Commander's Intent

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 of an F-15 to leading large-scale operations in the private sector, Robert shares how fighter pilots are trained to process massive amounts of information, make fast, effective decisions, and adapt in real time—where hesitation can cost everything. But this isn’t just about speed—it’s about clarity, structure, and confidence in execution.You’ll learn how to gather the right information without overthinking, when to act immediately versus when to wait for better data, and how empowering others to make decisions can transform your leadership. This episode also dives into one of the most powerful but overlooked tools in leadership—the debrief—and how reviewing decisions (good or bad) is the key to continuous improvement.If you’re leading a team, running a business, or simply trying to make better decisions in your own life, this conversation will give you a practical framework to cut through uncertainty and act with confidence.Hit play and learn how to think, decide, and lead like a fighter pilot.

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 — including why 54% of people would take less money to work in an environment that helps them perform better, and why fear of failure is the number one barrier holding people back.Through stories from fighter squadrons, special operations, entrepreneurship, and even the world of American Ninja Warrior, this conversation explores the three leadership mindsets that create elite performance: confident curiosity, relaxed intensity, and empathic drive. You’ll also hear why micromanagement destroys trust and performance, how purpose fuels performance more than pay, the performance gap between what people know and what they actually do, and how to give feedback that builds people instead of breaking them.If you lead high achievers, manage teams, or want to unlock your own next level of performance, this episode delivers research-backed insights and real-world leadership wisdom you can apply immediately. This is a masterclass in building teams that thrive under pressure, perform without burnout, and achieve at elite levels in business, the military, sports, and life.Learn more about Ty Bennett and his work here: https://tybennett.com/about-ty/

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 executive experience in the civilian world, they reveal how misalignment between authority, responsibility, accountability, and resources quietly destroys performance. You’ll discover why unclear roles create frustration, slow decision-making, and increase risk—and how elite military teams operate with clarity, trust, and precision even in life-or-death situations. This episode goes beyond theory, diving into real examples of high-stakes missions where leadership, structure, and flexibility determined success or failure. Whether you’re leading a business, scaling a team, or navigating complex decisions, you’ll learn how to create alignment, empower your people, and execute with confidence under pressure.If you’ve ever felt stuck in confusion, overwhelmed by responsibility without authority, or frustrated by broken systems—this episode will completely change how you think about leadership, decision-making, and building teams that actually perform.

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 strategy, this conversation reveals why most systems fail, how true innovators break the rules, and what it really takes to win in high-stakes environments. If you’ve ever hesitated in a critical moment or wondered how top performers consistently make the right call—this episode will shift how you lead, decide, and execute forever. 

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 evolving world. From fighter pilot discipline to redefining innovation in defense, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership, risk, and action. If you want a real-world look at leading when it matters most, this is a must-listen—and be sure to check out Purple Rhombus to learn more about the mission and innovation behind the company.

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 exceptional.If you want to grow faster, lead better, and unlock your full potential, this episode will challenge how you think about work forever. 

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 want to build a culture where people have each other’s backs, perform at their best, and stay committed to the mission, this episode will show you why the Golden Rule is one of the most powerful leadership principles you can apply.

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.If you want to become a leader people truly trust, this episode will challenge you to ask one critical question: Do you act with integrity when no one is watching?

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 line.Dan opens up about combat leadership, moral courage, faith, brotherhood, and the weight of command. The conversation goes beyond the battlefield, drawing powerful parallels to business, family, and everyday leadership — where tough calls still carry real consequences.This episode is about clarity in chaos, commitment to mission, and living with the decisions you make when there is no perfect answer — only responsibility.For more on Dan Laguna’s career and work:Daniel Laguna bio at STARS: https://stars.ambulance.org/stars/daniel-laguna/Daniel Laguna profile at Global Medical Response: https://www.globalmedicalresponse.com/people/military/meet-our-veterans/daniel-dan-laguna And don’t miss Dan’s book, You Have to Live with It: Hard Decisions in Special Operations — a deep dive into the leadership decisions that define us: https://www.amazon.com/You-Have-Live-Hard-Operations/dp/1449081231This episode is about making tough calls with purpose, leading with your values intact, and living with the decisions that shape the people you lead — even when there’s no perfect answer. 

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 stuck in frustration or blaming the ground commander, he unpacks the deeper leadership lesson: you may not control the plan, but you are still responsible for your performance.This episode dives into how to maintain clarity under pressure, prepare for worst-case scenarios, adjust quickly when things fall apart, and stay focused on mission success — even when you disagree with leadership. Derek challenges listeners to stop fixating on what others did wrong and start owning their role in the outcome.If you’ve ever had to support a decision you didn’t agree with, felt stuck executing a flawed strategy, or struggled to stay motivated under imperfect leadership, this episode will sharpen your mindset and strengthen your leadership edge.

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 impact of Operation Gothic Serpent—better known as the Battle of Mogadishu—and introduces what he calls the Mogadishu Test: If this goes wrong tomorrow, would we still believe it was worth doing today?Key themes include:Why risk must be owned at the right levelThe difference between high risk and unnecessary riskHow leaders balance requirements, resources, and riskWhy culture determines how risk is actually managedThe importance of clear intent and decentralized executionHow risk changes over time—and why timing mattersThis episode isn’t about avoiding risk. It’s about understanding it, communicating it, and making disciplined decisions that align with mission, purpose, and long-term outcomes. If you lead people, manage resources, or make high-stakes decisions—this conversation will change how you think about risk forever.

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 a strategic lens. This episode dives into decision-making under pressure, defining your end state, prioritizing what truly matters, building win-win outcomes, listening to the market, creating synergy through aligned diversity, and continuously improving your organization.If you want to think more clearly, lead more effectively, and build strategy with purpose instead of reaction, this conversation connects timeless leadership principles to modern strategic execution.

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 business, relationships, and everyday leadership, this episode shows how planning builds alignment, reduces risk, and sharpens decision-making when chaos hits.If you’ve ever wondered whether planning is worth the effort when life never goes as expected, this episode answers that question—clearly and decisively.

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 safety alone cannot be the goal, and how great leaders learn to balance likelihood, impact, and purpose when making critical decisions. From flying low-level combat missions to business delays that push risk onto customers and teams, this conversation challenges the idea that avoiding risk makes leaders safer.This episode is about clarity over caution, mission over comfort, and learning how to mitigate risk without freezing, deferring, or shifting responsibility onto others. If you lead people, make decisions under pressure, or feel stuck between fear and action—this episode is for you.

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 fuel indecision, and why waiting often causes more damage than a wrong call.He shares practical strategies to overcome analysis paralysis, empower teams, set decision deadlines, and build confidence through action. The key takeaway: leadership isn’t about perfect decisions—it’s about timely ones that move you forward.

In this episode of Commander’s Intent, retired Air Force Colonel and fighter pilot Derek Oaks challenges a question many people secretly ask: Why even bother setting goals when most people quit anyway? Derek and co-host Rob break down why goals fail, why vision matters more than resolutions, and how leaders use goals as stepping stones, not finish lines. Through real-world leadership lessons, personal stories, and military insight, this episode reframes goal-setting as a tool for growth, clarity, and disciplined action even when you don’t hit every target. 

In this episode of Commander's Intent, retired Air Force Colonel and leadership mentor Derek Oaks breaks down one of the most overlooked but critical leadership skills: creating a shared vision with your team. Drawing from his experience as a fighter squadron commander, Derek explains how understanding individual goals, motivations, and personal aspirations allows leaders to align people with the organization’s mission in a meaningful way.This episode explores how leaders can move teams beyond “just showing up for a paycheck” to true commitment, ownership, and pride in the mission. If you want higher performance, stronger engagement, less turnover, and a team that genuinely cares about the outcome, this conversation shows how shared vision is where leadership magic really happens.

In this powerful episode of Commander’s Intent, Derek Oaks and his guests unpack the true significance behind the rescue of Private Jessica Lynch—and why it was never just about military tactics. This wasn’t a mission driven by efficiency, profit, or ROI. It was a statement of values. Through firsthand accounts from those involved in the planning and execution, this conversation reveals what happens when an organization is willing to pause everything, redirect massive resources, and act decisively to protect one person. The episode explores leadership under pressure, trust, preparation, and the cultural message sent when leaders prove—without hesitation—that their people matter. More than a war story, this episode delivers a timeless leadership lesson: when people know they won’t be abandoned, they’ll give everything in return. 

In this heartfelt episode of Commander’s Intent, Derek Oaks and Rob reflect on choosing gratitude even during holiday separation—whether caused by military service, demanding careers, leadership responsibilities, or life circumstances beyond your control. Drawing from years of deployments, missed Christmases, and time spent far from family, they share powerful stories about perspective, service, and finding meaning when you’re missing the people who matter most. 

In this episode of Commander’s Intent, Derek Oaks and former senior diplomat Bart Marcois break down how high-stakes leaders make decisions knowing they’ll be second-guessed. Using the 2003 Iraq invasion as a case study, they explore confirmation bias, imperfect intelligence, and the reality that leaders rarely get “good” options—only necessary ones. This conversation challenges listeners to rethink decision-making under pressure and focus on intent, clarity, and accountability when the cost of hesitation is even higher than the risk of action. 

In this episode, Derek Oaks breaks down the five essential keys to building a successful career—no matter your field. Drawing from his experience as an Air Force squadron commander, Derek reveals why technical competence, communication, leadership opportunities, doing the “required squares,” and understanding how your team fits into the bigger mission are the true drivers of long-term success and fulfillment. This is the episode for anyone who wants clarity, direction, and a proven framework to advance their career with purpose. 

In this episode, Derek and Rob break down what AI really is, how it functions as a decision-support system, and why leaders must be cautious about trusting it blindly. They share real examples—from aviation to law—showing how AI can boost productivity, but also how it can mislead, hallucinate, and create false confidence. This conversation equips you with a grounded understanding of AI’s strengths, limits, and how to use it responsibly in high-stakes decision-making.

In this episode, Derek Oaks unpacks one of the most defining traits of great leadership—empathy. Through a deeply personal story about nearly losing his son while preparing for deployment, Derek reveals how empathetic leadership from his commander kept him grounded, capable, and effective during the hardest season of his life. This powerful episode highlights the real difference between narcissistic leadership and empathetic leadership, why empathy strengthens accountability, and how true leaders support without disempowering.

This episode dives into the life and legacy of Colonel John Boyd—the fighter pilot and strategist behind the revolutionary OODA Loop. Derek Oaks breaks down Boyd’s unmatched brilliance, his role in shaping modern fighter aircraft like the F-16 and A-10, and how his decision-making model transformed air combat and leadership alike. You’ll learn how Boyd’s Observe-Orient-Decide-Act cycle helps you make faster, clearer decisions, outmaneuver challenges, and take control of your life with purpose and precision.

“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 prepared leadership will win the next fight.Together, they explore how resourcing, accountability, and force of personality can accelerate the delivery of winning capabilities to warfighters faster than China, and why now is the “chance of a century” to get it right.This episode is a clear-eyed look at leadership, reform, and the courage required to create the Air Force America needs—not the one bureaucracy allows.

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 turned into a marathon debrief that pushed his skills, mindset, and humility to the limit. He then breaks down the fighter pilot debrief framework—setting clear objectives, executing to them, reviewing the “tapes,” identifying debrief focus points, and turning mistakes into actionable lessons. Most importantly, Derek shows you how to apply this same process to your business, leadership, and family life: how to “take the rank off,” invite honest feedback, schedule regular debriefs, and keep your actions aligned with your vision and goals. If you’re serious about making better decisions and leading with clarity and courage, this episode gives you a battle-tested system to get there. 

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 insight and personal reflection, Derek challenges you to define your what, why, and desired end state, and to start living with purpose — not by default, but by design.

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, communication, and accountability. Discover the mindset and habits that help leaders stay steady in the storm, inspire trust, and make better decisions when it matters most.

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 business, a family, or yourself, this episode will equip you with the mindset and tools to rise above fear, act with clarity, and lead with purpose.