Hi, friend. I’m Jay.
Unlike most people who write about discipleship, I’m not a pastor—though I did spend a short season as an executive pastor at a large church, and that chapter matters in my story. But it’s not really who I am.
At my core, I’m a Mission Commander—someone who helps organize, equip, and empower people for meaningful missions.
I spent 26 years as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. Called an Air Battle Manager (“Thirteen Bravo”), I spent many of those year as a Mission Crew Commander aboard the AWACS aircraft and in NORAD’s underground command center in Alaska. In that world, we often said that if an aerial operation were an orchestra, and the different aircraft were the instruments—then AWACS was the conductor. We didn’t write the music, we helped everyone play it together. That’s been a consistent thread in my life: helping people align, step into their roles, and accomplish something bigger than themselves.
After the Air Force, I stepped into public service as Chief of Staff to Alaska’s Lieutenant Governor and later as Special Assistant to the Governor. Eventually, I found my way into leadership development, where I’ve spent the past decade coaching and facilitating with Academy Leadership, working with leaders across the country who want to grow in how they lead and live.
But some of the most meaningful parts of my life don’t happen in formal roles.
My wife Sonia and I have spent years opening our home to small discipleship groups—walking alongside friends as we pursue a deeper, more authentic faith. The more I study Scripture, the more convinced I am that the way of Jesus is the greatest mission of my life. I’m all in—Jesus is my Savior and my Commander.
Sonia and I have two grown sons, a daughter-in-law, and two grandkids who keep us grounded, laughing, and reminded of what really matters.
I’ve always been drawn to people who carry a fire inside—the ones who haven’t given up, even if they’ve been overlooked or underestimated. The ones without the titles, credentials, or recognition the world tends to reward. Jesus has always chosen ordinary, unlikely people to accomplish extraordinary things.
And if there’s one thing I hope to do—through my work and this community—it’s to help you rediscover that truth for yourself… especially if you’ve ever wondered whether God still has a mission for you.
Tell us your story. Help us get to know you by introducing yourself to the network here.
Learn more about the Dark Horses movement here.
Read some helpful articles here.
Jay Pullins has been leading and developing leaders and disciple-makers in a variety of settings for 40 years. He has a diverse background as a leadership coach, military officer, an appointed state official, and executive pastor of Alaska’s largest church.
As a leadership coach for Academy Leadership and Catapult Leadership Solutions, Jay has trained over 2,000 leaders in the last ten years, from Alaska to Southern California, in various fields from universities to military, construction, product distribution, government, manufacturing, telecommunications, energy, logistics, hospitality, non-profits, churches, banks, and a railroad.
A 1989 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Jay led U.S. and multi-national teams for the U.S. Air Force, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), NORAD, and the Alaska National Guard for 23 years. He led combat crews as an Air Battle Manager in Operation DESERT STORM, the conflicts in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo, no-fly zones over Iraq, and counter-drug operations in Central and South America. Jay retired as an Air Force Lieutenant Colonel in 2011
Jay served as Chief of Staff to the Lieutenant Governor and Special Assistant to the Governor of Alaska. He also served as a church elder and Executive Pastor for six years. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Politicacience from the US Air Force Academy, and a Master’s Degree in Adult & Higher Education from the University of Oklahoma.
Jay and his wife, Sonia, live in Anchorage, Alaska, and have two sons, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.