Today we’re taking a break from the financial services industry and turning our attention to leadership. There aren’t many places where you’ll find better examples of this than our military, where officers are some of the best leaders in the world.

Let us introduce you to Navy Commander Charlie Hoover. From Navy flight instructor to commanding officer, Hoover’s incredible journey is one to be celebrated and recorded, which we will do on this episode. Find out what it was like to land a jet on an aircraft carrier, what it took to be awarded high honors in the Navy, his two favorite flight stories, and lessons in leadership.

Key Moments: 

[1:41] – Welcome Charlie

[2:51] – Favorite fishing story

[4:21] – Journey to earning Navy wings

[17:25] – Flight instructor in Pensacola

[19:34] – First solo flight on aircraft carrier

[24:52] – Night landing

[27:40] – Becoming a great leader

[30:12] – Differences between props and jets

[33:43] – Winning the Naval Battle “E” Award

Quotable Moment:

“I don’t subscribe to that there’s any such thing as born leader any more than I subscribe to people are born with prejudices. Leadership is a learned trait.”

– Commander CB Hoover