Lessons in Leadership: General Darren McDew, USAF (Ret.)

In this interview, Managing Director of the American College Center for Military and Veterans Affairs Phil Easton, CMSgt, USAF (Ret.), speaks with General Darren McDew, USAF (Ret.), about what it means to be a Soldier-Citizen Award recipient, as well as paths to powerful careers in financial services and leadership for military members and their spouses.

General McDew, a nationally recognized leader whose career has spanned military service, corporate governance, and community leadership, talks about the skills former military members can develop to enhance their career potential, including interpersonal skills and business savvy. He also discusses best practices for service members in transition to prepare for a life outside military service.

A graduate of the Virginia Military Institute with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master's degree in aviation management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, General McDew served more than 36 years in the United States Air Force. He commanded at every echelon and served in key leadership roles including Military Aide to the President, Director of Public Affairs for the Air Force, Commander of the Air Mobility Command, and, ultimately, the 12th Commander of the U.S. Transportation Command. There, he led the nation’s global mobility enterprise, delivering the transportation, logistics, and global patient movement capabilities that deployed and sustained U.S. and Allied Forces while enabling humanitarian response around the world.