A Leader's Five F's - Col. (Ret.) Michael Black ’85

What does leadership look like at the highest levels of service? SUMMARY In this episode of Long Blue Leadership, Col. (Ret.) Michael Black ’85 discusses his journey from pilot to leading the White House communications team. He reflects on what it means to be a calm, steady presence in high-pressure environments — and how small daily practices can shape a lifetime of leadership. The full episode is now available. SHARE THIS PODCAST FACEBOOK | LINKEDIN MICHAEL'S LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS Develop a personal leadership philosophy that guides your actions (like Michael's 5F's: Family, Fitness, Flying, Fairness, and Fun).Always be aware that people are watching you and learning from your example, even when you don't realize it.Nurture relationships continuously - they are critical for long-term success and mentorship.Practice empathy and compassion, especially during difficult moments like delivering challenging newsMaintain a holistic approach to fitness - physical, mental, and spiritual well-being are interconnected.Take pride in leaving organizations better than you found them and focus on developing future leaders.Be fair and be perceived as fair - understanding different perspectives is crucial to effective leadership.Incorporate fun and balance into your professional life to maintain team morale and personal resilience.Stay connected to your roots and be willing to mentor the next generation, sharing your experiences and lessons learned.Continuously practice self-reflection and ensure you're living up to your core values and leadership principles. CHAPTERS Chapter 1 - 0:00:00 - 0:08:55: Family and Military Roots Michael Black shares his background as a military brat and the educational legacy of his family. Chapter 2 - 0:08:55 - 0:12:10: Delivering a Difficult Notification A profound leadership moment where Black sensitively delivers news of a combat-related death to a staff sergeant's family. Chapter 3 - 0:12:10 - 0:18:40: The 5F Leadership Philosophy Introduction Col. Black explains the origin and core components of his leadership framework: Family, Fitness, Flying, Fairness, and Fun. Chapter 4 - 0:18:40 - 0:25:59: Detailed Exploration of 5F Philosophy In-depth breakdown of each leadership principle, including personal anecdotes and practical applications. Chapter 5 - 0:25:59 - 0:32:21: Family Legacy and Academy Experience Discussion of his son's Air Force Academy journey and the importance of nurturing relationships across generations. Chapter 6 - 0:32:21 - 0:38:36: Mentorship and Relationship Building Michael shares his approach to mentoring cadets and the significance of maintaining long-term professional connections. Chapter 7 - 0:38:36 - 0:40:13: Leadership in Civilian and Nonprofit Sectors Reflection on applying military leadership principles in private and nonprofit environments. Chapter 8 - 0:40:13 - 0:41:28: Personal Reflection and Leadership Advice Final thoughts on leadership, self-improvement, and the importance of continuous personal development. ABOUT COL. BLACK BIO Michael “Mike” B. Black, vice president, Defense, joined AFCEA International in July 2022. He is a senior cyber/information technology leader with more than 40 years of experience in communications, cyber operations, project/program management, organizational development and leadership disciplines. As the vice president, Defense, Mr. Black builds strong professional relationships with government, industry, academia partners to further position AFCEA International as a leader in the cyber, defense, security, intelligence and related information technology disciplines. He leads defense operations in support of planning and executing global, large-scale, technically focused, trade shows/conferences supporting Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Operations, Cyber and Homeland Security. Mr. Black is focused on providing opportunities for engagement between and among government, industry and academia, where training and education are hallmarks of AFCEA International events and continuous learning is a highlight of each individual event. Prior to joining AFCEA International, Mr. Black served as the chief operating officer (COO) at Concise Network Solutions (CNS) for 4 years, where he directly supported the CEO in developing, executing and managing CNS’s master business plan. Prior to joining CNS, he served as the COO and chief corporate development officer at JMA Solutions for 2.5 years, where he worked in concert with senior executives to lead operations and the planning and execution of strategies to meet organizational objectives. Prior to joining JMA Solutions, he served as the COO at Premier Management Corporation for 4 years, where he was directly responsible for day-to-day operations, all business units and the company’s profit and loss. Prior to joining the private sector, Mr. Black spent 26 years in the U.S. Air Force holding various communications and ...