Building Better Leaders

Epizodes

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  Developing Your Team with Gen. Shawn Bratton | Building Better Leaders 02.10.2026 20min

  Leaders are responsible for developing their followers and holding them to high standards. Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Shawn Bratton breaks down how. As the U.S. Space Force’s second-in-command, Gen. Shawn N. Bratton organizes, trains, and equips America’s Guardians. The U.S. Space Force maintains mission-ready space forces that provide the core functions of Space Control, Global Mission Operations, and Space Access. Book a leadership course with the Doolittle Leadership Center 👉 https://www.afa.org/dlc #leadership #spaceforce #military
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  Sam Eckholm on Trust, Teamwork, and Telling Stories | Building Better Leaders 18.09.2026 36min

  What does it take to go from creating entertaining content as a solo creator to leading a capable team of creatives? Sam Eckholm joins us on Building Better Leaders to discuss his journey from an Air Force public affairs officer to the host of his successful YouTube show, Access Granted. He shares his insights on effective delegation, trusting your team, building a shared mission, and cultivating the relationships that make his behind-the-scenes storytelling possible. Sam’s career began at the U.S. Air Force Academy. After graduating in 2018, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and became the Public Affairs Officer for the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team at Langley Air Force Base. There, he managed all media, outreach, and content production. In 2021, Sam founded SE Media to produce his videos, which he continues to do today with over 2.5 million followers and 500 million cross-platform views.   Sam Eckholm joins us on Building Better Leaders to discuss his journey from an Air Force public affairs officer to the host of his successful YouTube channel, Sam Eckholm Book a leadership course with the Doolittle Leadership Center 👉 https://www.afa.org/dlc #leadership #sameckholm #military Videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/SamEckholmWebsite: https://www.sameckholm.comEmail: [email protected]
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  Wingman Leadership with Dr. Eric “Rabbit” Jorgensen | Building Better Leaders 04.09.2026 56min

  Professional Leadership Coach and former USAF fighter pilot, Dr. Eric "Rabbit" Jorgensen, discusses the critical importance of being a wingman leader who intentionally lifts others up and enables their success. Wingman leaders measure their effectiveness by their positive impact on the individuals who make up the team far more than their own career promotion or duty title. Dr. Eric “Rabbit” Jorgensen is the author of “Wingman Life: Living & Leading Like a Fighter Pilot”, a book about how to be a wingman in every domain of life and leadership. He is an experienced fighter pilot with over 26 years in the U.S. Air Force and 5,000+ hours flying the F-15E Strike Eagle and other jet aircraft. Both in the Air Force and after retiring, Rabbit has cultivated decades of intentional leadership through speaking and coaching, all while continuing to develop his philosophy of the wingman life. Book a leadership course with the Doolittle Leadership Center 👉 https://www.afa.org/dlc #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #wingman #airforce #usaf #leadership Books: https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/eric_jorgensenWebsite: www.wingmanexecutivecoaching.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-jorgensenEmail: [email protected]
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  Aligning Your Team for Success | Special Episode | Building Better Leaders 21.08.2026 6min

  Synchronizing your team is critical for maximum effectiveness. Dr. Patrick Donley, host of Building Better Leaders, discusses why it is so important to align your team and how to implement that alignment. Book a leadership course with the Doolittle Leadership Center 👉 https://www.afa.org/dlc #leadership #alignment #lead #leader
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  Building Better Leaders: Closing Leadership Gaps with John “JV” Venable 07.08.2026 53min

  Former Thunderbirds commander JV Venable discusses the critical importance of onboarding in leadership, how to build trust, breaking down trust barriers, building connection and commitment, and more. John “JV” Venable is the author of a book on building and leading high-performance teams, titled “Breaking the Trust Barrier.” He is also a recognized expert on air and space capacity, capability and readiness, and a host of other defense policy issues. During his 25-year career in the Air Force, he accumulated more than 4,500 hours in the F-16 and OV-10 aircraft, graduated from the US Air Force Fighter Weapons School, and held commands at both the squadron and group levels, including as Commander and Demonstration Leader of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, commonly known as the Thunderbirds. Book a leadership course with the Doolittle Leadership Center 👉 Doolittle Leadership Center - Air & Space Forces Association #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #thunderbirds #airforce #usaf #leader #trust #trusting
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  Who is Lt. Gen. Doug Schiess? The Man Nominated for Next Chief of Space Operations | Special Episode 24.07.2026 53min

  Lt. General Doug Schiess was recently nominated for the role of Chief of Space Operations of the U.S. Space Force, the service's highest ranking Guardian. He discusses leadership in crisis, setting a precedent, intentional development, the role of spouses and families in the mission, and much more.   Lt. General Doug Schiess entered the Air Force as a Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of California at Los Angeles in 1992 and transferred to the United States Space Force in 2022. As of the posting date of this episode, he currently serves as Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations.   This episode includes never-before-seen video footage from the original interview featured in Building Better Leaders Ep. 2.   Book a leadership course with the Doolittle Leadership Center  https://www.afa.org/dlc   #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #crisis #usspaceforce #ussf #leader #spaceforce
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  Building Better Leaders: General Lester Lyles on Being Your Authentic Self 10.07.2026 1h 6min

  Your reputation as a leader has a dramatic impact on your career, for good or ill. While there are always areas you can improve, you shouldn’t try to be something you’re not. Gen. (Ret.) Lester Lyles, discusses his perspective on leadership through a remarkable career.   General Lester Lyles is a retired four-star general in the United States Air Force. He served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, and Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. In his post-military career, he has served in senior leadership positions for several corporations, including General Dynamics, USAA, and KBR Inc., among others.   Book a leadership course with the Doolittle Leadership Center  https://www.afa.org/dlc   #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #leadershipqualities #usaf #leader #airforce
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  Building Better Leaders: Intentional Leadership (Feat. CMSgt. Vincent Fasano) 26.06.2026 1h 5min

  Intentional leadership requires knowing your people well. Chief Master Sgt. Vincent Fasano discusses the opportunities and challenges of leading people you don’t see every day.   CMSgt Vincent Fasano is the command chief of the 109th Airlift Wing, Stratton Air National Guard Base, New York. He serves as the wing's senior enlisted leader and is the principal advisor to the wing commander on matters impacting the well-being, professional development, and utilization of 1,100 personnel.   Command Chief's Compass #15 https://www.afa.org/dlc/podcast/attachments/ep23/command-chiefs-compass-15   Book a leadership course with the Doolittle Leadership Center https://www.afa.org/dlc   #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #airnationalguard #usaf #leader #airforce #ang
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  Trust as the Foundation of Leadership (Feat. Gen. Thomas Bussiere) 12.06.2026 1h 21min

  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
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  Building Better Leaders: Developing the Next Generation of Leaders (feat. Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell) 29.05.2026 59min

  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
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  The Secret to Setting Goals for Your Employees 15.05.2026 15min

  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.
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  Spacepower, Legacy & Leading with Purpose (feat. Dr. David Arnold) 01.05.2026 1h 13min

  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.
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  Mentorship, Influencing Up & Leading Behind the Scenes (feat. Debbie Schiess) 17.04.2026 30min

  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.
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  Carnivore Leadership & Hardcore Self-Discipline (feat. CMSAF Wolfe & SEAC #4 Colón-López) 03.04.2026 35min

  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
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  Giving Actionable Feedback & Getting to Know Your Employees (feat. CMSgt. Katie McCool) 20.03.2026 56min

  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.
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  Confrontation, Climbing Ladders & Inspiring Innovation (feat. CMSSF John Bentivegna) 06.03.2026 31min

  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.
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  How to Develop Employees in 4 Steps 20.02.2026 6min

  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.
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  Team Development, Accountability & Staying Cool (feat. 35th Fighter Wing Command Team) 06.02.2026 48min

  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.
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  Leading Leaders & Responding to Feedback (feat. Col. David Wilson) | Building Better Leaders 23.01.2026 1h 5min

  Col. David Wilson knows he isn’t the smartest person in the room—and that makes him an excellent leader. He digs into his experience as a wing commander and senior leader to share his hard-earned lessons of leadership. The Doolittle Leadership Center's podcast, Building Better Leaders, features candid conversations with a wide range of influential leaders about their stories— and how they have learned to lead. Dr. Patrick Donley, Director of the DLC, hosts episodes at a variety of exciting locations across the globe as he tours with the DLC's on-location leader development workshops. Learn more at www.afa.org/DLC
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  What Example Are You Setting as a Leader? (feat. Craig Neri) 09.01.2026 58min

  Leaders set the tone for an organization’s ethos and policies—not by dictating what to do, but by modeling the required behavior. Lifelong leadership coach and retired U.S. Air Force CMSgt. Craig Neri delves into how you can set the standard of behavior you want to see in your followers.