EP 164 — Maj Joseph “Paveway” Bledsoe III | F-15E Evaluator Pilot & USAFA Fellow

In this episode, Louis sits down with Maj Joseph “Paveway” Bledsoe III — an F-15E Strike Eagle evaluator pilot with 1,500+ hours (including 344 combat hours supporting Operation Inherent Resolve) and a Fellow at USAFA’s Institute for Future Conflict.

We dig into:

• Agile Combat Employment (ACE) — what it is, why it matters, and how it reshapes airpower in a peer fight

• Leadership the fighter-pilot way — horizontal leadership, intrusive leadership, and debrief culture

• Combat lessons — acting decisively with incomplete information, empathy under stress, tech as a tool (not a crutch)

• Goal-setting & accountability — turning weekly targets into after-action learning you can use on Monday

• Mentorship, family-first priorities, and a life rule from the cockpit: “Knock it off” when things drift out of balance

Whether you lead a squadron, a startup, or yourself, this is a masterclass in readiness, resilience, and continuous improvement.

🎧 Listen & follow for more quick-fire conversations with elite performers.

Guest links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-paveway-bledsoe-iii

IFC Profile: https://www.ifc.usafa.edu/team/joseph-bledsoe