Episode 27: Building the Space Force, Breaking Under Pressure, and Leading Through It — Shawn William Campbell

Building the Space Force, Breaking Under Pressure, and Leading Through It — Shawn William Campbell In this episode, I sit down with retired Air Force officer Shawn William Campbell — one of the first senior leaders tasked with standing up the United States Space Force. Shawn served 30 years in uniform, including nine years inside the Pentagon. His career spanned enlisted service, officer commissioning, flag-level leadership, and ultimately helping build the first new branch of the U.S. military in over 70 years. But this conversation isn’t just about rank or résumé. It’s about pressure. We talk about: • What it was like to stand up the Space Force during COVID • Leading inside the Pentagon when the building went dark • The weight of responsibility at senior levels • Geographic separation from family while in high-stakes leadership • How resilience pillars (mental, physical, social, spiritual) quietly erode • The moment everything caught up with him Shawn opens up about hitting a breaking point — not suicidal, but overwhelmed, exhausted, and isolated — and how his wife’s awareness and accountability relationships helped pull him back before it became something worse. We also dig into: • The myth that only combat veterans struggle • Why garrison life can be just as dangerous mentally • The stigma around mental health in uniform • Why leaders must model vulnerability • The importance of accountability partners • And what real strength actually looks like This is an honest conversation about leadership under pressure, invisible strain, and the responsibility senior leaders carry — not just for mission success, but for their own health and the health of their people. If you’ve ever felt the weight of expectations — or worn a mask while quietly struggling — this episode will resonate. Because resilience isn’t about pretending you’re fine. It’s about knowing when to speak up. Want to be a guest? Sign up here: https://womackc3.com/stiw The post Episode 27: Building the Space Force, Breaking Under Pressure, and Leading Through It — Shawn William Campbell first appeared on Womack C3.