominent than others does not mean that the mission is any less doable with like one piece missing or another piece missing."


3. "I just really urge people to try to understand other people's perspectives and listen more than they talk, because those pieces for me, like I'm a Pretty staunch capitalist, but I recently bought the Communist Manifesto. I want to understand where these ideas stem from."


4. "American ideals are amazing, and they need to be protected. And in order for me to have any say in that, I need to have skin in the game. And that's what I look at my service as is me gaining skin in the game."


5. "It's not difficult, it's just super time consuming and kind of annoying. And so, I mean, it even like stays true to today, everything I have to do isn't necessarily difficult. I'm a management major. I don't know what the Astro or aero people are going through. I'm sure that's very difficult. But for me, it's more just like getting the reps in it, and it's very gradual."

- C1C Andrew Cormier ’25, October 2024

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CHAPTERS

00:00 :  Introduction to Cadet Andrew Cormier

02:52 :  Andrew's Early Life and Background

05:52 :  Discovering the Military Path

08:46 :  Community Service and Humanitarian Efforts

12:10 :  Transitioning to the Air Force Academy

15:07 :  Experiences in Basic Training

17:57 :  Leadership and Followership at the Academy

20:47 :  Becoming a Squadron Commander

24:11 :  The Role of a Squadron Commander

27:12 :  Starting the Podcast Journey

34:54 :  Understanding Career Paths in the Air Force

39:30 :  The Impact of Podcasting on Personal Growth

44:45 :  Engagement and Value in the Cadet Community

52:36 :  Navigating Post-Graduation Decisions

01:00:05 :  The Importance of National Pride and Perspective

01:04:53 :  Leadership Lessons: It's Not About You

ANDREW'S 5 KEYS TO LEADERSHIP SUCCESS

1. Leadership is not about you, it's about the team. As a leader, your job is to represent and protect your people, not focus on personal privileges.


2. Seek to understand different perspectives and listen more than you talk. Don't take American ideals and freedoms for granted - they need to be actively defended.


3. Balance future planning with living in the present. Don't become overly fixated on the future at the expense of enjoying the moment.


4. Perseverance, critical thinking, and resourcefulness are key to success. Rely on these core strengths rather than trying to control everything.


5. Diverse experiences and mentorship are invaluable. Seek out advice from those who have walked the path you want to follow, and be open to learning from a variety of backgrounds.

ABOUT ANDREW

BIO

C1C Andrew D. Cormier is a cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, CO. Cadet Cormier is the commander of squadron 15, the Mighty War Eagles. C1C Cormier is originally from Fitchburg, MA and entered the Air Force Academy in June of 2021 following his lifelong passion to “serve others.” Throughout his cadet career he has held the squadron position of Diversity & Inclusion NCO and Spark Innovator, but on an unofficial level has hosted the “For the Zoomies” podcast interviewing over 75 officers to better understand their experiences in the Air Force for the sake of helping cadets make career decisions, as well as been a widely trusted barber in the dormitories. C1C Cormier plans to complete his Bachelor of Science in Business Management in May 2025. Immediately following graduation he intends to commission as a Second Leiutenant in the U.S. Air Force and become an Acquisitions Officer.

- Copy and Image Credit: Andrew Cormier 

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RECOMMENDED LISTENING:  FOR THE ZOOMIES PODCAST

with C1C Andrew Cormier

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Long Blue Leadership drops every two weeks on Tuesdays and is available on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn + Alexa, Spotify and all your favorite podcast platforms. Search @AirForceGrads on your favorite social channels for Long Blue Leadership news and updates!

FULL TRANSCRIPT

SPEAKERS

GUEST:  C1C Andrew Cormier  |  HOST:  Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99

Naviere Walkewicz 00:00

My guest today is Cadet 1st Class Andrew Cormier, USAFA Class of ’25. Andrew stands out among the finest examples of those who have taken the service-before-self aspect of their work as developing leaders very seriously. In Andrew's case, he helps and supports his fellow cadets by guiding them to their optimal career paths through the guests and their experiences on his podcast. This is a new approach for Long Blue Leadership, and one we think you'll appreciate, because we're looking at leadership through the eyes of one who both follows and leads, thriving in both spaces. We'll talk with Andrew about his life before and during his time at the Academy. We'll ask where he's headed when he graduates. We'll discuss the role he's taken on as a podcaster, and we'll ask how he's successfully led and followed. We'll end with Andrew's takeaways and leadership tips. Andrew, welcome to Long Blue Leadership. We're so glad you're here.

Andrew Cormier

Thanks for having me, Naviere.

Naviere Walkewicz

Absolutely. So it's got to be a little bit different being on the other side of the podcast mic.

Andrew Cormier

Yeah, no, it's definitely interesting to be here. I've done a few before, but they weren't in person, and this was like the highest quality, so I have a little bit of imposter syndrome, not gonna lie.

Naviere Walkewicz

Oh goodness. Well, we'll learn from each other, right? I think that's the best. We can always be learning; we can always get better. So, I'm excited to take in some of the things that you do as well. Feel really good about that. Well, one of