In this episode of Commander’s Intent, retired Air Force Colonel and fighter pilot Derek Oaks and co-host Rob Powell break down how leaders should think about risk—and why fear-based decision-making quietly destroys momentum, trust, and mission success.

Drawing from military aviation, combat operations, business leadership, and everyday life, they explain why risk can never be reduced to zero, why safety alone cannot be the goal, and how great leaders learn to balance likelihood, impact, and purpose when making critical decisions. From flying low-level combat missions to business delays that push risk onto customers and teams, this conversation challenges the idea that avoiding risk makes leaders safer.

This episode is about clarity over caution, mission over comfort, and learning how to mitigate risk without freezing, deferring, or shifting responsibility onto others. If you lead people, make decisions under pressure, or feel stuck between fear and action—this episode is for you.