Newly promoted Chief Master Sergeant, Blake Talley, at McConnell Air Force Base, discusses three of his nine promises he made to his unit. They include communicating openly and transparently with the "three T's" of timing, tone, and temperature; remaining flexible where it serves the mission while holding firm on non-negotiables like integrity and professionalism; and looking for talent where others may only see potential. Chief Vásquez challenges Chief Talley to practice these principles over the next month and assess his progress, suggesting they could do a follow-up interview to discuss the results.

Chief Vásquez and Chief Al Thompson focus his career transition from the Air Force to teaching Junior ROTC to his current role as a regional director for the program. Al shares his experiences and the impact of working with young students, emphasizing the importance of integrity, servant leadership, and modeling behavior as key qualities of a good chief. They discuss the requirements and benefits of becoming a JROTC instructor, including pay structure and eligibility, and the program's focus on building citizenship and character rather than military recruitment.

Dr. Joe Sanders is a leadership development expert, speaker, author, and mentor with a deep passion for developing leaders of character. A retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, he formerly served as Director of the Center for Character and Leadership Development at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He was the Squadron Commander of the 320th Training Squadron at Lackland AFB, TX, as well as Commander of the 64th Expeditionary Support Squadron in Saudi Arabia. His father is a retired USAF Senior Master Sergeant, and his mother keeps everyone in line.

Dr Sanders is the author of Unreasonable Responsibility, a powerful call for leaders to embrace their influence and make meaningful impact. He currently serves as CEO of Colorado UpLift, teaches as an adjunct professor at UCCS, and is the founder of Touchstone Leadership Academy, equipping leaders in underserved communities. His motto is “I serve so that others may lead.”