Trailhead Leadership Institute

We're proud to celebrate the newest graduates of the Air Force Global Strike Command Frontline Leadership Course, Cohort 40!

This past week, these Striker Leaders did something many find to be the most challenging work in leadership -- they looked inward! Being the 40th Cohort of this first-time supervisor program, the faculty challenged participants to test themselves and emerge stronger on the other side of completion, and they did just that. These graduates leaned into the hard but essential work of self-awareness and self-management by taking a hard look in the mirror to understand how their own emotions, reactions, and blind spots impact the teams they lead. They explored what it means to regulate their responses under pressure, lead with consistency rather than impulse, and show up as the same leader on the hardest days as they do on the easiest ones. By developing a clearer picture of who they are and how they impact the people around them, graduates are now better equipped to build trust, foster team cohesion, and bring the steady, self-disciplined leadership that AFGSC's nuclear deterrence mission demands every single day.

A heartfelt thank you to the faculty who pour their expertise and passion into every cohort, ensuring these leaders are prepared to carry the mission forward with confidence: Robin Rand, Rob Lass, Bill Barrington, Charles Flanagain, Eric Foreman, Jason France, Susan Mace, Mark Nemish, Peter Po***ck, Jim Ritchie, Gerardo Tapia, Lisa Wood, Mark Mitchem, Jennifer Auten, Boston Gilbert, Joshua Hurt, and Balin Howard.

We are deeply grateful to our teammates at Air Force Global Strike Command for championing this program and providing the steadfast leadership that made it all possible: Terry West, Ronnie Walden, Denise Taylor-Webb, and Jerome Sydnor.

Over the past three months, the Trailhead Leadership Institute held 3 separate, intensive two-day symposiums with AFGSC’s newest Squadron Commanders and Senior Enlisted Leaders. Following the tradition of excellence within this Command, these leadership teams demonstrated an unwavering devotion to their core mission: maintaining a state of constant readiness to deliver decisive, long-range effects whenever and wherever the nation calls.

Squadron leadership has long been the heartbeat of every Air Force wing, and participants clearly took meaningful steps forward in their journey to better serve their Airmen, their mission, and their country. In this environment, "growth" is more than a slogan -- it is a value each leader shares as they pilot their unit. Cultivating a "growth trajectory" is the vital momentum required to innovate and adapt, ensuring the Command remains a stabilizing force in an evolving global landscape. Through their leadership, Air Force Global Strike Command remains the ironclad foundation of our national security and the primary assurance for our allies worldwide.

Equipping the Command's squadron-level leadership to meet the demands ahead is at the heart of our mission. For that dedication, we thank our faculty: Robin Rand, Mark Mitchem, Robert Ford, Naomi Franchetti, Chad Gallagher, Joshua Hurt, David Satchell, Rob Lass, Todd Caskey, Jennifer Auten, and Boston Gilbert.

None of this would have been possible without the outstanding leadership and dedicated support of our teammates at Air Force Global Strike Command — thank you: Terry West, Ronnie Walden, Denise Taylor-Webb, and Jerome Sydnor.

We are proud to salute the Cohort 7 and 8 graduates of the Trailhead Leadership Institute's Defender Flight Leader Course! This exceptional cohort of dedicated Striker Airmen stepped away from their operational responsibilities to engage in our rigorous virtual curriculum, sharpening the human-centered leadership competencies essential to protecting our nation's strategic interests.

Throughout their seminars, these leaders strengthened the personal and team leadership skills essential to building resilient, high-performing organizations. Through intentional reflection and candid discussion, participants developed a deeper understanding of how to communicate with purpose, build trust within their teams, and lead with authenticity under pressure. By crafting personal mission statements rooted in their individual strengths, these Defenders gained greater clarity about the example they want to set and the impact they hope to have on those they lead every day.

The Trailhead team is honored to continue our enduring partnership with AFGSC Defenders. We extend our sincere thanks to the faculty for their dedication to this vital professional development: Robin Rand, Bill Barrington, Charles Flanagain, Robert Ford, Eric Foreman, Eva Henry, Joshua Hurt, Susan Mace, Mark Mitchem, Mark Nemish, David Satchell, Gerardo Tapia, Rob Lass, Jennifer Auten, Boston Gilbert, Hayden Froehlich, and Balin Howard.

Our sincere thanks also go to the team at AFGSC; this mission is only possible because of their steadfast leadership, advocacy, and continued support: Terry West, Ronnie Walden, Denise Taylor, and Jerome Sydnor.

We’re proud to recognize the newest graduates of the Air Force Global Strike Command Frontline Leadership Course, Cohort 39!

These Striker Leaders sharpened their critical thinking skills and strengthened their ability to plan for challenges before they arise. They examined how thoughtful leaders anticipate friction, make sound decisions under pressure, and create clear paths forward for their teams when problems emerge. Just as importantly, they explored what it means to set a positive example every day—demonstrating the standards, discipline, and professionalism that shape the culture around them. By learning to think ahead, respond with purpose, and model the behaviors they expect from others, these graduates are better prepared to build trust, strengthen readiness, and connect their daily leadership directly to the nuclear deterrence mission.

Thank you to our faculty for continuing to develop leaders who will carry this mission forward: Gerardo Tapia, Robin Rand, Bill Barrington, Sara Davidson, Charles Flanagain, Robert Ford, Eric Foreman, Eva Henry, Susan Mace, Mark Nemish, Peter Po***ck, Jim Ritchie, Lisa Wood, Rob Lass, Mark Mitchem, Jennifer Auten, Joshua Hurt, Boston Gilbert, Hayden Froehlich, and Balin Howard.
A big thank you to our teammates at Air Force Global Strike Command for their leadership and steadfast support in making this program possible: Terry West, Ronnie Walden, Denise Taylor, and Jerome Sydnor.

We are proud to celebrate the successful completion of our latest virtual Defender Flight Leader Courses, Cohorts 5 and 6! Like their teammates before them, these exceptional and dedicated Airmen set aside their operational responsibilities to engage in a rigorous virtual curriculum, focusing on the human-centered leadership skills necessary to protect our nation’s strategic interests.

Throughout the course, these leaders fostered an environment of radical transparency, engaging in the kind of open and honest conversations that build true resilience. By utilizing humor and humanity to break down barriers and strengthen their bonds, participants explored how to bring this same level of authenticity back to their home units. These Defenders left their seminars better equipped to champion a culture of sincerity and trust, ensuring their teams remain mission-ready through honest dialogue and a renewed sense of camaraderie.

The Trailhead team is honored to continue our enduring partnership with AFGSC Defenders. We extend our sincere thanks to the faculty for their commitment to this vital development: Robin Rand, Bill Barrington, Charles Flanagain, Robert Ford, Eric Foreman, Chad Gallagher, Eva Henry, Joshua Hurt, Susan Mace, Mark Mitchem, Mark Nemish, Peter Po***ck, David Satchell, Gerardo Tapia, Lisa Wood, Rob Lass, Jennifer Auten, Boston Gilbert, Hayden Froehlich, and Balin Howard.

Our deepest gratitude also goes to the team at AFGSC for their unwavering support—this mission is only possible because of their leadership and advocacy: Terry West, Ronnie Walden, Denise Taylor, and Jerome Sydnor.

We are honored to recognize the newest graduates of the Air Force Global Strike Command’s Intermediate Leadership Course for First Sergeants!

What an AMAZING week! These First Sergeants clearly demonstrated why they are both the beating heart of unit readiness and the human center of the Command’s mission, ensuring Airmen and their families remain resilient, focused, and always ready. These leaders showed up prepared to do the hard work, strengthening their ability to connect on a human level while reinforcing their role as the commander’s most trusted advisor and the vital link between leadership and the force. Over these five days, they sharpened their ability to read their people with precision, break down barriers to honest communication, and deliberately build the trust that makes mission success possible. They leave better equipped than ever to be the steady, unshakable presence their units depend on, ensuring that when challenges arise, their Airmen know exactly who will step forward, stand tall, and deliver when it matters most.

Thank you to our outstanding faculty and staff for the guidance and investment they pour into every participant: Jason France, Bill Barrington, Charles Flanagain, Robert Ford, Eric Foreman, Joshua Hurt, Susan Mace, Mark Mitchem, James Ritchie, David Satchell, Rob Lass, Jennifer Auten, Boston Gilbert, Hayden Froehlich, Balin Howard, and Robin Rand.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the team at Air Force Global Strike Command. Their unwavering commitment remains the cornerstone of this program’s success: Veronica Logan, Terry West, Ronnie Walden, Denise Taylor-Webb, and Jerome Sydnor.

Incredibly proud to announce Air Force Global Strike Command's latest leadership graduates -- Cohort 38 of AFGSC's Frontline Leadership Course!

This past week, these Striker Leaders took a hard and meaningful look at what it truly means to step into the arena of frontline supervision -- not only accepting accountability for tasks, but also for the people entrusted to their care. They examined how the Air Force core values of Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do aren't just words on a wall, but are instead a daily leadership standard that shapes every interaction they have with their Airmen. When these values are lived consistently by supervisors, they become the cultural DNA of high-performing teams. These graduates now carry a sharper understanding of how their decisions, big and small, flow directly upward to sustain AFGSC's nuclear deterrence mission.

Thank you to our faculty for shaping leaders who will carry this Command's legacy forward with character and commitment. Robin Rand, Charles Flanagain, Robert Ford, Eric Foreman, Eva Henry, Joshua Hurt, Susan Mace, Mark Nemish, Peter Po***ck, Jim Ritchie, David Satchell, Gerardo Tapia, Lisa Wood, Rob Lass, Mark Mitchem, Jennifer Auten, Boston Gilbert, Hayden Froehlich, and Balin Howard.

A special thank you to our mission partners at Air Force Global Strike Command whose leadership and steadfast support make this program possible: Terry West, Ronnie Walden, Denise Taylor, and Jerome Sydnor.

We’d like to salute the newest graduates of the Trailhead Leadership Institute’s latest Defender Flight Leader Course. This cohort of 105 dedicated Striker Airmen navigated our intensive virtual curriculum, pivoting from their daily operational duties to focus on the sophisticated leadership competencies required to safeguard our nation’s strategic interests.

Throughout their seminars, these leaders explored how to leverage their individual identified strengths to inspire those around them. By focusing on authentic influence, participants practiced using their unique talents to solve complex problems and build deep-seated trust with their peers and teams. We look forward to seeing these graduates serve and lead with newfound clarity, ensuring the mission remains secure through strengthened character and tactical excellence.

The Trailhead team is honored to continue our collaboration with AFGSC Defenders. We extend our gratitude to the faculty for committing to this vital professional development. Tom Wilcox, Charles Flanagain, Robert Ford, Eric Foreman, Chad Gallagher, Joshua Hurt, Susan Mace, Mark Mitchem, Peter Po***ck, David Satchell, Gerardo Tapia, Lisa Wood, Rob Lass, Jennifer Auten, Boston Gilbert, Hayden Froehlich, Balin Howard, and Robin Rand.

Our thanks to the team at AFGSC for making this happen as well -- none of this would be possible without their leadership and advocacy: Terry West, Ronnie Walden, Denise Taylor-Webb, and Jerome Sydnor.

Congratulations to the newest graduates of the Air Force Global Strike Command's Striker Intermediate Leadership Course, Cohort 13!

During the week, these leaders sharpened their ability to lead in real-world situations, where decisions are rarely simple and the stakes are always high. They learned to apply tools and frameworks to lead with intention, observe and inquire with curiosity, and inspect with a focus on standards. They now better understand the importance of moving beyond assumptions, building stronger teams, and addressing challenges with the clarity and accountability required of leaders in our nuclear and long range strike enterprise. Throughout this course, these leaders became better grounded in the realities of their daily and strategic missions, and are better prepared to translate intent into action while reinforcing the discipline and precision required for mission success.

Thank you to our faculty for equipping these graduates with tools to lead with greater awareness, trust, and impact while protecting our nation’s most critical mission: Robin Rand, Robert Ford, Eric Foreman, Naomi Franchetti, Joshua Hurt, Susan Mace, Mark Mitchem, Mark Nemish, Peter Po***ck, Jim Ritchie, David Satchell, Lisa Wood, Rob Lass, Jennifer Auten, Hayden Froehlich, and Balin Howard.

Also, a big thank you to our teammates at Air Force Global Strike Command for their leadership and support: Terry West, Ronnie Walden, Denise Taylor, and Jerome Sydnor.

Last week, the Trailhead Leadership Institute reached a new milestone by completing our first virtual AFGSC Defender Flight Leader Course. Across 10 virtual seminars, 99 Defenders—from Airman to Staff Sergeant—stepped away from the field to sharpen the leadership skills essential for protecting our nation’s most vital assets.

Over two days of facilitated seminars, these Striker Airmen engaged in high-impact dialogue centered on personal accountability, team dynamics, and the weight of their mission. Participants examined how their decisions, communication, and standards influence their team and contribute to the effectiveness and resilience of the broader formation.

Trailhead remains incredibly proud to partner with these AFGSC Defenders, and we thank our faculty for facilitating such a powerful investment in the future of the Force who will defend our nation’s most critical mission with integrity, discipline, and purpose. – Sara Davidson, Charles Flanagain, Robert Ford, Eric Foreman, Chad Gallagher, Joshua Hurt, Susan Mace, Mark Mitchem, Peter Po***ck, David Satchell, Lisa Wood, Robin Rand, Rob Lass, Jennifer Auten, Hayden Froehlich, and Balin Howard