Dr. Heather Wilson, a 1982 Air Force Academy graduate, formerly the 24th Secretary of the Air Force, and first USAFA graduate to hold the position, discusses her unexpected journey to the role, emphasizing the importance of integrity, service, and leadership. ----more----

SUMMARY

Dr. Wilson shares her unexpected journey into leadership, the importance of integrity, and the lessons learned from both successes and failures. She reflects on her family legacy, the influence of mentors, and how her military background shaped her leadership style. Dr. Wilson emphasizes the value of collecting tools for leadership and adapting to different environments while maintaining core values. In this conversation, she discusses the importance of finding purpose in one's mission and the value of relationships, particularly family support. She reflects on her journey as a woman in leadership, the significance of legacy in public service, and her unexpected path to serving in Congress. Dr. Wilson emphasizes the lessons learned in collaboration and the importance of humor in leadership, ultimately encouraging future leaders to uphold high standards and not to shame their families.

 

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TAKEAWAYS

• Dr. Wilson's journey to becoming Secretary of the Air Force was unexpected and transformative.


• Leadership often requires owning failures and focusing on solutions.


• Integrity is foundational to effective leadership and builds trust.


• Adapting leadership styles to different cultures is essential for success.


• Mentorship and influences from family play a significant role in shaping leaders.


• Collecting tools and knowledge is crucial for effective leadership.


• Quality management principles can be applied to various fields, including education and social services.


• Leadership is not linear; it involves navigating different paths and chapters.


• Building strong teams and hiring the right people is vital for organizational success.


• Direct communication and honesty are key components of effective leadership. Doing things that matter with people you like is essential.


• The most important decision in life can be personal, like choosing a partner.


• Family support enriches life and provides joy.


• Women in leadership often face unique challenges but can pave the way for others.


• Legacy is about making lasting changes in systems and strategies.


• Unexpected opportunities can lead to significant career changes.


• Collaboration and giving credit to others is key in leadership roles.


• Humor can help create a relaxed atmosphere in serious environments.


• Education is crucial for transforming lives and communities.


• Leadership is not always a straight path; adaptability is important.

 

EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00  Introduction to Long Blue Leadership
01:25  Unexpected Call to Leadership
03:16  Lessons from Leadership Challenges
08:28  The Importance of Integrity
10:07  Adapting Leadership Styles
12:23  Influences and Mentorship
15:25  Family Legacy and Influence
17:41  Learning from Team Members
21:29  Applying Quality Management Principles
24:07  Navigating Non-Linear Leadership Paths
24:20  Finding Purpose in Mission and Relationships
28:06  The Importance of Family Support
30:08  Navigating Leadership as a Woman
34:30  Legacy and Impact in Public Service
36:29  Unexpected Paths: Serving in Congress
41:03  Lessons in Collaboration and Leadership

 

ABOUT DR. WILSON

- IMAGES AND BIO COURTESY OF UTEP

BIO

Dr. Heather Wilson became the 11th President of The University of Texas at El Paso in 2019 after serving as Secretary of the United States Air Force. She is the former president of the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, and she represented New Mexico in the United States Congress for 10 years. 

Active in community and national affairs, she is a member of the National Science Board, which oversees the National Science Foundation, and serves as a board member of the Texas Space Commission. She was the inaugural Chair of the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities, and is a member of the board of directors of Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Dr. Wilson is the granddaughter of immigrants and was the first person in her family to go to college. She graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in the third class to admit women and earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from Oxford University in England as a Rhodes Scholar.

UTEP is located on the U.S.-Mexico border – in the fifth largest manufacturing region in North America – and serves over 24,000 students with 170 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in nine colleges and schools. In the top 5% of public universities in the United States for research and designated a community-engaged university by the Carnegie Foundation, UTEP is America’s leading Hispanic-serving university. It is the fourth largest research university in Texas and serves a student body that is 84% Hispanic.

President Wilson is an instrument rated private pilot. She and her husband, Jay Hone, have two adult children and two granddaughters.

Dr. Heather Wilson served as the 24th Secretary of the Air Force and was responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force, including the organizing, training and equipping and providing for the welfare of 660,000 Active-Duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces their families. She provided oversight of the Air Force’s annual budget of more than $132 billion and directs strategy and policy development, risk management, weapons acquisition, technology investments and human resource management across a global enterprise.



Dr. Wilson has more than 35 years of professional experience in a range of leadership and management roles in the military, higher education, government and private industry. Before assuming her current position, Dr. Wilson was president of the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, an engineering and science research university.



From 1998 to 2009, Dr. Wilson was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, where she served on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Energy and Commerce Committee.



Before being elected to Congress, Dr. Wilson was a cabinet secretary in New Mexico’s state government responsible for foster care, adoption, juvenile delinquency, children’s mental health and early childhood education.



From 1989 to 1991 Wilson served on the National Security Council staff as director for defense policy and arms control for President George H.W. Bush during the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Warsaw Pact.



From 1991 to1995 and again from 2009 to 2013 Wilson was in the private sector. In 1991, she founded Keystone International, Inc., a company that did business development and program planning work for defense and scientific industry. She served as a senior advisor to several national laboratories on matters related to nuclear weapons, non-proliferation, arms control verification, intelligence and the defense industrial base. Wilson also served on the boards of two publicly traded corporations as well as numerous advisory and non-profit boards.

 

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FULL TRANSCRIPT

SPEAKERS

Guest:  Dr. Heather Wilson ’82  |  Hosts:  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 Walkowicz, Class of ’99. Our story is about a leader who reached heights fellow Air Force Academy graduates had not reached before her, and this was at a time when opportunities to do so were still new. My guest is Dr. Heather Wilson, Class of ’82. As you heard, she served as the 24th secretary of the Air Force, but there is a unique distinction attached to that. Dr Wilson, welcome to Long Blue Leadership; we have much to discuss. Let's start with you becoming the secretary of the Air Force, our 24th.

 

Dr. Heather Wilson  00:37

Yeah, that wasn't part of my life's plan. Secretary Designate Matt