Mission-Driven Leadership: 

Based on his experience as a retired NASA astronaut and US Navy SEAL, and now as President and CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, Chris Cassidy shares powerful lessons on mission-driven leadership and how they translate directly into the boardroom. In this exclusive interview about his experience in high-stakes decision-making, Cassidy offers directors a rare window into leadership at the highest levels.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

• There are defining moments in life, and opportunities often unfold, but only if you pursue them. Take your chances, try again after not being selected the first time, and recognize when a door is cracked open so you can step through it.

• It is important to pay it forward to the younger generation, as you will never know the impact it will have on their life's journey.

• Big operations are like an iceberg—the pointy end only works because of everything unseen beneath it. That foundation must exist for success.

• Crisis management is best done at zero altitude and zero knots, not when you’re in the thick of it. Preparation matters: tabletop exercises, dress rehearsals, and constant practice. The plan only survives first contact, and what matters is how the team adapts and overcomes challenges. 

• You can’t anticipate every “what if,” but strong preparation builds better risk management.

• Though Navy SEALs, NASA, and executive leadership may seem different, they rely on the same fundamentals: small groups of people backed by preparation, great communication, and risk management to accomplish a mission.

• In the boardroom, staff need guidance, not board members trying to do their job. As a board member, you must understand where the line is.

• Leadership energy is critical. Try to be a model of positivity and strength, and understand yourself well enough to know that self-care may be required before you can help others.

• Choosing the right people on your team is difficult. Everyone can be their best self on a sunny day, but the real test is who can still operate well on a bad day.

• A core leadership trait: be yourself and do what you said you were going to do. If you change course, explain the rationale.

• Every experience and interaction can give you the tools for the next step.

RESOURCES

• Battlefield to Boardroom - NACD

• The National Medal of Honor Museum

SPEAKER

President and CEO, National Medal of Honor Museum; Former NASA Astronaut; Former U.S. Navy SEAL

Chris Cassidy

In August 2021, the Board of Directors for the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation selected Chris Cassidy to be President and CEO, where he now leads the project to build to build the iconic Museum, Monument, and Institute…

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MODERATOR

Brigadier General, U.S. Army (Ret.); General Counsel & Advisory Board, Ondas Holdings; Member, FBI’s AI Task Force

Patrick Huston

• LinkedIn:

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Gen. Patrick Huston, NACD.DC, is an experienced attorney, advisor, and board member. He’s a renowned technology lawyer focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity…

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Co-hosted by NACD Northern California and NACD Capital  Area chapters.

Thank you to our generous sponsor for making this event possible.