Jeremiah "SMEEgle" Castillo

Retiring USAF Lt Col | 24 yrs defending the mission. Now building at the intersection of AI, logistics, and dual-use tech. Founder, Castillo Collective. Faith.

[Jeremiah "SMEEgle" Castillo @jcastillo4tx]

AI Will Not Replace You. It Will Redefine You. https://t.co/aKPnWNDKjq

[Jeremiah "SMEEgle" Castillo @jcastillo4tx]

https://t.co/5Vql5AebC9

[Jeremiah "SMEEgle" Castillo @jcastillo4tx]

Moving my articles to Substack. Here is the latest.

I had a great conversation with Bill Howard about organizational change and some of the frustrations I experienced on active duty. But the more we talked, the more I realized this is not a military problem.

As I work on my dissertation on Strategic Messaging for Effective Change within Organizations, I thought I would put some of these thoughts to paper.

The short version: your organization is biologically designed to resist the very thing it needs to survive. Status quo bias. Loss aversion. The amygdala treating a new process like a physical threat. The science has been settled for nearly four decades.

AI is accelerating faster than most organizations can absorb. The private sector is feeling it. The Department of War is feeling it. The gap between the pace of technology and the pace of human adaptation is the risk nobody is talking about honestly.

I know change is not something people like to think about, and many times change is executed without a full analysis of whether it needs to occur or how it should occur. I believe change should always be analyzed, strategized, and messaged correctly. Messaging continues to be the biggest limiting factor. Buy in is key. Without it, even the best strategy dies on contact with the organization.

#Leadership #AI #ChangeManagement #Defense #Strategy #OrganizationalTransformation #Dissertation

https://t.co/gE8BV3exOw

[Jeremiah "SMEEgle" Castillo @jcastillo4tx]

Check out my latest article: AI, Humility, and Leadership: Why Environment Matters for Humans and Machines Alike https://t.co/afhZMuaVFF via @LinkedIn

[Jeremiah "SMEEgle" Castillo @jcastillo4tx]

After more than two decades of service in the United States Air Force, it's time to close this chapter.

I'm honored to share that General (Ret.) Mike Minihan will preside over my retirement ceremony, and I'd be grateful to have you there.

📅 Saturday, May 23, 2026
🕒 3:00 P.M. (1500)
📍 Scott Events Center, Scott AFB, Illinois
🎉 Reception to follow

From air mobility operations to leading in some of the most complex environments our Air Force has to offer, this career has been defined by the people I've served alongside. Every mission, every challenge, every late night in the AOC — it was the teams that made it worth it.

If our paths have crossed at any point along the way, I'd love to see you one more time while I am in uniform.

RSVP & details: https://t.co/mf6zajeYk0
Attire is business casual for attendees.

Aim High . . . Fly – Fight – Win

hashtag#USAirForce hashtag#Retirement hashtag#MilitaryRetirement hashtag#AirMobility hashtag#ScottAFB hashtag#ServiceAndSacrifice hashtag#Leadership

[Jeremiah "SMEEgle" Castillo @jcastillo4tx]

@Walmart when ordering items we expect the packaging to be received in great condition as well. Do better

[Jeremiah "SMEEgle" Castillo @jcastillo4tx]

@BadgerFootball @UWMadison, we need to fire Fickel!!! This is the biggest embarrassment to the University. @UWBadgers, this is pathetic to watch. Bring back Badger football.

[Jeremiah "SMEEgle" Castillo @jcastillo4tx]

I could use your help with my fundraiser on GoFundMe. Please share, support, or donate—every small action counts. https://t.co/POzPaOeyHI

[Jeremiah "SMEEgle" Castillo @jcastillo4tx]

@AndrewYang AI deep research helped me win my small claims court when it provided a case that wasn’t easily searchable on the web. Gave me the tools I needed to win against an organization.

[Jeremiah "SMEEgle" Castillo @jcastillo4tx]

@emilymariiex Best dog ever

[Jeremiah "SMEEgle" Castillo @jcastillo4tx]

@GM , @GMC . @mtbarra, @ILAttyGeneral this happens at a IL dealership representing your brand. They place customers awaiting new transmission (17 Sierra Transmission issues) in an unsecure parking lot next to main road where thieves can just steal the wheels. Then they state they have no responsibility and that I need to file a claim on my insurance for their negligence of fulfilling bailment requirements. @Cardinal_STL has failed its customers and the GMC brand.

[Jeremiah "SMEEgle" Castillo @jcastillo4tx]

@GMC @GM doesn't acknowledge complaints. @Cardinal_STL has presented a terrible image for the GMC brand.

Cardinal Buick GMC was given my 2017 GMC Sierra to fix a bad transmission. I dropped my truck off hoping to get the truck fixed within a reasonable time. It has been over a month and no end in sight for a new transmission. Well today I get a call from Belleville Police Department that my truck wheels (22") were stolen and my truck was sitting on cinder blocks on the front and sitting on the rotors on the back in the dealership parking lot. The service parking is next to the main building and there is no cameras or security on the service lot. I asked what Cardinal Buick GMC going to do and they stated I needed to file a claim with my insurance as this is the same as me parking at Walmart or Movie theater. I stated I did not park in the parking lot, I pulled into the service bay, handed my keys and expected my truck to fix in a responsible time. The parts never showed and we were never given the option to take vehicle home as they already been working on the vehicle and had other pieces to finish. So now I have to find a way to replace $3k wheels, ensure no damage to the rotors and bottom of the truck since it is not on wheels, and any other damage to the truck. @Cardinal_STL doesn't care about safeguarding their customer's property.

[Jeremiah "SMEEgle" Castillo @jcastillo4tx]

@BvilleILChamber

Businesses Given the City of Belleville a Bad Name!

I took my 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 to Cardinal Buick GMC on December 28 due to the well-known transmission issue affecting this model year. On January 3, I was informed that they had just ordered the transmission. Three weeks later, they told me it could take up to three months for a replacement. As of now, my truck is still sitting at the dealership with no estimated fix date.

Then things got even worse.

I received a call—not from the dealership, but from the Belleville police— informing me that my truck had been left on cinder blocks and my 22” wheels had been stolen while it was parked at the dealership.

When I called the dealership to ask why the police notified me before they did, they had no clear answer. When I asked how they planned to resolve the theft, their response? "File a claim with your insurance."

[Jeremiah "SMEEgle" Castillo @jcastillo4tx]

@GMC

I took my 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 to Cardinal Buick GMC in Belleville, IL on December 28 due to the well-known transmission issue affecting this model year. On January 3, I was informed that they had just ordered the transmission. Three weeks later, they told me it could take up to three months for a replacement. As of now, my truck is still sitting at the dealership with no estimated fix date.

Then things got even worse.

I received a call—not from the dealership, but from the Belleville police— informing me that my truck had been left on cinder blocks and my 22” wheels had been stolen while it was parked at the dealership.

When I called the dealership to ask why the police notified me before they did, they had no clear answer. When I asked how they planned to resolve the theft, their response? "File a claim with your insurance."

[Jeremiah "SMEEgle" Castillo @jcastillo4tx]

@mtbarra I wish dealerships representing your brand would take care of their customers.

I took my 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 to Cardinal Buick GMC in Belleville, IL on December 28 due to the well-known transmission issue affecting this model year. On January 3, I was informed that they had just ordered the transmission. Three weeks later, they told me it could take up to three months for a replacement. As of now, my truck is still sitting at the dealership with no estimated fix date.

Then things got even worse.

I received a call—not from the dealership, but from the Belleville police— informing me that my truck had been left on cinder blocks and my 22” wheels had been stolen while it was being kept at the dealership.

When I called the dealership to ask why the police notified me before they did, they had no clear answer. When I asked how they planned to resolve the theft, their response? "File a claim with your insurance."

[Jeremiah "SMEEgle" Castillo @jcastillo4tx]

@GMC looks like I get to deal with your crappy transmission issues. New transmission required for 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 with 130K miles.