Revisionist History A Tragedy in Texas | The Mistakes Series
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Apr 23, 2026 
David Goldfein, retired four-star Air Force general who led during crises, and Heather Wilson, former Secretary of the Air Force and congresswoman, recount the Sutherland Springs tragedy and leadership choices. They discuss reporting failures, ignored audits, choosing transparency, supporting the Texas community, testifying to Congress, and teaching leadership through institutional failure.
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Discovery Of The Reporting Failure
- Heather Wilson learned on Sunday morning about the Sutherland Springs mass shooting and that the suspect had been an airman convicted of a violent offense.
- The Air Force had previously been audited and told the reporting system to the FBI was faulty, but the problem wasn't fixed before the tragedy occurred.
How Institutional Process Fails Lead To Tragedy
- System failures usually stem from processes, training, or turnover, not malicious intent.
- Heather Wilson explained felony convictions should be reported by the Office of Special Investigations but the reporting step wasn't executed due to procedural breakdowns.
Take Immediate Ownership After Institutional Failures
- Own the institution's mistakes immediately and publicly to let the organization focus on fixing problems.
- Wilson and Goldfein released a prompt statement and held a press availability to state facts and the steps they would take to correct the failure.
