Leadership Under Pressure - Episode 72
From Behind the Wings by Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum™
May 4, 2026 · 38 min · Season 8
About this episode
Major General John Barry discusses his leadership experiences during pivotal moments in aerospace and national security history.
Major General John Barry shares his story of leadership through some of the most consequential moments in modern aerospace and national security history. In this episode, Host Rick Crandall talks with John Barry, a fighter pilot, combat leader, former NASA official, and retired U.S. Air Force Major General. From Cold War alert missions in the F-4 Phantom to command at Luke Air Force Base, from surviving the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon to helping investigate the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, Barry reflects on a career shaped by what he calls “windows in history.” This one is going to be cool! 🎧 What you’ll hear: From the Bronx to the Air Force Academy: The unexpected path that launched Barry’s career The F-4 Phantom and Cold War Europe: Going from dead asleep to airborne in five minutes while sitting nuclear alert A lesson in restraint: The near-shootdown that shaped how he identified targets in combat Nellis, Red Flag, and flying against MiGs: How realism in training changed the fight NASA and Challenger: What he learned watching an organization in crisis Command in Turkey: Rebuilding trust after tragedy while flying combat missions over Iraq Luke Air Force Base: Leading the…
People in this episode
Host: Rick Crandall
Guest: Major General John Barry
Topics covered
- leadership
- aerospace
- national security
- military history
- crisis management
- aviation training
Keywords
- leadership
- aerospace
- national security
- F-4 Phantom
- 9/11
- NASA
- Columbia disaster
- military training
- Iraq
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: NASA, U.S. Air Force
Products: F-4 Phantom, F-16
Places: Bronx, Turkey, Iraq
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