04. Col (Ret) Michelle Ruehl, PhD, USAFA ’03, Pilot, White House Fellow/Speechwriter, Life Coach, D-11 School Board Candidate

In this episode of the Rad Grads Podcast, we sit down with retired Air Force Colonel Michelle Ruehl, PhD—a combat pilot, professor, White House fellow, and now community leader. From flying C-130s and MC-12s in Afghanistan to shaping national defense strategy at NORAD and advising two U.S. presidents, Michelle’s career is a powerful testament to resilience, service, and leadership.She shares her journey from being inspired by her grandfather’s World War II stories, to overcoming setbacks on her path to the Air Force Academy, to serving in combat and later guiding policy at the highest levels of government. We also dive into her experiences mentoring future leaders, her humanitarian work, and her perspective on Afghanistan and leadership beyond the military.This is an inspiring conversation filled with lessons on persistence, purpose, and service to others.📌 Episode Timeline00:00 – Introduction Welcome to Episode 4 of the Rad Grads Podcast and introduction of guest, Colonel (Ret.) Michelle Ruehl.02:30 – Early Inspiration Michelle reflects on her grandfather’s influence, aviation dreams, and first steps toward the Academy.07:00 – The Academy Journey From rejection to acceptance, ROTC experiences, and the challenges of in-processing day (“I-Day”) and basic training.15:00 – Academic Path & Service Commitment Choosing English over engineering, the impact of 9/11 on her class, and the weight of commitment to serve.25:00 – Flight Training & Naval Flight School Transitioning to Pensacola, lessons from the Navy “Big Kid Program,” and discovering her passion for crew aircraft.35:00 – Deployments & the MC-12 Mission Flying reconnaissance in Afghanistan, tracking threats, supporting elections, and teaching Afghan students during deployments.50:00 – Reflections on Afghanistan Balancing the hope of progress with the reality of withdrawal, and the ongoing impact on veterans’ mental health.01:05:00 – White House Fellow & Leadership at the Highest Levels Advising during the Trump and Biden administrations, crisis communications during COVID, and being at the table during the Afghanistan withdrawal.01:20:00 – Service Beyond the Uniform Transition to reserve service, family life, nonprofit work, and candidacy for the Colorado Springs School Board.01:30:00 – Closing Thoughts Lessons on resilience, leadership, and why empowering the next generation matters.Email:[email protected]: 10% OFF -- Lineageprovisions.com/RADGRAD