Lessons Learned for Aspiring and Experienced Leaders
LeadWise: Some Insights...
Author - Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Berger, USAF (Ret.)
Christopher Berger is a retired Air Force officer and federal civilian leader whose 40-year career spanned Desert Storm, the Pentagon, and Special Operations. He holds degrees from Drexel University and the University of Oklahoma and is an Outstanding Graduate of the elite U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School. A Master Air Battle Manager with over 4,500 E-3 AWACS flight hours, he shaped operations, strategy, tactics, and people across the Air Force. Now retired, he shares the lessons and stories of his journey to inspire today’s leaders and the next generation.
The Story
LeadWise began as a simple question: What do I wish I had known earlier about leadership?
After four decades in military and federal service, Christopher Berger reflects on the lessons learned through real decisions, real consequences, and real people. Shaped by exceptional mentors and trusted teammates, the insights in LeadWise extend far beyond uniformed service, offering practical guidance for leaders navigating responsibility, change, and uncertainty in any organization.
This book is an invitation—to learn from experience, to lead with intention, and to grow into the kind of leader others are willing to follow.
The Approach
LeadWise isn't just another dry manual on "The X, Y, Z Principles of Leadership." No, consider this more of a journey through the trenches of real-life experiences and relationships, where the true essence of leadership reveals itself through the stories of everyday heroes. Picture yourself sitting by a crackling fire, swapping tales of triumphs and tribulations with seasoned veterans who've weathered the storms of leadership. These aren't just stories; they're windows into the hearts and minds of remarkable individuals who've inspired others to greatness.
Shaped by experience and inspired by remarkable mentors and colleagues, the chronicle reaches far beyond the military—offering timeless insights for leaders across business, government, and organizations of every size.