In this episode of Long Blue Leadership with host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99, hear how adversity, gratitude and courage forged a leader others would follow anywhere. From his harrowing experience during the 9/11 attacks to overcoming childhood adversity and pioneering innovation in the Air Force, Dave Harden shares practical lessons on gratitude, resilience and the importance of running toward challenges rather than away from them. The conversation emphasizes that true leadership is forged in the fire of adversity and that gratitude can transform hardship into fuel for growth.

• Leadership is about how we respond in crisis.
• Everyone has a personal story of 9/11.
• Muscle memory from training prepares us for challenges.
• Gratitude shifts our perspective from burden to opportunity.
• Looking up fosters hope and gratitude.
• Gratitude can transform lives and relationships.
• Innovation is crucial for effective leadership.
• Courage is a choice we make every day.
• Hardships prepare us for future leadership roles.
• True leaders run toward the fire, not away from it.

Col. (Ret.) Dave Harden ’95 is a nationally sought-after voice on resilience, innovation and mission-driven leadership. His story — from surviving the 9/11 attacks to pioneering new models of innovation inside the U.S. Air Force — embodies his core belief: Leaders are forged in adversity, and gratitude turns every challenge into momentum.

A retired O-6 who served in both active duty and Reserve roles, Harden attended the U.S. Air Force Academy as a freshman in Cadet Squadron 19, graduating while in CS-17. He went on to pilot the technologically advanced C-17, accumulating nearly 4,000 flight hours and significant combat time in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Kosovo.

Seeing that America’s technological advantage depended on better collaboration between government and the private sector, Harden became a founding architect of AFWERX, the U.S. Air Force innovation platform that has now executed over $5 billion with more than 3,100 companies. He previously served at the Pentagon as chief of strategic prioritization, where he helped reshape how the Department of Defense engages with emerging technology.

Today, Harden continues that mission as founder and managing partner of Outpost Ventures, creator and Partner of ScaleWolf — a transatlantic venture fund focused on dual-use technology and mission-readiness, and founder of The Outpost. Across these platforms, he has helped deploy more than $100 million in capital and captured over $500 million in U.S. and international government awards for over 250 companies, while shaping the models to deploy capital, build capability and scale innovation toward real operational needs.

Beyond national security, Harden also served as COO of Melwood, a 1,500-person nonprofit providing opportunities for people with disabilities. He earned his B.S. in electrical engineering from USAFA and his MBA from George Washington University, and he holds executive certificates from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.

Across every chapter — from cockpits to combat zones to the halls of the Pentagon —Harden continues to champion resilience, innovation and capability at the speed of relevance.