ASOG Article of the Month | July 2025
Source | Patrick Ryan
The front seat, the pilot, the commander, and the mission lead, often comes to mind when people think of leadership in aviation, especially in airborne operations. However, a set of flight controls or a commanding voice over the intercom are not always necessary for leadership in the fast-paced field of Airborne Sensor Operations (ASO). Usually, the systems specialist, tactical flight officer, or sensor operator quietly exercises it from the rear.
I refer to this as "Back-End Leadership.” Position and rank are irrelevant. It concerns operational efficacy, accountability, and influence from non-front seat positions. Back-end leadership is a mission-critical capability in today's increasingly complex multi-crew and mission-integrated platforms, not just a soft skill.
What Does Back-End Leadership Look Like?
Back-end leaders are the people in the cabin or mission bay who improve crew coordination, drive mission tempo, and provide clarity in the midst of chaos. They are the ones who:
- Keep the mission in mind in non-nominal situations;
- Provide timely, pertinent input without going beyond their designated roles;
- Recognize needs and match system performance with mission demands;
- Lead by example rather than by command; and
- Professionally speak up when safety, integrity, or results are in jeopardy.
These leadership styles might not garner much attention, but they frequently determine whether a sortie is successful or compromised.
Leadership Without the Title
The person in the back may not have command authority or the highest rank in many ASO roles. However, exercising leadership involves:
- Situational Awareness: Seeing the wider picture from the mission perspective;
- Initiative: Acting without waiting to be told;
- Communication: Providing succinct, helpful inputs that improve crew performance;
- Calm Under Pressure: Being the voice of reason when others are at their most agitated
This type of leadership requires presence, competence, and trust rather than stripes.
Why It Matters in the ASO World
Data streams, multi-sensor platforms, and inter-agency coordination are all part of the increasingly complex airborne sensor operations. The importance of back-end leadership only rises with mission complexity. To keep the mission on course, front-seat decision-makers depend on the experience and advice of their back-seat counterparts.
Back-end leadership makes sure that the sensor operator is actively contributing to crew effectiveness and mission success, rather than just "running the sensor," whether in utility patrol, ISR, environmental monitoring, or law enforcement.
Cultivating Back-End Leaders
Companies can support this kind of leadership by:
- Promoting professional growth beyond technical instruction;
- Giving sensor operators a voice and accountability;
- Establishing cultures that value initiative and feedback; and
- Acknowledging contributions, even those made in the background.
Our knowledge of who leads—and how—must change along with airborne operations. It's time to broaden our perspective and recognize the vital leadership taking place in the back of the plane.
Final Thoughts
Supporting professionals who lead from every seat is something we at ASOG are proud to do. The results of every flight are shaped by your leadership skills, whether you are in charge of mission systems, on the sensor, or at the stick.
The next time you hear the term "leadership in aviation," keep in mind that sometimes the person in the back seat has the most influence.
In this article, we explored the concept of Back-End Leadership—what it looks like, why it matters, and how it impacts airborne operations. Now, to illustrate those traits in action, Part II (August, 2025) tells the fictional story of Recon Riggins, a seasoned aerial sensor operator whose calm influence and behind-the-scenes leadership are key to mission success.
Comments
Thanks David Bradshaw I love your storie...spot on...I can relate to it, i.e., Young Navigator, over the north pole, before the dawn of GPS, flying in Grid and taking cel shots...my crew mates keep asking me if I need coffee or a sandwich...Yes, I was a rock star at the little moment
Patrick R.
Excellent perspective, Patrick!
Back in the day when we had only one radar display in the aircraft, "down the back", when we got stuck in really bad weather (thunderies over the Iron Highway or South China Sea come to mind), you can bet the crew looked to the leadership of the radar operator to get us out safely. And he was often the most junior member of the crew. The non-technical skills you list in your first lot of bullet points are spot on - a tall order for a young, green ASO, but one for which our training prepared us.