About The Webinar
In this webinar, CAVU CEO Dave Burnham—retired Navy Commander and longtime leader in high-risk operations—will break down what actually separates teams that contain problems from teams that watch them escalate. The core idea is simple: under stress, people don’t magically become better—they default to what’s been practiced. Dave will translate that into real-world leadership: how to build readiness before things get tense, so your team stays calm, communicates clearly, and makes aligned decisions when it counts. Expect practical, repeatable leadership behaviors—not “check-the-box” training—covering how leaders set the conditions for steady execution: clear expectations, shared language, simple planning rhythms, and presence that stabilizes the room. If you’ve ever lived through an incident that didn’t go well, this session will resonate—and it will leave you with a playbook you can apply immediately using CAVU’s Leadership PRO + Executive Presence.
What You'll Learn
- Why teams default to their practiced habits under pressure—and how to build the right habits before stress hits.
- The leadership behaviors that help teams contain issues early instead of letting them escalate.
- How to create calm, clear communication in the middle of uncertainty using shared language and simple cues.
- Practical ways leaders set conditions for execution: clear expectations, planning rhythms, and decision alignment.
- How executive presence (how you show up) directly impacts team performance (how work gets done).
- A repeatable “ready-before-it’s-hard” approach attendees can apply immediately using Leadership PRO + Executive Presence.
Meet The Speakers
Dave Burnham CEO, CAVU International
Dave “Burner” Burnham is CEO of CAVU and a retired U.S. Navy Commander who has spent his career building teams that communicate clearly and execute reliably under pressure—first in Naval Strike Fighter Aviation and Naval Nuclear Propulsion, and later in oil and gas executive leadership. A U.S. Naval Academy engineering graduate and Distinguished Graduate of both Naval Flight School and Naval Nuclear Propulsion School, Dave commanded the Navy’s newest strike fighter squadron and served as Executive Officer aboard a nuclear aircraft carrier responsible for over 5,000 personnel. After military service, he led international operations and business growth across four continents. In this webinar, he translates those lessons into practical leadership behaviors that build calm, connection, and performance when it counts.
Who Should Attend
- Operations managers, drilling/completions managers
- Production managers
- Asset/field leadership teams
- Project managers
- Turnaround/shutdown managers
- Operational Excellence / Human Performance / Reliability leaders
Webinar Objectives
- Explain how stress affects team performance and why preparation beats reaction every time.
- Identify the early indicators of escalation and apply leader actions that keep events contained.
- Use simple leadership practices to drive alignment: set expectations, clarify roles, and communicate decisively.
- Implement a lightweight planning rhythm (before/during/after) that builds readiness during normal operations.
- Demonstrate executive presence behaviors that stabilize the team and improve coordination under pressure.
- Leave with a practical playbook for strengthening calm, connection, and execution on the job.
