This month’s spotlight is on The Mission of Leadership by retired Brigadier General Shawn Campbell—a grounded, experience-driven reminder that leadership is not a position to be held, but a responsibility to be lived. Drawing from decades of service in the Air Force, command at every level, and a lifetime of developing leaders, Campbell frames leadership as a mission with enduring obligations: to people, to purpose, and to values that don’t shift with circumstances.

What sets this book apart is its clarity and practicality. Campbell doesn’t chase trends or offer feel-good slogans. He breaks leadership down to its essentials—character, competence, and consistency—and challenges readers to examine how they show up when decisions are hard, pressure is real, and accountability can’t be outsourced. The concepts of the leadership constitution, the sturdy stool, and values-based decision-making give leaders a framework they can actually apply, not just admire.

At its core, The Mission of Leadership reinforces a simple but demanding truth: leadership is unfair, it is weighty, and it requires sacrifice. Whether you’re leading Airmen, employees, students, or a family, this book serves as a steady compass—reminding you that trust is built over time, credibility is earned daily, and influence is sustained through service, not authority.

This isn’t a book just for military leaders. It’s for anyone entrusted with the growth, safety, and future of others—and for those who take that trust seriously. Campbell makes it clear that leadership doesn’t end when a command tour does or when a uniform comes off. The mission continues, wherever you are planted.

About the Author:
Brigadier General (Ret.) Shawn Campbell is a career Air Force officer, combat veteran, and former senior leader responsible for shaping strategy, developing people, and leading complex organizations. A lifelong student of leadership, Campbell has spent years teaching, mentoring, and advising leaders across the military, government, and private sector. His work emphasizes values-based leadership, personal accountability, and the moral responsibility leaders carry. Through The Mission of Leadership, he continues to invest in the next generation—challenging leaders to think deeply, lead deliberately, and honor the mission entrusted to them.