The Gratitude Edge - Capt. Garrett "Kap" Kauppila ’19
Description
As a U.S. Air Force Academy cadet, now-Capt. Garrett “Kap” Kauppila ’19 experienced a life-changing moment involving his older brother.
SUMMARY
That trial taught him success doesn’t involve rank — it’s about being present, showing gratitude and supporting others. Hear his powerful story on Long Blue Leadership. Listen today and be a better leader tomorrow!
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"KAP'S" LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS
Never take moments with loved ones for granted - cherish every interaction.
Treat everyone with equal respect, regardless of rank or position.
Find your authentic leadership style - don't try to imitate others.
Root yourself in gratitude to increase your overall happiness.
Fill your own "glass" first before trying to pour into others - self-care is crucial.
Wake up early and accomplish tasks to get ahead of your day.
Pursue what truly matters to you, not what others expect.
Be willing to invest in yourself and sometimes work for free to prove your value.
Ask "why" to understand the root cause of people's challenges and needs.
Leadership is about showing genuine care, being consistent, and helping others increase their opportunities.
CHAPTERS
00:00 : A Life-Changing Moment
01:04 : Lessons from Adversity
08:30 : The Importance of Gratitude
11:07 : Finding Purpose in Leadership
11:28 : The Journey to Teaching
17:57 : Building Authentic Relationships
24:50 : The Power of Self-Discovery
33:47 : Investing in Yourself
ABOUT CAPTAIN KAUPPILA
BIO
Capt. Garrett “Kap” Kauppila ’19 is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, where he distinguished himself both academically and athletically. A native of Rocklin, California, he played defensive back for the Falcons and maintained strong academic performance throughout his time at the Academy. After graduation, Capt. Kauppila has served in the Air Force in various capacities, including as an instructor. His leadership approach is informed by both the discipline of his military career and his commitment to continual self‑improvement.
One of the pivotal moments in Capt. Kauppila’s life was when his older brother, Kyle, suffered a near‑fatal motorcycle accident leading to a stroke. During that time, Garrett balanced intense emotional and physical challenges—on top of his duties and studies—taking time off, helping with his brother’s care, and eventually returning to finish strong at the Academy with a 3.85 GPA. This period deeply shaped his philosophy of leadership: the idea of the “glacier theory,” which emphasizes looking beneath the surface to understand people’s motivations and struggles, and recognizing that many uphill battles are won by small, consistent adjustments.
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TRANSCRIPT
SPEAKERS
Guest, Capt. Garrett "Cap" Kaupilla ’19 | Host, Lt. Col. Naviere Walkewicz ’99
Naviere Walkewicz
As a cadet, Kap had just began his first season as a defensive starter for Air Force football when his world was turned upside down by a crucible moment.
Capt. Garrett Kauppila
Sept. 17, 2017, will forever stay with my family. I ended up getting a call that my brother, that he's not breathing, and it appears that he's no longer with us. I had about 45 minutes to an hour window where I thought that was completely the case. Again, the last I heard he was evacced on a helicopter. He got in a motorcycle crash and didn't know the extent of the details. Was in the Sierra foothills in northern California, and that's all I knew. That changed the trajectory of our entire lives.
Naviere Walkewicz
My guest today is Capt. Garrett “Kap” Kauppila, United States Air Force Academy Class of 2019 — a man whose leadership journey was shaped in a way few of us can imagine. Kap learned about the fragility of life, the danger of taking even a single conversation for granted, and the importance of showing up with passion and gratitude every day. That perspective now defines Kap as a leader and as a mentor to our cadets at the Air Force Academy. In this episode, he shares the lessons learned in the hardest of circumstances, the power of authenticity, the discipline of not taking life's moments for granted, and the conviction that true leadership begins with respect for others, no matter their title nor rank. So stay with us, because Kap's story is more than a testimony of persistence and staying power. It's a call to live and lead with purpose. Kap, welcome to Long Blue Leadership.
Capt. Garrett Kauppila
Thank you very much.
Naviere Walkewicz
We're so excited to have you. We want to go right to the moment your brother was in a motorcycle crash. Tell us about it.
Capt. Garrett Kauppila
Yeah. So, Sept. 17, 2017, I ended up getting a call that my brother was dead. That was the simple phone call — that he's not breathing and it appears that he's no longer with us. I had about 45 minutes to an hour window where I thought that was completely the case. Pretty surreal moment. You know, I can't say that I remember every detail of that feeling, but time had passed. I was trying to call people and figure out who could be there, who could be around. My uncle was the first one to arrive at the hospital. And again, the last I heard he was lifeline evacced in a helicopter. He got in a motorcycle crash. They didn't know the extent of the details. He was in the Sierra foothills in northern California, and that's all I knew. Lifeline evacced, unconscious, not breathing. He ended up surviving. He woke up in the hospital. My uncle was there. I end up getting a phone call, and I got the chance to speak to my brother on the phone, and I talked to him, and at first, I mean, I'm just in panic, you know? “Oh my God, he's calling. He's actually alive. Oh my gosh.” I got to get on the phone with him, and he seemed normal, beyond normal. And I had this realization that results matter less than expectations sometimes. If I expected that he was alive, I don't, they would have the same relief. But because I had the thought that he wasn't, that feeling will live within me forever. So, you know, I get the chance, we’re talking on the phone. He's actually telling me about my game, and he was so excited to watch him play. Ask him about his day and his accident, what happened. He had no idea, right? When traumatic things happen in your life, sometimes it creates just a blackout. Even before, he didn't remember, you know, sometime before the accident happened. So he couldn't tell you what happened, how it happened, any of those details. But we went back and forth, kind of talking and exchanging a couple laughs, in fact. And I actually got a phone call then from Coach Calhoun who was kind enough to reach out to me just to tell me that, “Hey, you know, Kap, if there's anything we can do, I know there's a lot going on.” When he called me on the phone, it's not typical for a player to just get a rogue phone call from the head coach. So in that moment, I'm on the phone with my brother, we're laughing, we're enjoying time. It feels normal for all intents and purposes. I think I took it for granted. I think you go from this feeling that he is not with me to he is completely normal, and that dichotomy, that strong polarization of feeling that I had led to, I guess, complacency. I took him for granted in that moment, I perceived, and, you know, if I could have gone back, I never would have answered the phone call. I appreciate and love Coach Calhoun for calling me, but I just would have soaked in that moment with him. And I didn't even think twice, like, “Oh yeah, Kyle, Kyle, I'll call you right back.” I called my brother's name. “I'll call you right back.” He's “OK, no worries. Just call me back. Cool.” Hung up, you know, answer the phone with Coach Calhoun. He was so lovely, just supportive, just saying, “Hey, we're all here for you. Anything you need, just let us know. You, your family. Anything.” You know, wonderful. I go to call my brother back. OK. “Hey. You know, he's asleep.” “OK, no worri
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