Commander's Intent

What makes America truly exceptional, and what can today's leaders learn from the principles that shaped a nation? In this thought-provoking episode of Commander's Intent, retired Air Force Colonel Derek Oaks and Rob explore the origins of American Exceptionalism and why its foundational ideas remain essential for effective leadership and decision-making. From the Declaration of Independ...

What if the world's greatest leadership training ground isn't found in the boardroom but inside the gaming industry? In this fascinating episode of Commander's Intent, Derek Oaks sits down with global media strategist and gaming industry expert Gayle Dickie to explore how gaming has evolved into one of the world's most powerful ecosystems for leadership, strategy, innovation, a...

What if one simple conversation could change someone's life? In this inspiring episode of Commander's Intent, retired Air Force Colonel Derek Oaks sits down with bestselling author Jason Wright to explore the profound impact of human connection, empathy, and intentional leadership. Drawing from years of traveling, writing, and meeting strangers from all walks of life, Jason shares powerf...

What happens when trust is the difference between success and failure, or even life and death? In this episode of Commander's Intent, Derek Oaks sits down with retired Air Force JTAC and business leader David Bickel to explore why trust is the foundation of every high-performing team. Drawing from combat deployments, close air support missions, and leadership experience in both military and b...

What if the key to extraordinary leadership isn't found in the big decisions, but in the small things you do every day? In this episode of Commander's Intent, retired Air Force Colonel Derek Oaks shares a heartfelt tribute to his mother and the powerful leadership lesson she taught him without ever stepping into a boardroom or cockpit. Drawing on the fighter pilot concept of "mother...

What does it take to lead effectively when you're caught between executive decisions and the needs of your team?  In this episode of Commander's Intent, Derek Oaks sits down with leadership consultant, author, and former financial executive  Douglas Scherer to explore the realities of leading inside large organizations. Drawing from more than 20 years in a global financial institution, D...

In this episode of Commander’s Intent, retired Air Force Colonel Derek Oaks sits down with keynote speaker, consultant, and ICU Living founder Julie De Jesus for a powerful conversation about leadership, mental health, trust, and the human need to feel seen. Drawing from her own experience overcoming toxic leadership and burnout, Julie shares how one mentor changed the course of her life simply by...

Fifty-eight years ago, a 23-year-old soldier named Larry Weist was stacked with the bodies of the dead after a helicopter was shot out of the Vietnam sky. Then someone saw his hand move.  In this episode of Commander's Intent, retired Air Force Colonel Derek Oaks shares the story of his friend Larry, and the one decision Larry made when he realized he'd been given a second chance at life...

In this episode, Derek Oaks shares powerful lessons from flying combat missions, training fighter pilots, and navigating high-pressure environments where one wrong decision can change everything. Through real stories from the cockpit and everyday life, he breaks down the concept of “focus allocation” and why multitasking is one of the biggest myths sabotaging performance, leadership, and decision-...

Mission first… or people first? What if that’s the wrong question entirely? In this episode, Derek Oaks dives into one of the most debated topics in leadership and challenges the idea that you have to choose between results and relationships.  Through real-world stories from the military and business, you’ll hear how focusing too much on the mission can burn out your team and how focusing only on...

Have you ever hesitated in a critical moment—knowing a decision had to be made, but unsure if it was the right one? In this high-impact episode of Commander’s Intent, Derek Oaks sits down with retired Air Force General and fighter pilot Robert G. Novotny to break down how elite leaders make decisions under pressure—and how you can apply the same principles in business and life.  From the cockpit o...

In this powerful episode of Commander’s Intent, retired Air Force Colonel Derek Oaks sits down with entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and author Ty Bennett to unpack what truly drives high performance in teams and individuals. Drawing from a national research study behind his new book Redefining High Performance, Ty reveals the surprising data that challenges conventional leadership thinking — includ...

What separates high-performing teams from complete chaos—and why do even experienced leaders get it wrong?  In this powerful episode of Commander’s Intent, Derek Oaks sits down with retired Colonel Jerry “Chewy” Cook to break down one of the most overlooked drivers of success in any organization: structure. Drawing from real-world combat search and rescue missions, leadership at the Pentagon, and...

What separates great leaders from everyone else isn’t just experience—it’s how they think and act when the pressure is on.  In this episode of Commander’s Intent, Derek Oaks sits down with Madeline Hart of Palantir to unpack how elite organizations use data, technology, and decisive leadership to move faster, think smarter, and stay ahead of the competition. From national security to business stra...

What does it really take to step into a CEO role and lead when the stakes are high, and the answers aren’t clear?  In this episode, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Mike Benitez, current CEO of Purple Rhombus, shares powerful insights from his first six weeks leading a venture-backed defense startup—revealing how to make critical decisions under pressure, build trust fast, and execute at scale in a rapidly evolvin...

What if the biggest thing holding you back… is thinking “that’s not my job” ? In this episode, we dive into the real difference between leaders and employees—and why growth happens when you step beyond your role, not stay inside it. Learn how great leaders think, how strong cultures are built, and why the willingness to figure it out (even when you’re not trained) is what separates average from ex...

In this episode of Commander's Intent, retired Air Force Colonel and fighter pilot Derek Oaks explores how the Golden Rule—treating others the way you want to be treated—creates stronger leaders and more powerful teams. Derek explains why this timeless principle drives trust, loyalty, accountability, and high performance inside organizations—from the military to the business world. If you wan...

In this episode of Commander's Intent, retired Air Force Colonel and fighter pilot Derek Oaks explores the true meaning of integrity in leadership—and why it becomes most important when the pressure is highest. Through powerful real-life stories—from wartime courage to high-stakes decisions in aviation—Derek reveals how integrity shapes trust, culture, and decision-making inside organizations...

In this episode, retired Air Force Colonel Derek Oaks, special operations veteran Dan Laguna shares raw, unforgettable stories of leadership under fire. From choosing between saving a wounded soldier or a dying child in Iraq… to landing in the middle of an active firefight to recover his fallen brother… this episode explores what it truly means to make impossible decisions when lives are on the li...

In this episode, retired Air Force Colonel and fighter pilot Derek Oaks tackles one of the toughest leadership realities: What do you do when your boss makes a bad decision — and you still have to execute? Through a powerful combat story from Afghanistan, Derek shares a high-stakes mission where a flawed tactical call led to a missed opportunity to eliminate a high-value target. Instead of staying...

In this episode, Derek Oaks sits down with retired Air Force General Jim Slife to answer a critical leadership question: Who actually owns risk?  From young pilots who believe they’re bulletproof to senior leaders managing global operations, this episode explores how understanding risk evolves with responsibility. General Slife shares powerful lessons from his 35-year career, including the lasting...

In this episode of Commander’s Intent , retired Air Force Colonel and fighter pilot Derek Oaks and Rob Powell explore a powerful question: Can Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People actually make you a better strategist? Drawing from military leadership, business strategy, and real-world examples, they break down each habit—from Be Proactive to Sharpen the Saw —and reframe it through...

In this episode of Commander’s Intent, retired Air Force Colonel and fighter pilot Derek Oaks breaks down a hard leadership truth: plans rarely survive first contact—but planning is still essential. Drawing from real combat missions and life-or-death decisions, Derek explains why mental rehearsal, preparation, and clarity of intent matter more than a perfect plan. From military operations to busin...

In this episode of Commander’s Intent, retired Air Force Colonel and fighter pilot Derek Oaks and co-host Rob Powell break down how leaders should think about risk—and why fear-based decision-making quietly destroys momentum, trust, and mission success. Drawing from military aviation, combat operations, business leadership, and everyday life, they explain why risk can never be reduced to zero, why...

Hesitation isn’t harmless—it’s expensive. In this episode of Commander’s Intent , retired Air Force Colonel and fighter pilot Derek Oaks breaks down how decision hesitancy is quietly killing momentum, confidence, and results in today’s organizations. Backed by real-world data and battlefield-tested leadership lessons, Derek explains why leaders freeze, how micromanagement and information overload...