The Pathfinder Development Program prepares Airmen to thrive in the uncertainty, pace, and complexity of modern warfighting. It is both a leadership incubator and a launchpad for trust, innovation, and purpose-driven collaboration. Most importantly, it’s voluntary. No one is assigned to Pathfinder Development Program. They raise their hand.

We meet Pathfinders where they are, whether they’re seasoned operators or new voices with bold ideas. We equip and encourage them, and when the time is right, inspire them to run faster, lead stronger, and stretch further than they imagined.

New Pathfinders are welcomed through a structured onboarding experience that emphasizes clarity, connection, and contribution from day one. By integrating them into Proximity-Oriented Development Squads (PODS), we foster immediate belonging and create the conditions for accelerated collaboration. These early connections set the tone for a culture where trust is foundational and performance is a team sport.

Pathfinders are then invited into Development Trios—a core element of our growth model that connects individuals from diverse backgrounds in crafted reflection and freeform dialogue. These engagements sharpen leadership, build empathy, and strengthen the capacity to solve problems alongside others who think differently.

Throughout their journey, Pathfinders have the opportunity to engage with Hook Clubs—an intellectual crucible where bold ideas are tested and sharpened toto drive operational impact. The Hook Clubs inject momentum into current Pathfinder projects, offering a space for inventive collisions and practical breakthroughs.

The Pathfinder Coaching Program is the foundation of development and performance on the individual, team, and project level. Our coaching program is founded in science-backed skill development for leaders at all levels. Coaching equips Pathfinders with the self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and strategic vision necessary to lead at all levels. And for teams, we extend that support through Team Coaching—embedding trained facilitators into project groups and Development Trios to enhance communication, catalyze accountability, and unlock high-performance dynamics in real time. These coaches guide and elevate the entire team’s capacity to think, move, and solve.

Together, these elements form a developmental ecosystem—not just to grow better leaders, but to grow a better Air Force. One where trust moves faster than tasking, learning outpaces failure, and bold leadership becomes the norm.