Commander's Intent

“The money goes to the trusted and prepared.” In this candid conversation, Colonel Derek Oaks and General Mike Minihan dissect what it truly takes to rebuild and resource the U.S. Air Force for the threats of tomorrow. From the broken acquisition system to the suffocating “frozen middle” of bureaucracy, they expose the tension between process and product —and why only decisive, trusted, and prepar...

In this episode of Commander's Intent , retired Air Force Colonel and fighter pilot Derek Oaks reveals the real reason U.S. fighter pilots stay at the top of their game—and it’s not the jets, the gear, or the swagger. It’s the aggressive, egoless debrief after every mission. Derek walks you through a humbling story from his own instructor upgrade in the A-10, where a single training flight tu...

True leadership isn’t about authority — it’s about responsibility. In this episode of Commander’s Intent, retired Air Force Colonel and Fighter Pilot Derek Oaks breaks down the real meaning behind the word Commander — to entrust, empower, and take ownership. Discover how embracing your own “commander’s intent” helps you lead with clarity in your career, family, and personal life. Through military...

In this episode of Commander's Intent, retired Air Force Colonel and leadership mentor Derek Oaks reveals what it truly means to be a confident leader — not one driven by ego or control, but by clarity, competence, and calm under pressure. Drawing from powerful real-life experiences in the cockpit and the Pentagon, Derek shares how true confidence is built through trust, technical mastery, co...

In this premiere episode of Commander's Intent, retired Air Force Colonel and fighter pilot Derek Oaks shares how confident decision-making separates great leaders from the rest. Drawing from real-life combat and leadership experiences, Derek reveals how to define your “Commander’s Intent” — the what and why behind your mission — and empower your team with the how. Whether you’re leading a bu...