Ten Rules for High-Stakes Leaders: A Program Manager's Playbook from the Defense Industry

By Joseph Bartkiewicz

In Ten Rules for High-Stakes Leaders, veteran program manager Joseph Bartkiewicz distills over 30 years of defense industry experience into a practical field guide for leaders at every level. From the Stryker Double-V Hull to the MRAP and Abrams M1A2 programs, Bartkiewicz has led teams where deadlines weren't just about money-they were about lives and missions.

Through gripping real-world stories, each chapter reveals a core leadership rule-presence, accountability, integrity, empathy, communication, responsibility, influence, mentorship, and resilience-and gives you tools to put it into action immediately.

Each rule comes with:
A real-world story from high-stakes leadership
Actionable tools you can use right away
Reflection prompts to sharpen your style
A weekly practice to build habits that last

Whether you're a new manager or a seasoned executive, this book is your playbook for leading with clarity, courage, and character when it matters most.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FPTXJHCH
• ISBN13: 9798263584405
• Release Date: September 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 66 Pages
• Weight: 0.16 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 5.0" x 8.0"