About this episode

Oak McCulloch discusses his leadership philosophy and experiences from his military career and food bank management.

Guests: Lieutenant Colonel Oakland (Oak) McCulloch (Retired U.S. Army) Host: Randy Chaffee Producer / Director / Co-Host: Wes Wyatt Episode Summary: Oak shares his 23-year active-duty career spanning infantry (5 years) and armored cavalry (18 years), culminating in his service as commander of the Army ROTC program at the University of South Alabama in Mobile before retiring on October 1st. He discusses his leadership philosophy rooted in servant leadership—emphasizing that leadership is a privilege, never about personal titles or pay, but always about developing and caring for people under your command. Oak recounts pivotal leadership moments, including commissioning 62 lieutenants annually, reminding each that "after we pin those bars on your shoulder tomorrow, it will never be about you ever again—it's about the people you lead." He shares his tenure running a food bank covering 52 counties across Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle (starting one month before the BP oil spill), where he reframed employee motivation by reminding staff of their mission's human impact: when a young mother can't feed her two-year-old because the team didn't get the work right, that's…

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