Season 3 of the Long Blue Leadership podcast is a wrap! From established national leaders to rising stars, this season features inspiring stories from U.S. Air Force Academy graduates.



SUMMARY



This season's guests included Dr. Heather Wilson ’82, former Secretary of the Air Force; Dr. John Torres ’82, NBC News Senior Medical Correspondent; Maj. Gen. Thomas Sherman ’95, Vice Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy, and 2nd Lt.  Wyatt Hendrickson ’24, NCAA wrestling champion.

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TAKEAWAYS

• Leadership is about collecting tools over time.


• Your identity is not defined by your profession.


• Intentionality in actions leads to personal growth.


• Leadership can be practiced at any level.


• Admitting mistakes quickly is crucial for growth.


• Respect and loyalty are earned through care.


• Every moment is an opportunity to make an impact.


• Legacy is built in real-time interactions.


• Conversations can unlock deeper insights about leadership.


• Sharing stories fosters connection and learning.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Celebrating leadership lessons from Season 3

03:07 Insights from Dr. Heather Wilson ’82

05:47 Chad Hennings ’88 on identity and leadership

08:55 Young leader Wyatt Hendrickson's ’24 journey

11:51 Jemal Singleton ’99, leading where you are

14:53 Emma Przybyslawski ’10 on leadership beyond the uniform

17:49 Dr. John Torres ’82, earning respect and loyalty

20:37 Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Sherman ’95 on trust, courage, and legacy

23:47 Looking ahead to Season 4

ABOUT OUR HOSTS

BIO's

LT. COL. (RET.) NAVIERE WALKEWICZ ’99

Senior Vice President, Engagement

With over two decades in leadership roles, my current focus at the Association of Graduates - U.S. Air Force Academy is fostering a robust network of 50,000+ alumni. This commitment involves igniting a culture of engagement and inclusivity, underpinned by a strong foundation in support of our Air Force Academy.

- BIO COPY CREDIT:  LINKEDIN.COM

MR. WYATT HORNSBY

Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications | Executive Producer

Wyatt Hornsby is passionate about developing marketing and communications talent and cohesive, high-performance teams. He is senior vice president of marketing and communications at the Air Force Academy Foundation and the Association of Graduates. He leads the work of the foundation and alumni association marketing and communications division, while also coordinating with various Air Force Academy offices, including Public Affairs and Strategic Communications.

- BIO COPY CREDIT:  LINKEDIN.COM

CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP PODCAST NETWORK TEAM

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

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

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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FULL TRANSCRIPT

SPEAKERS

Co-Hosts:  Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99  |  Mr. Wyatt Hornsby

Naviere Walkewicz  00:26

Welcome to our retrospective for Season 3. We’re celebrating the first three seasons of the Association & Foundation’s premier podcast and the countless leadership lessons shared by some of the most accomplished Air Force Academy grads.

Wyatt Hornsby  00:41

Naviere, in Season 3, we’ve showcased some amazing stories and takeaways that apply to life, both in and out of the military. From the start, Long Blue Leadership has given listeners an inside look at real experiences, insights and advice from seasoned leaders as well as those just beginning their journeys. These deep dives explore how leaders not only face challenges head on, but also find ways to inspire and empower those around them.

Naviere Walkewicz  01:06

These conversations are amazing. What really sets this podcast apart are how these leadership discussions consistently touch on teamwork, perseverance, humility, excellence and service before self.

Wyatt Hornsby  01:17

Well said, Naviere. And in this edition of Long Blue Leadership, we’re gonna respond to a few clips and share our own perspectives related to some of our favorite moments, and we’ll also preview what’s coming up in Season 4.

Naviere Walkewicz  01:30

Now Wyatt and I would be remiss if we didn’t share — listen, we could go on about every guest that’s on this podcast, because everyone is remarkable, but we’re just going to focus on a few of them. So let's jump right into some of our favorite moments from Season 3.

Wyatt Hornsby 

Let’s do it.

Naviere Walkewicz 

All right. Well, this first clip is someone that you’re going to recognize: Dr. Heather Wilson, Class of ’82. What an amazing graduate. And you know, when we think about what she’s accomplished — she’s a Distinguished Graduate, secretary of the Air Force, I mean, going on into Congress — she is a mentor for many. And this particular clip, she actually is referring to someone who’s been a mentor for her and being able to make an impact in his life. So let’s take a listen.

Dr. Heather Wilson  02:12

My grandfather was an aviator. He was also a mechanic. He could use any tool. I mean, he was just amazing with his hands. And I had learned a new tool in school, and I took out a piece of graph paper, and I drew a curve, and I said, “Grandpa, do you think you could find the area under this curve?” And he said, “Well, I’d probably count up the squares and estimate from there on the graph paper.” And I then I showed him something new, and it was called calculus, and it was the first time in my life that I realized I had a tool that my grandfather didn’t have. He had a high school education and had gone into the RAF during the First World War, and he was a great mechanic and a really good man, but I realized that there were opportunities for me that maybe my grandfather never had.

Naviere Walkewicz  03:14

What an amazing conversation with her. What did you think about that comment about the tool?

Wyatt Hornsby  03:19

That's very, very moving. You can see just what her grandfather, what he meant to her, and just to think about those experiences and how they informed and influenced how Dr. Wilson has been a leader to so many in Congress, as secretary of the Air Force and now as president of the University of Texas, El Paso.

Naviere Walkewicz  03:38

Yes. And when you go back to that conversation, I think she talks about tools in a toolbox, and she relates it to her grandfather and her dad, I think, as well. But she talks about the toolbox almost serving as — you never know when you're going to need a tool. So as long as you collect tools over time, they can make a difference. And so she likens them to the people in your life and the people who serve with you and under you and above you. But if you start to recognize the tools that they have, you never know when they're going to make a difference. And in her case, she was actually able to provide a tool like calculus for her grandfather.

Wyatt Hornsby 

A great lesson.

Naviere Walkewicz 

Yes, yes. So make sure you take a listen on that one.

Wyatt Hornsby  04:15

Well, Navie