DESERT DISRUPTORS

DAYTON, Ohio — In the world of bombers and acquisition, precision is everything. But on Jan. 28, Bombers Directorate leaders discovered that the same principles guiding a successful orchestra – clarity, trust, and unified purpose – also shape high‑performing Air Force teams.

That understanding is why, on a cold night in downtown Dayton, Ohio, roughly two dozen members of the Bombers leadership team gathered at the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center to move beyond theory and learn practical teamwork and management skills directly from the professional musicians of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra (DPO).

“The people who lead the organizations inside of our B1, B2, B21, B-52 teams are clearly ‘conductors’ of an orchestra,” explained Col Timothy Spaulding, Bombers Directorate program executive officer (PEO), during opening remarks. 

It’s not a new concept to think managing a team is like conducting an orchestra. Each violinist has a part to play, literally and figuratively. The same is true for an individual contributor at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.

Day-to-day, Bombers employees manage the modernization and sustainment of the Air Force’s total bomber fleet. The directorate supports Air Force Global Strike Command and delivers combat capability when and where it is needed.

LEARNING THE BASICS OF CONDUCTING

Uniformed and civilian Airmen enjoyed the rare chance to sit on stage among the musicians as they rehearsed pieces from Dmitri Shostakovich and Yasushi Akutagawa.

Before rehearsal, the Airmen gathered in a circle, some meeting each other for the first time. DPO conductor and artistic director Keitaro Harada introduced himself, sharing his background and how he approaches his work on and off the podium.

After the formalities and a quick primer on orchestral music, Harada had the Airmen “conduct” a little using a Sousa march as an example.

“Down! Up! Down! Up!” Harada said while motioning the proper arm movements, balancing a cell phone playing the music. The Airmen mimicked him as best they could, searching for the beat.

Adding a progression of difficulty, the maestro then turned on the “U.S. Air Force Song” and explained a different arm motion, saying “Out! Up!”


THE ORCHESTRA AS AN ORG CHART

Thinking of a typical organizational chart, a PEO or conductor would be on top as the individual in charge of setting the vision that everyone else follows. This individual makes sure everyone is working toward a unified goal.

Further down the org chart, directors and department chiefs align with orchestral section leaders to ensure each area is completing required tasks, making suggestions for improvement, and providing support and advice to subordinates.

Section musicians and individual contributors in a division apply their training and skill to specific tasks that benefit the department, division, directorate, and ultimately, the organization.

As artistic director and conductor, Harada said he corrects mistakes when needed but never attacks or badgers – he simply expects the issue to be fixed and not repeated.
“I have to be the person that, without saying, ‘Hey, play better, or do better, or be a better leader’ – [I need to] make them a better musician without saying that. And then let them do the best that they can and give them the environment to be able to thrive,” adds Harada.

Col Timothy Spaulding, PEO of the AFLCMC Bomber's Directorate, sits to the left of Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra conductor Keitaro Harada during a leadership event at the Schuster Center in downtown Dayton, Ohio on Feb 28., 2026. The Bombers Directorate leadership team attended a Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra rehearsal and met with conductor Keitaro Harada to hear about his approach to leading an organization like the DPO. Day-to-day, Bombers employees manage the modernization and sustainment of the Air Force’s total bomber fleet. The directorate supports Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and delivers combat capability when and where it is needed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jim Varhegyi)  Uniformed and civilian Airmen from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Bombers Directorate enjoyed the rare chance to sit on stage among the musicians during a Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra (DPO) rehearsal for a leadership development event at the Schuster Center for the Performing Arts, Dayton. Ohio, Feb 28., 2026. Prior to the rehearsal the directorate’s members met with DPO conductor and artistic director Keitaro Harada to hear about his approach to leading an organization like the DPO. The people who lead the organizations inside of our B1, B2, B21, B-52 teams perform as orchestra conductors said the directorate’s Program Executive Officer (PEO) Col Timothy Spaulding during the event. Day-to-day, Bombers employees manage the modernization and sustainment of the Air Force’s total bomber fleet. The directorate supports Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and delivers combat capability when and where it is needed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jim Varhegyi)  Uniformed and civilian Airmen from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Bombers Directorate enjoyed the rare chance to sit on stage among the musicians during a Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra (DPO) rehearsal for a leadership development event at the Schuster Center for the Performing Arts, Dayton. Ohio, Feb 28., 2026. Prior to the rehearsal the directorate’s members met with DPO conductor and artistic director Keitaro Harada to hear about his approach to leading an organization like the DPO. The people who lead the organizations inside of our B1, B2, B21, B-52 teams perform as orchestra conductors said the directorate’s Program Executive Officer (PEO) Col Timothy Spaulding during the event. Day-to-day, Bombers employees manage the modernization and sustainment of the Air Force’s total bomber fleet. The directorate supports Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and delivers combat capability when and where it is needed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jim Varhegyi)  Uniformed and civilian Airmen from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Bombers Directorate enjoyed the rare chance to sit on stage among the musicians during a Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra (DPO) rehearsal for a leadership development event at the Schuster Center for the Performing Arts, Dayton. Ohio, Feb 28., 2026. Prior to the rehearsal the directorate’s members met with DPO conductor and artistic director Keitaro Harada to hear about his approach to leading an organization like the DPO. The people who lead the organizations inside of our B1, B2, B21, B-52 teams perform as orchestra conductors said the directorate’s Program Executive Officer (PEO) Col Timothy Spaulding during the event. Day-to-day, Bombers employees manage the modernization and sustainment of the Air Force’s total bomber fleet. The directorate supports Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and delivers combat capability when and where it is needed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jim Varhegyi)  Uniformed and civilian Airmen from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Bombers Directorate enjoyed the rare chance to sit on stage among the musicians during a Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra (DPO) rehearsal for a leadership development event at the Schuster Center for the Performing Arts, Dayton. Ohio, Feb 28., 2026. Prior to the rehearsal the directorate’s members met with DPO conductor and artistic director Keitaro Harada to hear about his approach to leading an organization like the DPO. The people who lead the organizations inside of our B1, B2, B21, B-52 teams perform as orchestra conductors said the directorate’s Program Executive Officer (PEO) Col Timothy Spaulding during the event. Day-to-day, Bombers employees manage the modernization and sustainment of the Air Force’s total bomber fleet. The directorate supports Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and delivers combat capability when and where it is needed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jim Varhegyi)  Uniformed and civilian Airmen from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Bombers Directorate enjoyed the rare chance to sit on stage among the musicians during a Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra (DPO) rehearsal for a leadership development event at the Schuster Center for the Performing Arts, Dayton. Ohio, Feb 28., 2026. Prior to the rehearsal the directorate’s members met with DPO conductor and artistic director Keitaro Harada to hear about his approach to leading an organization like the DPO. The people who lead the organizations inside of our B1, B2, B21, B-52 teams perform as orchestra conductors said the directorate’s Program Executive Officer (PEO) Col Timothy Spaulding during the event. Day-to-day, Bombers employees manage the modernization and sustainment of the Air Force’s total bomber fleet. The directorate supports Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and delivers combat capability when and where it is needed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jim Varhegyi)  Uniformed and civilian Airmen from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Bombers Directorate enjoyed the rare chance to sit on stage among the musicians during a Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra (DPO) rehearsal for a leadership development event at the Schuster Center for the Performing Arts, Dayton. Ohio, Feb 28., 2026. Prior to the rehearsal the directorate’s members met with DPO conductor and artistic director Keitaro Harada to hear about his approach to leading an organization like the DPO. The people who lead the organizations inside of our B1, B2, B21, B-52 teams perform as orchestra conductors said the directorate’s Program Executive Officer (PEO) Col Timothy Spaulding during the event. Day-to-day, Bombers employees manage the modernization and sustainment of the Air Force’s total bomber fleet. The directorate supports Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and delivers combat capability when and where it is needed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jim Varhegyi)  Uniformed and civilian Airmen from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Bombers Directorate enjoyed the rare chance to sit on stage among the musicians during a Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra (DPO) rehearsal for a leadership development event at the Schuster Center for the Performing Arts, Dayton. Ohio, Feb 28., 2026. Prior to the rehearsal the directorate’s members met with DPO conductor and artistic director Keitaro Harada to hear about his approach to leading an organization like the DPO. The people who lead the organizations inside of our B1, B2, B21, B-52 teams perform as orchestra conductors said the directorate’s Program Executive Officer (PEO) Col Timothy Spaulding during the event. Day-to-day, Bombers employees manage the modernization and sustainment of the Air Force’s total bomber fleet. The directorate supports Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and delivers combat capability when and where it is needed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jim Varhegyi)  Uniformed and civilian Airmen from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Bombers Directorate enjoyed the rare chance to sit on stage among the musicians during a Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra (DPO) rehearsal for a leadership development event at the Schuster Center for the Performing Arts, Dayton. Ohio, Feb 28., 2026. Prior to the rehearsal the directorate’s members met with DPO conductor and artistic director Keitaro Harada to hear about his approach to leading an organization like the DPO. The people who lead the organizations inside of our B1, B2, B21, B-52 teams perform as orchestra conductors said the directorate’s Program Executive Officer (PEO) Col Timothy Spaulding during the event. Day-to-day, Bombers employees manage the modernization and sustainment of the Air Force’s total bomber fleet. The directorate supports Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and delivers combat capability when and where it is needed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jim Varhegyi)