In this episode, I speak with J.R. Simmons, a flight director and civilian with the United States Air Force. 

J.R.’s path to engineering was unconventional—starting as a janitor before pursuing computer science based on his father’s research. He bounced between roles in private defense contracting and eventually moved into a stable government position, where he advanced from hands-on computer science roles into leadership, discovering a love for working with people along the way.

In our leadership segment, J.R. discusses how, as a newly appointed flight director over a struggling team, he initially took on too much himself, driven by a strong desire to fix problems. Over time, he realized the need to step back, empower his project directors, and listen more strategically—both to his team and the customer— to ensure success.

J.R. offers a wide range of advice to aspiring leaders: start planning for leadership early, pursue additional education, learn human-centered design, and develop soft skills like giving feedback and managing conflict. He also emphasizes the importance of delegation, strategic thinking, time management, and always remembering that employees are people, not just resources.

Takeaways, transcripts, and more in the show notes: https://drangeliqueadams.com/insights/