Best SECAF Podcasts (2026)

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What Example Are You Setting as a Leader? (feat. Craig Neri) 58:54

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2h ago58:54

58:54

Leaders set the tone for an organization’s ethos and policies—not by dictating what to do, but by modeling the required behavior. Lifelong leadership coach and retired U.S. Air Force CMSgt. Craig Neri delves into how you can set the standard of behavior you want to see in your followers.By Doolittle Leadership Center

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Stabilizing Leadership (feat. Lt. Gen. Derek France & CMSgt. Joshua Wiener) 57:03

15d ago57:03

57:03

AFCENT’s commander and enlisted command chief explain the importance of providing steady leadership to roughly 10,000 to 13,000 deployed personnel who constantly rotate in and out of their organization in the Middle East.By Doolittle Leadership Center

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Lead Like a Marine (feat. Giles Kyser) | Building Better Leaders 1:10:17

27d ago1:10:17

1:10:17

There’s arguably no military service in the world with a group identity as deeply ingrained or cherished as the U.S. Marine Corps. How did the Semper Fidelis, “Oohra!” culture come about? More importantly, how can leaders of other organizations create an identity that encourages similar buy-in and team motivation? Giles Kyser explains. The Doolittl…

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How to Know if You’re a Good Leader (10-Minute Drill for All Leaders) | Building Better Leaders 5:14

1M ago5:14

5:14

It’s hard for leaders to accurately assess whether they’re leading well simply based on results. Dr. Patrick Donley—a global leadership instructor and host of the “Building Better Leaders” podcast—shares a simple, 10-minute drill leaders can start using today to can boost intentionality and team-wide performance. Learn more at www.afa.org/DLC…

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Every Day’s a School Day (feat. Lt. Gen. Andrea Tullos) | Building Better Leaders 49:35

2M ago49:35

49:35

Lt. Gen. Andrea Tullos joined “Building Better Leaders” a few weeks before retiring as the President of Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. There she oversaw the entire spectrum of education programs within the U.S. Air Force, from professional military education, continuing education, and granting academic degrees to 170,000 student…

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Semper Gumby (feat. Gen. Kevin Schneider) | Building Better Leaders 53:32

2M ago53:32

53:32

Gen. Kevin "Gumby" Schneider leads U.S. Air Force activities in the Pacific, a responsibility that encompasses more than half the globe. In this episode of "Building Better Leaders," Schneider shares leadership lessons on how to effectively manage an organization of such enormous scale, especially one that's centerstage in geopolitical tension. He …

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T-Minus Two for T2 (feat. CMSgt. Tina Timmerman) | Building Better Leaders 38:00

3M ago38:00

38:00

Perhaps no modern organization understands the symbiotic relationship between leadership and culture better than the U.S. Space Force, which was founded in 2019 and saw thousands of military personnel (mostly Airmen and Pentagon civilians) transition into its ranks. So just how did the Space Force establish a culture unique from its sister service—…

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Get Back Up (feat. SECAF 24 Wilson and CSAF 21 Goldfein) | Building Better Leaders 1:01:02

3M ago1:01:02

1:01:02

Fresh off the release of their new book “Get Back Up: Lessons in Servant Leadership,” the 24th Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Heather Wilson and the 21st U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein, USAF (Ret.) join “Building Better Leaders” for an incredible breakdown of cooperative leadership. They tell stories—from death-defying combat ope…

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America's First Guardian (feat. Gen. John "Jay" Raymond) | Building Better Leaders 1:00:47

4M ago1:00:47

1:00:47

When the U.S. Space Force was founded in 2019, Gen. John “Jay” Raymond was tapped to serve as its inaugural leader and America’s first-ever Guardian. Now three years retired from the historic role, Raymond joined “Building Better Leaders” to share behind-the-scenes stories about building the identity and culture of America’s first new military bran…

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The Happiness Guru (feat. Jackson Kerchis) | Building Better Leaders 1:01:00

4M ago1:01:00

1:01:00

What’s happiness? A high salary? Raw power? Rainbows and unicorns? Or something far deeper? It might sound trite, but happiness is more definable and objective than some would have you think—and knowing what happiness looks like professionally might just be the key to leading others well. Jackson Kerchis is the co-founder of Happiness Means Busines…

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Two Heads Are Better Than One (feat. Tinker AFB Leadership) | Building Better Leaders 1:06:52

4M ago1:06:52

1:06:52

Nearly 30,000 people come to work through the gates of Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma every day. For the last two years, the safety, security, and wellbeing of those thousands of personnel have been in the hands of two leaders: Col. Abby Ruscetta, the commander of the 72nd Air Base Wing, and Chief Master Sgt. Chris Gradel, the wing’s command chi…

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Tapping Out (feat. CMSgt. Gerardo Tapia) | Building Better Leaders 1:00:36

4M ago1:00:36

1:00:36

21-year-old Tap was one vote away from being kicked out of the U.S. Air Force for a litany of violations, a long record of bad behavior, and even an apprehension—when one leader spontaneously put his own reputation on the line to give this “bad Airman” yet another chance to prove his worth. That leader’s risky act of faith transformed Tap’s life of…

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Four Dimensional Schiess (feat. Lt. Gen. Doug Schiess) | Building Better Leaders 50:05

5M ago50:05

50:05

How is a leader supposed to balance mentorship with authority? And how should they balance professional duties with family responsibilities without sacrificing one or the other? Space Force Lt. Gen. Doug Schiess—who leads thousands of joint-service personnel—has learned a lot about these seemingly contradictory dimensions of leadership in his 33-ye…

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100% Cotton (feat. Gen. Anthony Cotton) | Building Better Leaders 50:34

5M ago50:34

50:34

Air Force Gen. Anthony J. Cotton is the Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, one of only 11 combatant commands in the Department of Defense. That makes him one of the highest-ranking individuals not just in the Air Force, but across every branch of our entire nation’s military: he leads 41,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Guardians, and civi…

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Building Better Leaders: On the Road 12:38

5M ago12:38

12:38

Listen to select moments from upcoming conversations with fighter pilots, guardians, CEOs, and wide range of influential leaders. You’ll hear quick hits on decision-making, trust, and building resilient teams, from the flight line to the boardroom. The Doolittle Leadership Center's podcast, Building Better Leaders, features candid conversations wit…

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Meet Sheryl Welch -FPAC Small Business Coordinator U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 32:28

1+ y ago32:28

32:28

Tune into this enlightening episode featuring Sheryl Welch, a passionate Small Business Coordinator and engaged Procurement Analyst at the USDA's Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Business Center. Sheryl shares her expertise and enthusiasm as a dedicated advocate for small businesses, offering practical tips on how to successfully engage with…

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Meet Emily Murphy, former GSA Administrator and Senior Fellow at the George Mason University Baroni Center for Government Contracting 10:40

2+ y ago10:40

10:40

SECAF’s Podcast interview with Emily Murphy, the former GSA Administrator and Senior Fellow at the George Mason University Baroni Center for Government Contracting. Learn about the Panel Emily is moderating during the upcoming Small Business Summit on 7 September on the Challenges Small Businesses face under the policies of current Small Business G…

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Meet Richard Beutel, Principal Researcher and Fellow at the George Mason University Baroni Center for Government Contracting 9:12

2+ y ago9:12

9:12

SECAF’s Podcast interview with Richard Beutel, the Principal Researcher and Fellow at the George Mason University Baroni Center for Government Contracting. Learn about the Panel Richard is moderating during the upcoming Small Business Summit on 7 September on the Challenges Small Businesses face in competing for contracts under category management …

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Meet Jerry McGinn, George Mason University Executive Director of the Baroni Center for Government Contracting 7:58

2+ y ago7:58

7:58

SECAF’s Podcast interview with Jerry McGinn, the George Mason University Executive Director of the Baroni Center for Government Contracting. Learn about the George Mason School of Business Baroni Center for Government Contracting’s mission and Jerry role, insights into the Small Business Summit Agenda and Keynote Speaker, and future events the Baro…

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Meet Shannon Jackson - Executive Director - Office Small Business and Disadvantage Utilization U.S Dept. of Health and Human Services 49:22

2+ y ago49:22

49:22

SECAF’s podcast interview with Shannon Jackson, Executive Director Office Small Business and Disadvantage Business Utilization U.S Dept. of Health and Human Services. Learn about the OSDBU at the HHS, Mr. Jackson's priorities, a few personal insights about the Director, and how small business GovCons can engage with his office. If you wish to engag…

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Meet Jamie Holcombe - CIO United States Patent and Trade Office 29:30

3y ago29:30

29:30

SECAF’s Podcast interview with Jamie Holcombe, the United States Patent and Trade Office CIO. Learn about the Information Technology challenges at the USPTO, Mr. Holcombe’s priorities, a few personal insights about the CIO, and how small business GovCons can engage with his office. If you wish to engage the USPTO CIO’s Office about your services, s…

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Meet SECAF's New Chair Meghan Gifford 28:21

3y ago28:21

28:21

Welcome to the first episode of the SECAF Official Podcast! This podcast features an interview with SECAF Chairperson Meghan Gifford, who provides insights into her past, present, and future experience in the government contracting industry. Meghan also discusses the value that SECAF can bring to small and emerging small businesses. If you're curio…