Background and Objective: The increasing complexity of military missions, rapid changes in operational environments, and continuous exposure of military personnel to high-stress conditions have made the enhancement of operational resilience a fundamental requirement for the effectiveness and sustainability of military organizations. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the effect of authentic leadership on the operational resilience of military personnel, with particular emphasis on the mediating role of psychological capital.
Methods: This applied study employed a descriptive-correlational design using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population consisted of 750 personnel from military organizations in Mashhad, Iran, from whom participants were selected through random sampling. Data were collected using the Authentic Leadership Questionnaire developed by Walumbwa et al. (2008), the Psychological Capital Questionnaire developed by Luthans et al. (2007), and an Operational Resilience Questionnaire. factor analysis (CFA) and Cronbach's alpha coefficients. Data were analyzed using AMOS software.
Results: The findings indicated that authentic leadership had a significant positive direct effect on the operational resilience of military personnel. Furthermore, authentic leadership indirectly enhanced operational resilience by strengthening psychological capital. The mediating role of psychological capital in the relationship between authentic leadership and operational resilience was also found to be statistically significant.
Conclusion: The results suggest that designing educational and developmental programs focused on enhancing authentic leadership competencies and psychological capital can improve military personnel's preparedness, adaptability, and effectiveness in dealing with complex and stressful operational conditions. Such initiatives can ultimately contribute to improved organizational performance and the long-term sustainability of military organizations.