Robert D. Folker, Jr.
Rob enlisted in the Air Force in 1986 and commissioned through Officer Training School in 2001, where he was a recipient of the Colonel Dick Scobee Leadership Award. As a career intelligence officer and US Air Force Weapons School graduate and instructor, he has had numerous combat deployments and operational assignments. In his last duty station, Rob commanded an organization of nearly 500 airmen and civilians assigned to 40 different work centers across the National Capital Region to provide the nation a competitive advantage in information warfare. Prior to that, he served as a Checkmate Airpower Strategist at the Pentagon, where he developed strategies, plans, and operating concepts on topics of vital interest to senior leaders. Prior to his assignment at Checkmate, Rob oversaw the planning, programming, budgeting, and execution of various programs totaling nearly $8B to train and equip over 5,000 airmen to perform sensitive intelligence functions. He retired from active-duty military service in 2020. Rob is a recognized expert and a published author on intelligence analysis. He also serves as a church deacon in his community.
The Folker Lab
Provides the tools you need to enable critical thinking, rigorous intelligence analysis, principled leadership, and grounded biblical discernment for real-world decisions and growth.
Serious Thinking for Serious Responsibilities.
Ā The Folker Labās critical thinking and analysis courses train one to question assumptions, structure complex problems, and produce decision-quality intelligence using rigorous analytic standards. Its strategy lessonsĀ teach leaders to develop winning plans using systems thinking, clear future pictures, and focused campaigns. Its servant leadership and biblical discernment offerings focus on forming leaders who serve first, steward people and missions faithfully, and apply biblical wisdom to modern choices so they grow in both competence and character.
Online Courses
Rob offers one-on-one consulting and coaching sessions to help leaders and professionals think more clearly, decide more wisely, and lead with greater integrity. These engagements typically focus on clarifying mission and priorities, sharpening critical thinking and analysis, and translating values into everyday leadership behaviors. Clients gain a committed thought partner who brings decades of intelligence, strategy, and leadership experience to help them structure complex problems, anticipate second-order effects, and move forward with confidence.
Personalized Consulting & Coaching
The Folker Lab provides ongoing content and safe spaces to connect. Newsletters deliver concise, high-value insights. Podcasts extend this learning on the goĀ toĀ address real questions while respecting privacy and time constraints. Additionally, theĀ Lab uses secure, members-only online spaces, creating room for honest discussion, questions, and peer encouragement without noise or trolling. This offers a safe setting where professionals can wrestle with complex issues, share insights, and sharpen one another in a focused, mission-aligned setting.
Community of Learners
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