Jake DeRuyter, a 2015 Air Force Academy graduate, shares a compelling leadership journey marked by unexpected challenges and resilient adaptation. ----more----

SUMMARY



Initially aspiring to be a pilot, Jake faced a critical moment when back surgery disqualified him from his dream career, forcing him to quickly choose a new Air Force Specialty Code within just one hour. Despite the uncertainty, he remained calm and strategic, ultimately transitioning to intelligence and then to an ROTC instructor role. His leadership philosophy emerged from these experiences: staying flexible, maintaining a strong network, and focusing on developing others rather than just personal advancement.

 

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JAKE'S LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS

 - Always be willing to adapt and stay resilient when unexpected challenges arise, like Jake did when he couldn't become a pilot and had to quickly choose a new career path.

 - Build and maintain a strong network of connections, as these relationships can help you navigate career transitions and provide support.

 - Focus on developing the people around you, not just your own career advancement. A great leader lifts up their team and helps others grow.

 - Stay proactive in reaching out to people, checking in, and genuinely listening to their stories and experiences.

 - Be willing to take risks on talented individuals, especially those from similar backgrounds or networks, like how Jake was given an opportunity by fellow graduates.

 - Maintain a competitive spirit and drive, but channel it into continuous self-improvement and supporting others.

 - Give back to your community, whether through mentoring, volunteering, or leading local chapters and organizations.

 - Be prepared to put in consistent daily effort, understanding that success comes from habits and persistent hard work.

 - Stay open to unexpected opportunities and be willing to pivot when your initial career path doesn't work out.

 - Prioritize relationships and connections over individual achievements, recognizing that your success is often measured by the people you've helped develop.

 

JAKE'S TOP 5 LEADERSHIP LESSONS

Here are the 5 best leadership lessons from Jake DeRuyter's interview:

 

Build Others Up, Not Just Yourself

Jake emphasized that true leadership is about developing the people around you. As he said, "Don't just worry about your own career and life" - great leaders are judged by the success of those they mentor and support.

 

Stay Adaptable and Resilient

When Jake's pilot career was unexpectedly derailed, he demonstrated the critical leadership skill of staying calm under pressure and quickly pivoting. He chose to focus on what he could control rather than getting stuck on what he couldn't change.

 

Maintain Genuine Connections

Jake consistently stressed the importance of reaching out, checking in with people, and truly listening. He makes time to connect with classmates, colleagues, and fellow graduates, understanding that relationships are the foundation of effective leadership.

 

Take Calculated Risks and Support Others

Jake's career trajectory shows the importance of being willing to take risks - both for yourself and for others. He was given a chance by fellow graduates and now pays it forward by helping other transitioning military members.

 

Give Back Consistently

Leadership isn't just about personal achievement, but about contributing to your community. Jake exemplifies this through his role as chapter president, mentoring cadets, and always being available to help fellow Air Force Academy graduates.

 

EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00  Introduction to Leadership Journeys
05:31  Navigating Life's Crossroads
12:01  The Role of Mentorship and Family
17:31  Transitioning from Military to Civilian Life
20:48  Motivation and Personal Drive
22:02  The Daily Grind: A Shift in Focus
24:31  Building Community: Chapter Leadership
27:29 Challenges of Leadership and Engagement
29:00 Giving Back: The Importance of Community
31:12  Leadership Lessons: Daily Practices
32:53  Advice for Aspiring Leaders
34:25  Reflections on Involvement and Connection
36:40  Final Thoughts and Gratitude

 

ABOUT JAKE

BIO

As a 2015 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Jake spent six years on active duty serving as an Intel Officer and ROTC Instructor. Having left the service, he now am an Account Executive on the Air Force team at IMPRES Technology Solutions providing active duty units with the tech they need to accomplish the mission.

- Copy courtesy of Jake DeRuyter and LinkedIn

 

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FULL TRANSCRIPT

SPEAKERS

GUEST, JAKE DERUYTER ’15  |  HOST, 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 Walkewicz, Class of ’99. My guest today is Jake DeRuyter, Class of ’15, currently an account executive with Impress Technology and the president of the Central Texas Chapter of the Association of Graduates, quite possibly our youngest graduate to do so. He is second-generation Air Force following his father, a graduate from the Class of ’85, and uncle, Class of ’87 from our Air Force Academy, the only school that he applied to after high school. We'll talk about those things, Jake's leadership journey and a particular crossroad he arrived at when he had one hour to decide his entire life. Jake, welcome to Long Blue Leadership, and I'd like to dive right in: One hour to decide your entire life. What's that about?

 

Jake DeRuyter  01:22

Yeah, so my second semester, first year, I was dealing with some pretty significant back issues, and didn't realize how just how severe it was. So I'm in the flight dock. It was either the Monday the week before or the week of graduation, and the doctor's like, “Hey, you're gonna need back surgery to remove the bulging disc in your back.” I'm like, “OK, great. I can barely walk, so sign me up. Whatever you can do make me feel better.” And they're like, “Well, you're not gonna be able to keep your pilot slot if you proceed with the surgery.” And I'm not gonna lie and say it was my end all dream to be a pilot, but you go through all four years thinking you're gonna fly, you're pretty fired up for it, we're a week away from graduation, and then it’s like, hey, the rug is just pulled. But I had to make a decision right there where it's like, “Hey, I'd rather be able to walk and be pain free than fly.” And so that was a pretty easy decision at that point. And then the next part is, what you alluded to, is where things got a little tricky. So being just a couple days before walking across the stage and saluting the secretary of the Air Force, I’m like, “So what's my job going to be?” I don't even know what else is available in the Air Force. I didn't have to focus on this.” And they're like, “Well, I'm just the flight doc. Go talk to the personnel office over in Vandy, and they'll get you taken care of.” So, I walk — or hobble — on over there, And I'm like, “Hey, Jake DeRuyter, I told the flight doc to give y’all a call, you know, to get me a new job. What's my life look like? What are we doing next?” And she just goes, “Well, there was a big missileer crisis, and we're really desperate for missileers. So, you're gonna be missiles now.” And I'm just, like — my jaw dropped.

 

Naviere Walkewicz

Not what you expected to hear.

 

Jake DeRuyter 

Not what I wanted and like, not to downplay missiles, just not what I wanted to join the Air Force to do, right? That's... I'm just like, standing ther