.png)
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.
Commander's Intent
What should be the Chief of Staff’s Commander’s Intent?
“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.