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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
32 episodes
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...
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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...
Why Integrity Is the Foundation of Great Leadership
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 ...
Never Leave Them Behind: Leadership in the Face of Loss
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 i...
You Don’t Control the Plan — But You Own the Outcome
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 ...
Risk Is Not Certainty: How Leaders Decide What’s Worth It
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 ope...
From Fighter Pilot to Strategist: Applying Covey’s 7 Habits to Leadership
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 strat...
What’s the Point of a Plan? Why Planning Still Wins When Everything Falls Apart
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 l...
Facing Risk with Clarity, Not Fear
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...
Is Hesitancy Costing You Results?
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 toda...
A Daily Roadmap to Triple Your Productivity and Success
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 br...
How Chaos Destroys Teams and How to Get Them Together Into the Jet Stream of Success
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 f...
Why With Bombs, Bullets, and a Raging War Was Rescuing One Person So Important
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 efficienc...
What Being Deployed for Christmas Taught Me That Will Last a Lifetime
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 circums...
Why Making a High Stakes Decision is the Difference Between Success and Disaster
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 c...
AI is Disrupting the Future Of Work – What are Your 5 Keys to a Successful Career?
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, ...