A Colonel’s Guide to Mental Toughness

Charge Forward Coaching · May 19, 2026 · 36m

In this episode, I sit down with Colonel Steve Luxion, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), a 34-year veteran with more than 2,500 flight hours, 700 combat hours, and a career that spans the F 111 Aardvark, the Navy’s F 14 Tomcat, the EA 6B Prowler, and the early MQ 1B Predator program. Steve has led at every level — from squadrons to NATO’s first Aerospace Center of Excellence and brings a rare combination of combat experience, strategic leadership, and humility. We talk about what mental toughness really looks like in life-or-death environments, how individuals can better manage fear and focus, and why…