What Makes a True Servant Leader?

In “Get Back Up: Lessons in Servant Leadership,” Air Force Academy classmates Heather Wilson and David Goldfein share four decades of lessons from the marble halls of the Capitol to the sands of the Middle East with humor and humility. Dave, a four-star general and former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, recounts being shot down in his F-16 over Serbia and other gripping stories. Heather, a former Congresswoman, university president, and Secretary of the Air Force, reveals the tough calls that shaped her leadership. Reunited at the Pentagon 35 years after their cadet days, they weave unforgettable stories into practical lessons for anyone striving to lead with character and serve with purpose.

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Air University Press offers free copies to active military and veterans.
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FREE FOR MILITARY

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Media and News

Authors Heather Wilson and Dave Goldfein have participated in fireside chats and interviews about their book and its leadership lessons for audiences around the country.

Nov. 11, 2025 - Google Veterans Day Fireside Chat, Los Angeles

Nov. 4, 2025 – Leadership conversation with Malcolm Gladwell at The 92nd Street Y, New York

Nov. 4, 2025 - Words on a Wire podcast

Oct. 29, 2025 - Google Public Sector Summit Closing Plenary: Leadership for a New Era

Oct. 3, 2025 - Building Better Leaders podcast of the Air & Space Forces Association

Sept. 30, 2025 - Air University Press podcast

Sept. 27, 2025 - Air & Space Forces Magazine article

How a 2.0 GPA Saved the Life of This F-16 Pilot - and Future CSAF

Praise for “Get Back Up”

“In ‘Get Back Up,’ Goldfein and Wilson remind us of a crucial paradox: that power is best expressed through humility, and the servant is the best leader of all. They also make me want to send my kids to the Air Force Academy.”

— Malcolm Gladwell, New York Times best selling author

“In August 2017, at the height of the ISIS war, I traveled to U.S. air bases around the Middle East for eight days with General Dave Goldfein and Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson. It was one of the most interesting trips I have ever taken. I learned a ton from the two of them and so I am thrilled to see that they have put that knowledge into a book – ‘Get Back Up: Lessons in Servant Leadership’ – so others can learn as much as I did!”

— Thomas L. Friedman, Pulitzer Prize–winning columnist

“In Get Back Up: Lessons in Servant Leadership, Dave Goldfein and Heather Wilson recount the moments that have shaped, challenged, and inspired them. Each story, whether joyful, bittersweet, or sober, offers a candid look into what servant leadership can and should look like. Dave and Heather offer timeless lessons that everyone can use. A must-read for anyone who believes that leadership starts with serving others.”

— Steve Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO, and Cofounder of Blackstone

“Dr. Wilson and General Goldfein are meaningful reminders of the value of and need for servant leaders. They approach this book as they have approached their lives — with humility, foresight, selfless sharing of themselves, and a commitment to improving our nation. While their book should be required reading for every CEO and leader, its greatest impact may well be on the next generation. Whether a cadet, college student, or young professional, the life and leadership lessons they share will entertain, educate, and inspire.”

— Montana Governor Steve Bullock (2013–2021)

“A uniquely enriching guide for both the aspiring young leader and the experienced leader devoted to upping their game, this jewel of a book is packed with powerful lessons-learned and distilled insights. Provided by two servant leaders whose character met every challenge from the halls of Congress to the battlefields of war and beyond, their humility, honesty, and raw competence shine through on every page. Dr. Wilson and General Goldfein’s book lights the path for leaders who choose to serve others.”

— General Jim Mattis, United States Marines, Retired, and 26th Secretary of Defense

“In aviation, as in leadership, turbulence is inevitable. Get Back Up shows how two extraordinary leaders, Dave Goldfein and Heather Wilson, navigated adversity with humility and courage. This volume offers young leaders practical insights from lives shaped by principle, service, and the courage to step forward when it matters most.”

— Ambassador Barbara Barrett, 25th Secretary of the Air Force

“In this powerful and deeplypersonal book, Heather Wilson and Dave Goldfein deliver timeless lessons inservant leadership — grounded in humility, service before self, and a deepcommitment to others. These are not abstract ideals; they’re principles bothauthors have lived. As the First Chief of Space Operations, I benefited greatlyfrom Dave’s leadership and partnership. His steady, values-driven leadershipwas instrumental in helping establish the foundation of our new United StatesSpace Force.”

— General John W. “Jay” Raymond, United States Space Force, Retired, 1st Chief of Space Operations

“In Get Back Up, Dave Goldfein and Heather Wilson remind us of a crucial paradox: that power is best expressed through humility, credibility, and approachability. The most important lesson the reader can learn is the timeless concept of servant leadership. This is demonstrated through their love for the Department of the Air Force; it was deeply personal. Their teamwork showed in their love and passion for our Airmen, Guardians, their families, and ultimately the institution. They truly demonstrated on a daily basis that they were a part of something bigger than themselves.”

— General Lori Robinson, United States Air Force, Retired, Former Commander of US Northern Command and North American Air Defense Command (2016–2018)

“As a young woman who grew up under the shadow of war in Afghanistan and chose to serve my country, I see in this book a rare kind of strength — quiet, steady, and rooted in purpose … Their words will stay with you long after the last page.”

— Niloofar Rahmani, author of Open Skies: My Life as Afghanistan’s First Female Fixed-Wing Air Force Pilot

About The Authors

Dave Goldfein and Heather Wilson started their careers on the same day and in the same place: the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Their careers took different paths but converged almost 40 years later at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
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Dave became a fighter pilot and military commander, was shot down by a surface-to-air missile over Serbia, and spent two years as the Commander of Coalition Air and Space Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan before becoming the Director of the Joint Staff in the Pentagon. Heather earned her Ph.D. as a Rhodes Scholar, worked in Europe during the Cold War, and served on the National Security Council Staff for President George H. W. Bush. She was a cabinet secretary in state government, elected and reelected to the United States Congress for 10 years, and then became a university president.

Heather and Dave were brought back together in May 2017 as Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force under Secretary of Defense James Mattis. During their service together, they talked a lot about leadership. Many of the featured stories originate from the time they spent working together. Dave is now a senior advisor to Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, and is chairman of the board of Google Public Sector and the USO. Heather is the president of The University of Texas at El Paso.