Blue Angels and Red Tape: Greg Wooldridge on Trust and High-Performance Leadership

In this episode, we talk with Greg Wooldridge. He’s the only person ever to lead the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels flight team three times. Greg shows us all how to build trust when it’s tough, lead with humility, and form great teams in life-or-death situations.
Greg’s journey began on aircraft carriers. Now at FedEx, he uses his background to shape safety culture. He shares key leadership lessons from his remarkable career. We look at how debriefing helps continuous improvement, vulnerability builds trust, and what businesses can learn from the Blue Angels’ strong focus on excellence.

Greg shares the personal side of leadership. He talks about balancing his work passion with family. He also hopes his legacy will inspire future leaders. No matter if you’re in aviation, construction, healthcare, or tech, this talk shares useful tips. Listen in for practical strategies on how to build a culture of safety, accountability, and growth.
Check out this deep dive into leadership, safety, and how to build strong teams that thrive under pressure.
Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: Greg “Boss” Wooldridge
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Discover strategies for embedding safety so deeply that it becomes instinctive—perfect for those inspired by Greg’s trust-building tactics.
What Happens After an Incident?
Greg highlights the power of debriefing—this piece dives into why post-incident reviews are critical for learning and continuous improvement.
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