Unbreakable Wings: Resilience, Cancer & Leadership | Derek Adametz

Episode Description:
Derek Adametz joins the VET S.O.S. Network for a powerful episode of The Scoop, sharing his extraordinary journey as a decorated Naval Aviator, cancer survivor, and author of Unbreakable Wings. This conversation explores resilience under fire, leadership through adversity, and what it truly means to navigate transition when life takes an unexpected turn.

In this episode, we unpack:
• Leadership lessons forged in the cockpit and the hospital room
• Battling cancer while preserving identity, purpose, and command presence
• Mental resilience, faith, and navigating uncertainty during transition
• How adversity reshapes leadership, confidence, and legacy

Whether you're navigating military-to-civilian transition, facing a personal battle, or searching for perspective on leadership and resilience, this conversation delivers real, hard-earned insight you can carry forward.

About the Guest:
Derek Adametz is a retired U.S. Navy Naval Aviator with nearly 30 years of service, a cancer survivor, and the author of Unbreakable Wings: Piloting the Impossible Journey Through Cancer and Naval Aviation. His story blends aviation, leadership, and personal resilience into a powerful blueprint for overcoming adversity and leading through life’s most turbulent moments.

Chapters:
0:00 – Welcome to The Scoop
0:30 – Guest Introduction: Derek Adametz
2:15 – From Farm Life to Naval Aviation
6:30 – Cancer Diagnosis & Shock
11:00 – Leadership When the Body Becomes the Battlefield
18:45 – Mental Warfare & Resilience
25:00 – Transition, Identity, and Purpose
33:00 – Faith, Endurance, and Recovery
41:00 – Leadership Lessons from Unbreakable Wings
48:30 – Final Thoughts & Lifeline Message

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