THE ED MYLETT SHOW — Leadership & Valor: A Conversation with Vice Admiral James Crawford
Date: February 24, 2026
Host: Ed Mylett
Guests: Michael Savage (personal development and leadership expert), Vice Admiral James "Jim" Crawford (President, Texas Southern University, retired U.S. Navy JAG)
EPISODE OVERVIEW
This episode features a powerful conversation about authentic, service-centered leadership and valor, with Vice Admiral James Crawford. With a career spanning military law, high-stakes crisis command, and university leadership, Crawford shares profound lessons on faith, humility, vision, and the real meaning of serving others. The discussion, guided by Ed Mylett and co-host Michael Savage, provides rich insight into making decisions by values, navigating leadership fatigue, handling adversity, and preparing the next generation for an uncertain future.
MAIN THEMES AND STRUCTURE
- Defining Real Leadership: Moving beyond “Instagram leadership,” the conversation focuses on servant leadership, service, and dedication to missions bigger than self.
- Leadership Under Fire: Crawford's experience during the 9/11 Pentagon attack and involvement in key military operations.
- Transitions and Motivation: Why Crawford continues to serve in education after his military career.
- Leadership Values and Practice: Humility, authenticity, and character.
- Vision, Patience, and Change in Higher Ed: Holding fast to a vision amidst adversity; transformation in education.
- Mentorship, Agility, and Lifelong Learning: Advice for young leaders, evolving views on strength, and handling fear.
- Partnership and Trust: Value of collaboration over solitary leadership.
- Reflection and Growth: Changing beliefs about leadership and the enduring role of faith.
DETAILED DISCUSSION & KEY INSIGHTS
1. Introduction and Framing
[00:58-02:22]
- Ed Mylett outlines an expanded show format, setting the stage for a conversation about leadership rooted in valor, service, and authentic impact — not superficial leadership tropes.
Notable Quote:
"Today's not about the type of leadership you see on Instagram, where it leads to a Lamborghini, but the type of leadership that really matters, which is servant leadership." — Ed Mylett (01:20)
2. Crawford's Core Values: Faith, Family, Service
[04:49–06:00]
- Jim Crawford identifies his lifelong guiding pillars: faith, family, and service — values instilled by his parents.
- Reflects on importance of making a meaningful impact and caring for others.
Notable Quote:
"The three pillars that should guide my life are faith, family, and service... What’s important is your fellow man. What’s important is how you carry yourself. What’s important is what you leave behind." — James Crawford (05:09)
3. Leadership Under Crisis — The Pentagon on 9/11
[06:00–11:15]
- Crawford recounts his experience inside the Pentagon during the 9/11 attack.
- Shares the immediate response, teamwork, and fortitude of military personnel.
- Describes the feeling of being present "where my country needed me" and how it shaped the rest of his career, leading to future leadership roles, including on-ground command in Afghanistan.
Notable Quote:
"Being in the Pentagon that day is the thing that I am so thankful that I was able to be there, because I was where my country needed me to be, to serve at that moment." — James Crawford (09:50)
4. High-Stakes Decision-Making — The Bin Laden Mission
[11:15–13:25]
- Crawford provides rare insight into watching over the operations to capture Bin Laden, being one of few legal advisors read into the mission.
- Emphasizes the privilege and gravity of providing direct counsel for decisions at the highest level.
5. Choosing Service Over Wealth Post-Military
[13:25–15:55]
- Ed probes why Crawford selected university leadership over lucrative private sector opportunities.
- Crawford credits his father’s advice to help others achieve a "rich and vibrant life" and finds purpose in continuing to serve and shape future generations.
Notable Quote:
"Think about how you enable others to have the same rich and vibrant life that you want to have... If you’re doing that, you’re doing something that matters." — James Crawford (14:18)
6. Education and Leadership — Lessons from Felician University
[15:55–17:31]
- Crawford shares how working at a Catholic nursing school, led by nuns, deeply influenced his approach to values, mission, and educational service.
7. Navigating Leadership Fatigue and Emotional Burden
[20:32–24:57]
- Mylett asks about managing the emotional load and “leadership fatigue.”
- Crawford identifies three foundational qualities: character, humility (the leader's greatest shield), and authenticity.
- Shares an impactful lesson: “Mission first, people always”—the dual imperative for all great leadership.
Notable Quotes:
"Humility is the leader’s greatest shield against the leader’s greatest enemy. And that’s the leader’s ego." — James Crawford (20:50)
"Mission first, people always. That has stuck with me. That’s why it’s not a burden... You can’t accomplish the mission without the people." — James Crawford (23:28)
8. Authenticity, Proximity, and Consistency as a Leader
[26:42–32:07]
- Discusses the importance of being authentically oneself and integrating values in both public and “unguarded moments.”
- Real leadership, especially under stress, is revealed in consistency and presence—not scripted lectures.
Notable Quote:
"Leaders must know you’re never unobserved. Someone’s always watching you... and that unguarded moment, if you’re not authentic, that’s the real lesson people take away." — James Crawford (28:47)
9. Vision, Transformation, and Belief in Higher Education
[32:35–39:26]
- Crawford talks about holding vision in challenging times at Texas Southern University (an HBCU) and the importance of belief, clarity, communication, and strategic patience.
- Quotes Maya Angelou about never letting yourself be defeated, and underscores accountable leadership.
Notable Quote:
"You have to get people to believe... Many defeats in life, but you must never let yourself be defeated. Those defeats are important so you can see what you can get up from and how far you can reach." — James Crawford (37:13)
10. Changing Landscape of Education and the Need for Agility
[39:26–43:08]
- Reflects on the impact of fast-paced change, AI, and the shift in job markets for graduates.
- Emphasizes the ongoing importance of liberal arts for developing thinkers, not just doers, and urges continuous, lifelong learning to increase agility.
Notable Quote:
"What we should be doing as educators is helping to unleash that human energy. They have to be constant learners... You have to be attuned to external trends." — James Crawford (43:08)
11. Overcoming Fear and Taking the First Step
[46:02–46:29]
- Addresses fear among young people about the future: “Fear is important... You can’t allow fear to freeze you. Every journey starts with that first step.”
12. Partnerships and Trust in Leadership
[47:27–52:04]
- Michael Savage prompts a discussion about productive partnerships (specifically with entrepreneur Brandon Simmons).
- Crawford stresses listening, honesty, mutual trust, and the collective drive to serve students as keys to success.
- Pushes against the stereotype that leadership must be solitary: “People at their core want to do well and be valued.”
13. Imposter Syndrome and Staying Astounded
[53:16–55:41]
- Crawford admits to often feeling “astounded” by his achievements and experiencing self-doubt before ultimately relying on training and preparation.
- Relates to students at Texas Southern who, like him, may not know how they’ll achieve their dreams but are determined to do so.
14. Lessons from Family, Faith, and Farming Roots
[55:44–60:33]
- Crawford shares the impact of working on his grandfather’s farm, exposure to both Catholic and Methodist faith communities, and the sense of investment and expectation from his family as a catalyst for striving.
- Emphasizes teaching his sons that service transcends uniforms and formal titles.
Notable Quote:
"Service is so many different forms... You don’t have to be in uniform to serve this country or your community." — James Crawford (59:43)
15. A Changing Belief about Leadership
[61:16–63:57]
- Crawford shares that he no longer believes a leader needs to be the “sharpest tool” or most knowledgeable; instead, what matters is drawing from a deep internal “reservoir of strength”—for him, faith.
- Talent and intellect alone will not be enough in the storm; self-knowledge and values sustain true leadership.
Notable Quote:
"You do not get to choose your time of testing, but you do get to choose how you’re going to respond at that moment." — James Crawford (63:53)
MEMORABLE MOMENTS & QUOTES
- “Mission first, people always.” (23:28)
- “Leaders must know you’re never unobserved. Someone’s always watching you.” (28:47)
- “Humility is the leader’s greatest shield against the leader’s greatest enemy. And that’s the leader’s ego.” (20:50)
- “Faith, family, service.” (05:09)
- “If you want to know the road ahead, ask those coming back.” (52:51, cited proverb)
- “Every journey... starts with that first step. If you don’t take that first step, you never know what that destination could look like.” (46:02)
HIGHLIGHTED SEGMENTS WITH TIMESTAMPS
- Family & Values: [05:09–06:00]
- Pentagon on 9/11: [06:00–11:15]
- Bin Laden Operation: [11:15–13:25]
- Service vs. Wealth: [13:25–15:55]
- Leadership Fatigue, Ego, and Humility: [20:32–24:57]
- Authenticity & Unguarded Moments: [28:44–31:24]
- Vision and Belief in Turnaround: [32:35–39:26]
- Agility & Lifelong Learning: [39:26–43:08]
- Imposter Syndrome: [53:16–55:41]
- Changing Leadership Beliefs: [61:16–63:57]
FINAL THOUGHTS
This episode offers a master class in leadership rooted in values, humility, and consistent service to others. Crawford’s perspective, developed through crisis, war, and educational transformation, is both practical and inspiring — urging leaders to find their reservoir of strength, invest in people, remain authentic, and never stop learning or serving.
For those seeking to lead with meaning, prepare for adversity, or cultivate excellence in their teams or communities, this conversation is an invaluable resource.