Episode 34 - LTG Jeff Buchanan – Leadership, Resilience, and Clarity in Chaos
LTG Jeff Buchanan – Leadership, Resilience, and Clarity in Chaos
LTG Jeff Buchanan, USA (Ret.), commanded U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) and led joint military responses to some of the nation’s most complex crises - from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan to humanitarian operations during Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Over a 37-year Army career, he developed a reputation for moral courage, steady leadership, and deep empathy for those he served.
In this episode of “Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker”, Jeff shares lessons from decades in command about leading through uncertainty, managing “gray zone” moral complexity, and maintaining perspective when the stakes are highest. We discuss his reflections on the January 6th investigation, the importance of prioritization in decision-making, and what America’s next generation of leaders must learn about responsibility, values, and resilience.
Whether you’re leading on the battlefield, in government, or in your local community, LTG Buchanan’s insights offer timeless principles for leading with integrity and purpose in a turbulent world.
Guest Bio:
LTG Jeff Buchanan commanded US Army North (Fifth Army), and after a 37 year Army career, he retired from active duty on 1 September 2019. LTG Buchanan was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry under the ROTC program after graduating from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Ecology in 1982. He earned a Master of Arts in Leadership Development from the US Military Academy in 1992 and was the Distinguished Graduate of a year-long international security fellowship at the Geneva Center for Security Policy in 2002.
He commanded at every level from Platoon to Theater Army, and his assignments include tours in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, 25th Infantry Division, 101st Airborne Division, the 10th Mountain Division, and I Corps. He served four combat tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. From 2016-2019, he served as USNORTHCOM’s Joint Forces Land Component Commander and led the operational-level military response in support of FEMA for five major hurricanes (Matthew, Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Florence) and in support of the US Customs and Border Protection Agency for SW border security. He has considerable expertise in both homeland defense and disaster response operations.
Upon retirement, he and his wife moved home to Patagonia, Arizona, where he consults from his home office. In addition to serving as a Senior Fellow for National Defense University’s CAPSTONE and KEYSTONE programs, LTG Buchanan serves as an executive mentor for Insideout Learning. He currently serves on three not-for-profit boards: Worldmaker Resilience Institute, 360 VA, and the Hummingbird Conservation Networks. Jeff also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Arizona State Parks and Trails, and is an advisor to the Board of Directors for the Autonomy Institute. He is also an advisor to the Vet Voice Foundation. Jeff is in the third year of his term as a commissioner for Arizona Game and Fish Department. He recently joined COCOM as their Chief Learning Officer. Jeff and his wife Laura have three adult children (all married) and eight grandchildren.
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