Ep 576: Harvard to F-15C Pilot to 53rd Wing Commander - Col "CAP" Gunn

Send us Fan Mail Most people think becoming a U.S. Air Force Wing Commander is about perfect careers and flawless records. It’s not. In this episode of Ones Ready, Peaches sits down with Colonel “CAP” Gunn, Commander of the 53rd Wing, to talk about the real path to leadership in the Air Force. From a Harvard math degree to flying fighters, leading combat units, and ultimately commanding one of the most influential wings in the Air Force, his career wasn’t built on shortcuts—it was built on discipline, humility, and relentless learning. They break down what it actually takes to lead airmen, how high-level Air Force leadership works behind the curtain, and why the best officers stay students of the profession. If you want a realistic look at military leadership, aviation culture, and what separates good leaders from great ones, this conversation delivers. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome to Ones Ready 01:10 Meet 53rd Wing Commander Colonel CAP Gunn 03:30 Harvard math to Air Force pilot 07:15 Early motivation to join the military 11:40 Fighter pilot training and career path 18:30 Learning leadership the hard way 26:45 Command responsibility and pressure 35:10 How Air Force leadership really works 44:20 Lessons from decades of service 53:10 Advice for young officers and future leaders 01:00:20 What great leaders do differently 🎯 Call-to-Actions: 👍 Like the episode 🔔

You can listen to Ep 576: Harvard to F-15C Pilot to 53rd Wing Commander - Col "CAP" Gunn online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Ep 576: Harvard to F-15C Pilot to 53rd Wing Commander - Col "CAP" Gunn is an episode from Ones Ready by Aaron Love, Trent Seegmiller, and Jared "Peaches" Pietras.

This episode is 57:19 long.

This episode was published on Apr 10, 2026.

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