Jun 9, 2026 · 28 min · 10 segments
What is a leader's first responsibility? Drawing on lessons from the Marine Corps, law enforcement, counseling, and local government, Wayne Handley, PhD, shares one of the most important insights of…
Wayne HandleyGuest
Matt LehrmanHost
From Social Prosperity Partners, this is Community Catalysts, conversations with local leaders reflecting on the hard-earned lessons of public leadership.
What I took from my experience in the Marine Corps was leaders have two responsibilities, mission accomplishment and troop welfare.
That's Wayne Hambly, interim city manager for Buena Vista, Virginia, and the city's former chief of police.
In this Shenandoah Valley community of roughly 6,600 residents, Wayne helped lead the police department through a difficult chapter, rebuilding morale, restoring public trust, and strengthening connections with the community.
A Marine veteran, licensed counselor, and founder of Blue Oak Wellness, he now brings those same leadership lessons to the broader work of city leadership.
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From Social Prosperity Partners, this is Community Catalysts, conversations with local leaders reflecting on the hard-earned lessons of public leadership.
What I took from my experience in the Marine Corps was leaders have two responsibilities, mission accomplishment and troop welfare.
That's Wayne Hambly, interim city manager for Buena Vista, Virginia, and the city's former chief of police.
In this Shenandoah Valley community of roughly 6,600 residents, Wayne helped lead the police department through a difficult chapter, rebuilding morale, restoring public trust, and strengthening connections with the community.
A Marine veteran, licensed counselor, and founder of Blue Oak Wellness, he now brings those same leadership lessons to the broader work of city leadership.
