Derek Oaks releases leadership book Velocity

Retired Air Force Col. Derek Oaks has released Velocity: Creating a Culture of Confident Decision-Makers, a new leadership book aimed at helping teams move faster and decide under pressure. The book, out July 17, 2026 and now on Amazon, draws on Oaks’ experience as an A-10 fighter pilot and commander.

Why it matters: - Velocity targets a common business problem: capable people who hesitate to act. - The book argues that slower decisions, missed opportunities and leadership bottlenecks can weaken performance when organizations face fast-moving markets, artificial intelligence, geopolitical instability and other disruptions. - Oaks frames the book as a practical guide for building teams that can make sound decisions when the stakes are high.

What happened: - Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Derek Oaks released Velocity: Creating a Culture of Confident Decision-Makers on July 17, 2026. - The book is now available on Amazon. - Oaks is a retired combat-tested A-10 fighter pilot and former commander. - Oaks also leads Decisive Leadership, a speaking and corporate training company.

The details: - Velocity draws on more than three decades of leadership experience in environments where hesitation carried real consequences. - The book translates lessons from the cockpit, command post and boardroom into a leadership framework focused on clarity, trust, ownership and decisive action. - Oaks says the book is about more than military leadership and is meant to help leaders create the clarity, trust and confidence people need to make sound decisions under pressure. - The book highlights six leadership moves: create a clear vision, build teams that do not wait for permission, replace fear-based cultures with trust and accountability, prepare people to stay calm under pressure, remove leadership bottlenecks, and develop confident decision-makers. - Oaks is known for a calm command presence and for turning complex leadership problems into practical principles. - The book’s release will be supported by media appearances, leadership conversations, executive programs and behind-the-scenes interviews. - Those follow-on events will focus on readiness, trust, communication and performance under pressure. - Oaks’ LinkedIn profile is available here.

Between the lines: - The release positions fighter-pilot discipline as a business leadership model at a time when many executives are under pressure to move faster with less certainty. - The emphasis on confidence and initiative suggests the book is aimed as much at culture change as at individual decision-making. - The message also reflects a broader leadership trend: organizations want fewer layers of approval and more ownership at lower levels.

What's next: - Oaks is expected to use the book as a platform for speaking engagements and executive training through Decisive Leadership. - Media appearances and interviews will likely expand the book’s reach beyond military and leadership circles. - The release sets up continued promotion around the practical lessons of decision-making under pressure.