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Commander's Intent
Commander's Intent with Derek Oaks
When the pressure’s on, can you make the call? Commander's Intent helps leaders at every level make confident, timely decisions that drive real results. Hosted by Colonel (Ret.) Derek Oaks, former Air Force fighter pilot and leadership mentor, this podcast blends stories from combat and business to teach you how to lead with clarity, courage, and purpose. Learn to define your mission, empower your team, and execute with confidence.
Episodes
47 episodes
Maverick or Iceman: Who Do You Want on Your Team?
Would you rather have Maverick or Iceman on your team?In this episode of Commander’s Intent, retired Air Force Colonel and fighter pilot Derek Oaks and co-host Rob Powell explore one of leadership’s toughest challenges: balancing dependa...
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Is Confidence Overrated? What Great Leaders Should Build Instead with Heather Jo Kennedy
Is confidence really the secret to great leadership, or are we spending too much time chasing something that should be the result of other things?In this episode of Commander’s Intent, Derek Oaks sits down with author, speaker, consultan...
Who Is Garcia and Why Does His Message Still Matter to Leaders?
What does a leadership essay written in 1899 have to teach today’s leaders?In this episode of Commander’s Intent, Derek Oaks and Rob Bau unpack A Message to Garcia, the famous essay written by Elbert Hubbard in 1899 about personal initia...
How to Lead When the Budget Changes but the Mission Doesn’t with Max J. Stitzer
How do you lead a team when budgets change, contracts disappear, or rapid growth forces you to rethink who does what?In this episode of Commander’s Intent, Derek Oaks sits down with retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Max J. Stitze ...
Why Great Leaders Ask for Input Instead of Having All the Answers: Lessons from a U.S. Navy Attack Submarine Commander with William Spears
What can business leaders learn from commanding a U.S. Navy attack submarine?In this episode of Commander's Intent, retired Air Force Colonel Derek Oaks sits down with Commander William Spears, a career submariner and U.S. Navy officer, ...
AI Won't Replace Leaders... But It Will Replace the Unprepared with Richard Webb
Will artificial intelligence replace your job... or make you dramatically better at it?In this timely episode of Commander's Intent, retired Air Force Colonel Derek Oaks and co-host Rob sit down with software developer, AI strategist, au...
How Great Leaders Thrive in Challenging Situations with Theresa Carpenter
How do exceptional leaders make the right decisions when the pressure is high, the path isn't clear, and the stakes couldn't be greater?In this episode of Commander's Intent, retired Air Force Colonel Derek Oaks and co-host Rob Powell we...
Innovating in Aviation: How Michael Duke Is Redefining What's Possible
How do you innovate in an industry where every decision is scrutinized, every regulation matters, and failure simply isn't an option?In this fascinating episode of Commander's Intent, retired Air Force Colonel Derek Oaks and co-host Rob ...
The Decision-Making Principles That Made America Different
What makes America truly exceptional, and what can today's leaders learn from the principles that shaped a nation?In this thought-provoking episode of Commander's Intent, retired Air Force Colonel Derek Oaks and Rob explore the origins o...
Gaming, Strategy, and the Future of Leadership with Gayle Dickie
What if the world's greatest leadership training ground isn't found in the boardroom but inside the gaming industry?In this fascinating episode of Commander's Intent, Derek Oaks sits down with global media strategist and gaming industry ...
The Power of Human Connection with Jason Wright
What if one simple conversation could change someone's life?In this inspiring episode of Commander's Intent, retired Air Force Colonel Derek Oaks sits down with bestselling author Jason Wright to explore the profound impact of human conn...
Why Trust Matters More Than Talent with David Bickel
What happens when trust is the difference between success and failure, or even life and death?In this episode of Commander's Intent, Derek Oaks sits down with retired Air Force JTAC and business leader David Bickel to explore why trust i...
The Leadership Secret Fighter Pilots Call "Motherhood"
What if the key to extraordinary leadership isn't found in the big decisions, but in the small things you do every day?In this episode of Commander's Intent, retired Air Force Colonel Derek Oaks shares a heartfelt tribute to his mother a...
How to Lead Inside a Large Organization
What does it take to lead effectively when you're caught between executive decisions and the needs of your team? In this episode of Commander's Intent, Derek Oaks sits down with leadership consultant, author, and former financial ex...
The Most Powerful Leaders Make People Feel Seen
In this episode of Commander’s Intent, retired Air Force Colonel Derek Oaks sits down with keynote speaker, consultant, and ICU Living founder Julie De Jesus for a powerful conversation about leadership, mental health, trust, and the human need...
How to Live With Gratitude When Life Gives You a Second Chance
Fifty-eight years ago, a 23-year-old soldier named Larry Weist was stacked with the bodies of the dead after a helicopter was shot out of the Vietnam sky. Then someone saw his hand move. In this episode of Commander's Intent, retire...
How High Performers Stay Focused When Everything Feels Urgent
In this episode, Derek Oaks shares powerful lessons from flying combat missions, training fighter pilots, and navigating high-pressure environments where one wrong decision can change everything. Through real stories from the cockpit and everyd...
Mission First or People First? The Leadership Truth No One Tells You
Mission first… or people first? What if that’s the wrong question entirely?In this episode, Derek Oaks dives into one of the most debated topics in leadership and challenges the idea that you have to choose between results and relationsh...
How Robert G. Novotny Makes High-Stakes Decisions: Fighter Pilot Leadership Secrets
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 ...
From Fighter Squadrons to Ninja Warriors: What High Performance Really Looks Like
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...
Structure vs. Chaos: The Leadership Framework That Determines Success with Jerry Cook
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 on...
From Data to Dominance: How Elite Leaders Make Game-Changing Calls
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 elit...
Why Most Companies Fail at Scale (And How This CEO Is Fixing It)
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 ...
Why Great Leaders Step Outside Their Role
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 i...
The Golden Rule of Leadership: Why Great Teams Put People First
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...