Senior Master Sergeant Craig Crabtree, a 22-year Air Force Veteran, currently teaching at the United States Air Force Academy's Center for Character and Leadership Development, discusses his experience training new lieutenants, emphasizing the importance of humility, building relationships with senior NCOs, and maintaining professional boundaries. He and Chief Vásquez discuss the challenges and best practices for new lieutenants entering a unit, with Senior Craig advising them to learn from existing processes rather than immediately trying to optimize them, and to focus on character development over technical expertise.

Capt Aryn Maxwell is an Intelligence Officer in the United States Air Force. As one of the current Officers in Charge (OIC) of F-22 Intelligence, she delivers tailored battlespace analysis and fuses emerging threat data into actionable intelligence, enabling F-22 mission execution and survivability. Capt Maxwell is a 2019 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, obtaining a B.S. in Behavioral Science. She has served as the OIC, North Korean Air Team, Analysis, Correlation, and Fusion Cell, 607 Air Operations Center, Senior Intelligence Duty Officer, 607 Air Operations Center, and Flight Commander, Intel Weapons and Tactics, 1 Operations Support Squadron.

Chief Master Sergeant (Ret) Gary Maxwell served 30 years in the United States Air Force until his retirement in 2010. His last assignment was as the Superintendent, 99th Medical Group, Nellis AFB, NV. Chief Maxwell was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He graduated from Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School and entered the Air Force in June 1980. He completed technical training as a Medical Service Specialist with his first assignment at the 3800th ABW Hospital, Maxwell AFB, AL. Chief Maxwell has two children Alec, currently serving as a Behavior Specialist & Aryn currently serving as a Captain in the USAF.

Travis Von Elling is an active-duty U.S. Air Force acquisition officer and prior enlisted Airman with more than 13 years of service. He commissioned in 2022 and brings both enlisted and officer perspectives to leadership. He is a husband, father of three, and lifelong student of leadership and character. The views he shares are his own.

Joshua “Cabo” Gunderson is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve. He’s a combat-proven fighter pilot (F-15, F-22, F-35) and founder of GTG Energy LLC — a veteran-owned company revolutionizing performance supplements.

A 2008 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy (Geospatial Science and Spanish), he earned Distinguished Graduate honors and Top Gun in F-15 training. He flew the F-15C and the F-22, and commanded the Air Force’s only F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team (2020–2022). He led over 200 airshow sorties worldwide — including the Super Bowl LVI flyover — while being named Field Grade Officer of the Year for the 1st Fighter Wing.

Today, he continues serving as a fighter pilot (F-35) in the Air Force Reserve while consulting in civilian aviation. He’s deeply passionate about community outreach, having engaged thousands of students and volunteering at schools and children’s hospitals.

Senior Master Sergeant Penny Velasquez is the Career Field Manager for the 8B300 Officer Accessions Career Field. She was previously the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 23d Training Squadron, United States Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, where she was responsible for the training, development, and operations of over 3,700 Air Force Active Duty, Reserve, Air National Guard, and Space Force officers annually.

SMSgt Velasquez enlisted in the Air Force in 2004.