Trailhead Leadership Institute

Congratulations to the newest graduates of the Air Force Global Strike Command's Intermediate Leadership Course, Cohort 14!

This was an amazing week! Striker Intermediate Cohort 14 set itself apart in not only how they engaged, but also how they showed up for one another. From the first session to the last, they leaned into open, candid conversation -- actively collaborating, trading insights, testing ideas against each other's real-world experience, and seeking advice on how to lead their subordinate supervisors and teams waiting back at their units. They approached the course material with true curiosity, turning frameworks for intentional leadership into lively discussion and grounding every concept in what it would mean back at their work centers. That same energy carried into every small-group discussion, where these leaders challenged one another's assumptions, held each other accountable to the standards Strikers are known for, and left the week more connected — and more capable — than when they arrived. Again, just an amazing group of Striker Leaders!

A big thank you to our faculty and staff for creating the space for this kind of honest exchange and for equipping these graduates to lead with greater self-awareness, trust, and impact as they return to our nuclear and long-range strike mission: Robert Ford, Bill Barrington, Sara Davidson, Eric Foreman, Joshua Hurt, Susan Mace, David Satchell, Gerardo Tapia, Lisa Wood, Robin Rand, Rob Lass, Mark Mitchem, Jennifer Auten, Hayden Froehlich, and Balin Howard.

Also, we'd like to commend our teammates at Air Force Global Strike Command for assembling such a phenomenal group of "leaders of leaders": Terry West, Ronnie Walden, Denise Taylor-Webb, and Jerome Sydnor.

It is an honor to recognize the newest graduates of the Air Force Global Strike Command Frontline Leadership Course, Cohort 41!

This week, these Striker Leaders engaged in the essential work of cultivating their leadership and ability to develop a high-performing team. They explored how true mission readiness is built when leaders actively foster a space where trust is the norm, and every team member feels empowered to speak openly without fear. By normalizing candid dialogue and embracing openness amongst teammates, these leaders are learning to dismantle the communication barriers that can hinder progress. They now better understand that when Airmen are free to speak from a point of trust, they are willing to voice concerns, offer new perspectives, and challenge convention...if only to develop better solutions. When that happens, the entire team becomes significantly more resilient, agile, and effective in meeting the demands of our critical missions, especially nuclear deterrence.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to our distinguished faculty for their dedication, ensuring these leaders are fully prepared to navigate the complexities of their roles and inspire those they serve: Robin Rand, Joshua Hurt, Bill Barrington, Sara Davidson, Charles Flanagain, Eva Henry, Susan Mace, Mark Nemish, Jim Ritchie, David Satchell, Gerardo Tapia, Lisa Wood, Rob Lass, Mark Mitchem, Jennifer Auten, Boston Gilbert, and Balin Howard.

We are deeply grateful for the committed leadership and continued investment of our teammates at Air Force Global Strike Command, whose continued partnership remains the bedrock of this program: Terry West, Ronnie Walden, Denise Taylor-Webb, and Jerome Sydnor.

A special thank you to the inaugural students of the AMC Phoenix EDGE Frontline Leadership Course and our incredible faculty for making this milestone possible.

Over the course of five half-day sessions, our frontline leaders demonstrated remarkable tenacity, openness, and commitment to growth. They engaged fully in meaningful discussion, practical application, and self-reflection centered on AMC’s mission, culture, and operational realities. Their willingness to share experiences, challenge assumptions, and learn from one another created an environment built on trust, transparency, and authentic leadership.

Throughout the week, these leaders brought energy, intellectual rigor, and genuine curiosity to every session. They leaned into honest, mission-focused dialogue, exploring AMC’s priorities of Airmen, Mission, and Commitment with thoughtfulness and purpose. More importantly, they built connections that will extend far beyond the classroom, strengthening not only their own leadership capabilities, but also the teams and organizations they serve.

To our exceptional faculty, thank you for your dedication to developing the next generation of AMC leaders. Your willingness to share your expertise, experiences, and lessons learned helped create an experience that challenged, inspired, and empowered our students. The time, energy, and care you invested in this inaugural cohort have laid a strong foundation for the future of the program and its lasting impact across the command.

Together, our students and faculty established the standard for what the AMC Phoenix EDGE Frontline Leadership Course can achieve. Thank you for your professionalism, engagement, and unwavering commitment to leadership excellence.

Faculty: Robin Rand, David Satchell, Mark Camerer, Robert (Bobby) Ford, Jason Barnshaw, Bill Barrington, Eva Henry, Charles (Flan) Flanagain, Eric Foreman, Naomi Franchetti, Joshua Hurt, Susan Mace, Gerardo Tapia, Lisa Wood, Rob Lass, Ph.D., Mark Mitchem, Jennifer Auten, Boston Gilbert, J. Balin Howard, Matt Thrune, and Nick Leonelli.

Your contributions have helped launch something truly special for Air Mobility Command

We are proud to introduce the Air Mobility Command Phoenix EDGE Frontline Leadership Course and congratulate its first graduating cohort!

The Course is designed to complement existing leadership development opportunities while helping supervisors build actionable skills they can take directly back to their teams. This first cohort represents more than a graduation, it launches a new opportunity to invest in the Airmen who lead at the frontline every day.

Its empowered, agile graduates are ready to execute with speed, precision, and purpose in today’s dynamic operational environment. They lead with confidence, empower their Airmen, and advance the future of Air Mobility with unwavering resolve.

We sincerely appreciate our teammates at AMC for their advocacy of this program and the strong, steady leadership that brought it to fruition: Gen John Lamontagne, CMSgt Jamie Newman, CMSgt Joseph Arce, MSgt Timothy Riddle, and MSgt Kameron McClelland.

The Institute is excited to support this course at AMC and look forward to seeing its continued impact across the Command!

Learn more about Trailhead and our mission: https://www.trailheadleadership.com/

We are thrilled to honor the Cohort 9 graduates of the Defender Flight Leader Course! This remarkable group of dedicated Striker Airmen paused their daily operational duties to immerse themselves in our demanding virtual program, sharpening the people-first leadership capabilities required to safeguard our country’s strategic mission.

Throughout their seminars, these leaders focused deeply on the fundamental skills of truly getting to know their people and cultivating an environment of psychological safety. Through intentional reflection and candid discussion, participants developed a deeper understanding of how to connect with their teams on a human level, ensure every voice feels valued, and establish the trust necessary for innovation and resilience. By mastering these core interpersonal dynamics, these Defenders gained greater clarity about how to foster inclusive, high-performing cultures where their people can thrive under pressure.

We owe a debt of gratitude to our exceptional faculty for their unwavering commitment to guiding this vital professional development: Robin Rand, Bill Barrington, Charles Flanagain, Robert Ford, Eric Foreman, Joshua Hurt, Susan Mace, Peter Po***ck, David Satchell, Gerardo Tapia, Lisa Wood, Rob Lass, Mark Mitchem, Jennifer Auten, Boston Gilbert, Hayden Froehlich, and Balin Howard.

We also want to express our deepest appreciation to the team at AFGSC; this mission thrives only because of their steadfast leadership, advocacy, and continued support: Terry West, Ronnie Walden, Denise Taylor-Webb, and Jerome Sydnor.

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.