Building Better Leaders

Trust as the Foundation of Leadership (Feat. Gen. Thomas Bussiere)

Building trust with employees is a vital leadership quality. Gen. Bussiere explains what “leading from the front” means and how trust is built from the top down.Gen. Thomas Bussiere is the former commander of Air Force Global Strike Command. In addition, as a command pilot, Gen. Bussiere accrued over 3,400 hours of flight time and has decades of leadership experience both in the air and on the ground.Book a leadership course with the Doolittle Leadership Center 👉 https://www.afa.org/dlc#leadershipdevelopment #leadership #leadershipqualities #usaf #leader #airforce

Building Better Leaders: Developing the Next Generation of Leaders (feat. Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell)

How to develop your employees, learn from the leadership principles we’ve inherited, and show your team you genuinely care.
 
Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell is a retired F-16 pilot, wing commander, and senior leader developer who’s trained thousands of young leaders in the Air Force. Today he’s a Senior Resident Fellow for Airpower Studies at AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.
 
Book a leadership course with the Doolittle Leadership Center: https://www.afa.org/doolittle-leadership-center/
 
#leadershipdevelopment #management #leadershiptips #leadershipskills #leadershiplessons #leadershiptraining #leadership #leadershipcoaching

The Secret to Setting Goals for Your Employees

Setting goals for your employees means more than setting a target: Your job as a leader is to clarify your vision, establish key performance indicators, give them the resources, identify obstacles, and help them stay on track in the midst of changing circumstances.

Spacepower, Legacy & Leading with Purpose (feat. Dr. David Arnold)

Spacepower isn’t just about technology—it’s about the people, legacy, and mindset driving it forward. We talk to Dr. David Arnold, a renowned expert on space, General Bernard Schriever’s enduring impact, and the leadership principles that shape today’s Air and Space Forces. From historical perspective to modern-day relevance, Dr. Arnold shares insights on innovation, optimism, and what it means to lead with purpose in an ever-evolving domain.

Mentorship, Influencing Up & Leading Behind the Scenes (feat. Debbie Schiess)

Military spouses are the prime example of how a behind-the-scenes support role can drive change, build trust, and inspire leaders wherever they are. We talk to Debbie Schiess, a nonprofit leader, parent, and spouse of Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations Lt. Gen. Doug Schiess, on the role military spouses play every day in empowering Space Force and Air Force leadership.

Carnivore Leadership & Hardcore Self-Discipline (feat. CMSAF Wolfe & SEAC #4 Colón-López)

Elite leadership is earned through self-discipline. Take charge of yourself and you’ll inspire your followers to do the same—learn how in this power-packed episode with CMSAF David Wolfe and SEAC #4 Ramón “CZ” Colón-López.
 
Colón-López's 2026 book, “Carnivore Leadership: Taking Charge Instead of Taking Shit,” is available for purchase now.
 
#leadershiptips #leadershipdevelopment #leadershiptraining #leadershipskills #leadershipinspiration #leadershipcoaching #buildingbetterleaders

Giving Actionable Feedback & Getting to Know Your Employees (feat. CMSgt. Katie McCool)

Most leaders don’t look forward to having difficult conversations with their employees, but giving honest, actionable feedback leads to a culture where speaking up makes the whole team stronger. Here’s Chief Master Sgt. Katie McCool, Command Chief of Pacific Air Forces, on how to achieve that.

Confrontation, Climbing Ladders & Inspiring Innovation (feat. CMSSF John Bentivegna)

Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force John Bentivegna—the highest-ranking enlisted Guardian—describes the habits that real leaders follow, and how they inspire those habits in their followers.

How to Develop Employees in 4 Steps

Here’s how to develop employees effectively with a 4-step method from Dr. Patrick Donley, host of the “Building Better Leaders” podcast and director of the Doolittle Leadership Center. This practical leadership training breaks down a simple 4-step framework—Discover, Teach, Model, and Coach—to help you grow your team’s skills, behavior, and performance.

Team Development, Accountability & Staying Cool (feat. 35th Fighter Wing Command Team)

Senior leaders from the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa Air Base in Japan explain how to develop leaders, own up to mistakes, and prioritize people while operating in non-stop high-stakes scenarios.