From the Pentagon on 9/11 to keeping service members safe through timely innovation, Dave Harden ‘95 embodies what it means to run toward the fire.



SUMMARY

In this episode of Long Blue Leadership with host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99, hear how adversity, gratitude and courage forged a leader others would follow anywhere. From his harrowing experience during the 9/11 attacks to overcoming childhood adversity and pioneering innovation in the Air Force, Dave Harden shares practical lessons on gratitude, resilience and the importance of running toward challenges rather than away from them. The conversation emphasizes that true leadership is forged in the fire of adversity and that gratitude can transform hardship into fuel for growth.

 

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DAVE'S LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS

• Leadership is about how we respond in crisis.


• Everyone has a personal story of 9/11.


• Muscle memory from training prepares us for challenges.


• Gratitude shifts our perspective from burden to opportunity.


• Looking up fosters hope and gratitude.


• Gratitude can transform lives and relationships.


• Innovation is crucial for effective leadership.


• Courage is a choice we make every day.


• Hardships prepare us for future leadership roles.


• True leaders run toward the fire, not away from it.

 

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Leadership Lessons
01:28 The Impact of 9/11 on Leadership
09:40 Overcoming Childhood Adversity
14:27 The Power of Gratitude
16:56 Innovation in the Air Force
24:43 Transitioning to the Private Sector
31:16 Courage and Leadership Choices

 

ABOUT DAVE HARDEN

BIO

Col. (Ret.) Dave Harden ’95 is a nationally sought-after voice on resilience, innovation and mission-driven leadership. His story — from surviving the 9/11 attacks to pioneering new models of innovation inside the U.S. Air Force — embodies his core belief: Leaders are forged in adversity, and gratitude turns every challenge into momentum.

A retired O-6 who served in both active duty and Reserve roles, Harden attended the U.S. Air Force Academy as a freshman in Cadet Squadron 19, graduating while in CS-17. He went on to pilot the technologically advanced C-17, accumulating nearly 4,000 flight hours and significant combat time in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Kosovo.

Seeing that America’s technological advantage depended on better collaboration between government and the private sector, Harden became a founding architect of AFWERX, the U.S. Air Force innovation platform that has now executed over $5 billion with more than 3,100 companies. He previously served at the Pentagon as chief of strategic prioritization, where he helped reshape how the Department of Defense engages with emerging technology.

Today, Harden continues that mission as founder and managing partner of Outpost Ventures, creator and Partner of ScaleWolf — a transatlantic venture fund focused on dual-use technology and mission-readiness, and founder of The Outpost. Across these platforms, he has helped deploy more than $100 million in capital and captured over $500 million in U.S. and international government awards for over 250 companies, while shaping the models to deploy capital, build capability and scale innovation toward real operational needs.

Beyond national security, Harden also served as COO of Melwood, a 1,500-person nonprofit providing opportunities for people with disabilities. He earned his B.S. in electrical engineering from USAFA and his MBA from George Washington University, and he holds executive certificates from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.

Across every chapter — from cockpits to combat zones to the halls of the Pentagon —Harden continues to champion resilience, innovation and capability at the speed of relevance.

 

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TRANSCRIPT

 

OUR SPEAKERS

Guest, Dave "Big D" Harden ’95  |  Host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99

Col. Naviere Walkewicz 0:12

Welcome to Long Blue Leadership, where we explore the lessons of leadership through the lives and stories of Air Force Academy graduates. I'm your host, Naviere Walkewicz, Class of ’99. My guest today is Dave Harden, Class of 1995. Dave is widely accepted in the Long Blue Line community for his leadership, service, business acumen and his willingness to run toward the fire.



Dave Harden 0:35

When bad things are happening and fires are burning around you, you won't even think for a second, “I need to help someone. I need to do the thing.”

Naviere Walkewicz 0:46

From his time as a C-17 pilot to his work at the Pentagon and in the private sector, David's faced both personal and professional moments that shaped not just his career, but his philosophy of leadership. In our conversation, we'll talk about three transformative moments in his journey — from being just 400 feet away from impact during the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon, to overcoming hardships in his childhood, to his work pioneering innovation at the highest levels in government and business. Along the way, we'll hear about the meaning behind his call sign, “Big D,” and engage in practical leadership lessons that have transformed his life and can transform yours. This is a conversation for cadets, aspiring leaders, seasoned business professionals and lifelong learners alike, because leadership isn't just about what we do; it’s how we respond when the fire is burning right in front of us. Dave, welcome to Long Blue Leadership.





Dave Harden 1:38

Thanks for having me on today. I’m excited to be here.

 

Naviere Walkewicz 1:41

We are so excited, and I think this is going to be a real conversation that's extremely practical for our listeners, but we're going to jump into a really important moment, and this is one that encourages so many people — 9/11. Can you talk about that experience with us?

Dave Harden 1:57

I’ve been able to speak over the years post the event. Talked to 15,000 people about 10 years after the event and have been able to share this story many times over, and I'm glad to be able to share it here with us today. Everyone knew what happened — kind of the Twin Towers. The first story comes out. I was busy in the thralls of my job at the Pentagon. Actually getting stuff out for President Bush, for him to make statements to some of my work in the Baltics at the time. So I wasn't really paying attention kind of to what was going on at the World Trade Center. Kind of knew what was going on. My beautiful redheaded wife, Angie, was coming to pick me up. So at the time, we had a young daughter, and she was pregnant with what would be my son, but we didn't know that at the time. So she was supposed to pick me up from the ultrasound, and so I rushed outside, and I don't remember the exact timing. Maybe she's supposed to pick me up at 9:15 , 9:30 , is right around, as we know now, when the plane would come into the Pentagon. So I'm out on the south bridge of the Pentagon, and it winds up being on the side of the impact of the plane would come in. And standing out there, I remember looking, it was a beautiful day, quiet, and if you remember, not a lot of people, there wasn't a lot of videos — not a lot of people actually saw the plane impact. And so those things you never forget. So that day, standing out there, I saw this plane coming. But we're by Reagan National Airport, right? So you're thinking that another plane's coming into Reagan. No big deal. I'm waiting for Angie to pick me up. She winds up being about five, 10 minutes late, and in hindsight, she always said, “If because I was late, you lost your life, I would never forgive myself.” And so I watch the plane come in, and then all of a sudden, it's like, “Holy crap! This plane is pointed right at me.” And so as it's coming straight in, I start running over the bridge. Little did I know Angie was just driving under the