Maj. Austin McKinney '10 - Leading Beyond Borders

USAFA Class of 2010 valedictorian, Maj. Austin McKinney, discusses how the trust he earned and integrity he learned as a cadet led him to the U.S. Department of State where he helps build relationships between U.S. and global leaders.

SUMMARY

Maj. Austin McKinney '10 shares his journey from the Air Force Academy to becoming a Foreign Service Officer with the State Department. He emphasizes the importance of public service, teamwork, and never accepting the first no. McKinney highlights the value of the Academy's wide core curriculum and the opportunities it provides for personal and professional growth. He also discusses the significance of integrity and reputation in leadership and the need to adapt to the changing perspectives and interests of the younger generation. McKinney encourages others to consider the reserves as a way to stay connected to the military and emphasizes the importance of convincing young people of the value of joining the military and the Academy. The conversation explores the importance of storytelling in leadership and the value of being ready to say yes. It emphasizes the need to listen actively and understand the core similarities that unite people across different cultures. The conversation also highlights the challenge of transitioning from a tactical leader to a strategic leader and the importance of building relationships and networks. The key takeaways include the significance of delegation, the need for personal board of advisors, and the importance of being part of a supportive community.

 

OUR FAVORITE QUOTES

"Part of leadership is process. But part of leadership is relationships."

"Leadership by walking around is talking to people and developing those relationships, not sitting in your office and just working on the next memo, or the next email."

"Never never accept the first no."

"Always be ready to say yes."

"We're (USAFA grads) part of a special community and always be contributing two is what I would encourage us all to think about it."

 

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CHAPTERS

00:00  Introduction and Background

10:13  The Value of the Academy's Wide Core Curriculum

25:30  Staying Connected: The Reserves and Continued Service

33:42  The Power of Storytelling in Leadership

54:57  Transitioning from Tactical to Strategic Leadership

 

TAKEAWAYS

 - Public service and teamwork are important values instilled at the Air Force Academy.

 - Never accept the first no and rely on others for support and success.

 - The Academy's wide core curriculum provides opportunities for personal and professional growth.

 - Integrity and reputation are crucial in leadership.

 - Staying connected to the military through the reserves can provide continued opportunities for service.

 - It is important to convince young people of the value of joining the military and the Academy. Leadership is about storytelling and sharing experiences.

 - Being ready to say yes opens up opportunities and builds trust.

 - Active listening and understanding core similarities are crucial in cross-cultural interactions.

 - Transitioning from a tactical leader to a strategic leader requires letting go and delegating effectively.

 - Building relationships and networks is essential for success as a leader.

 - Having a personal board of advisors and being part of a supportive community contribute to personal and professional growth.

 

MAJ. MCKINNEY'S BIO

Maj. Austin McKinney, an Air Force Reserve Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA), is Joint Strategic Engagement Officer, Joint Reserve Directorate, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. He is
responsible for providing guidance and support to a range of innovation programs and rapid fielding initiatives, focusing on the identification, evaluation, and deployment of emerging technologies. Maj. McKinney received his commission in 2010 through the U.S. Air Force Academy. Most recently, he served with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), where he delivered commercial
market insight and program management support to a range of innovation programs in DIU’s autonomy and artificial intelligence / machine learning portfolios. Maj. McKinney has also served in multiple acquisitions program management roles within the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), contributing to the discovery, development, and delivery of next-generation weapons systems related to ballistic missile defense and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) technologies. He is also certified as a Foreign Area Officer (FAO) for the Latin American region. He has deployed experience Qatar, Colombia, and Honduras. As a civilian, he is a Foreign Service Officer (FSO) with the U.S. Department of State. In this role, he serves as an economic diplomat to advance American foreign policy interests in trade, investment, and technology. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Maj. McKinney also worked as a Senior Manager for strategy and operations at HubSpot, the high-growth CRM software firm in Cambridge, MA

- Bio copy credit:  rt.cto.mil

 

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SPEAKERS

Our guest, Maj. Austin McKinney '10  |  Our host, Dr. Doug Lindsay '92

 

KEYWORDS

Academy, work, Air Force Academy, leadership, Air Force, opportunities, experience, part, leader, cadet, great, international affairs, served, learned, career, business, officer, active duty, air force officer, talking

 

 

The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation