In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Led Klosky, Professor of Civil Engineering at West Point and the Dean’s Executive Agent for Design and Construction! Dr. Klosky takes us through his journey to West Point, discussing his commitment to equipping today’s Cadets with the necessary skills and leadership for their future roles through learning and inspiring innovation in tomorrow’s warriors.We explore the groundbreaking Cyber and Engineering Academic Center (CEAC), a project advocated by Dr. Klosky since 2008 to bring West Point’s STEM program to the modern age and designed to enhance the educational environment through collaboration across engineering disciplines in a cutting-edge facility.In addition to being a Professor, Dr. Klosky is the Dean’s Executive Agent for Design and Construction, helping lead the Academic Building Upgrade Program. Led has been at West Point for over 2 decades and advocated for the new STEM facilities at West Point starting in 2008! That advocation is now being realized in the the CEAC building, with Margin of Excellence elements including the 4th-floor Redoubt and the beautiful Gateway Bridge that will connect the CEAC and Mahan Hall! Our conversation also delves into the challenges of preparing cadets for modern warfare's ever-changing landscape, underscoring the vital role of innovation and adaptability. We discuss the significance of the Army's investment in advanced infrastructure and the role of private support in pushing the boundaries of what's possible in educational facilities. Discover how collaborative environments and cross-disciplinary interactions within these spaces can lead to significant breakthroughs and the added benefits of efficient study spaces that enrich the cadets' workday experience.Key Quote:“Our cadets in their senior year are doing a senior capstone project. Ever cadet. And that capstone project, we're engaging real army problems with real clients and producing real products at the end of that. That means machine shops it means computer facilities for prototyping. It means an engaged faculty that are right there with the cadets day after day. It means a lot of risk on the part of our faculty in that, in the old days, I knew the answer. When I walked into the classroom and I'm like, look, I'm a smart guy. I know a lot of smart stuff. You cadets need to know all this smart stuff. I'm going to put all my smart stuff that I planned up on the board with this piece of chalk. And then I'm going to give you a WPR in a few weeks where you show me you know all this smart stuff. And then we're all happy. And it's all very predictable and it's all good to go. The trouble is that if a cadet graduates today, knowing exactly what I know, I've failed.  I need to grow in them, creativity, drive to innovation, a desire to contribute in new ways, and I want them to think things I didn't.– Episode Timestamps:(00:29) Dr. Klsoky’s journey to West Point(5:15) Getting involved in the CEAC building(13:25) Bringing new recruits through modern technology(25:30) Bringing CEAC’s renditions to life–Links:Connect with LedLearn more about CEAC

In this episode, we sit down with the extraordinary Kathleen Hildreth, the 2024 West Point Distinguished Graduate Award recipient. Kathleen shares her awe-inspiring journey from a cadet at West Point to founding M1 Support Services, a company that stands at the forefront of supporting the Department of Defense. Her story is one of unwavering dedication, from her early days in Army aviation to becoming one of America's richest self-made women, as recognized by Forbes. Her success is not just measured in financial milestones but also in her philanthropic endeavors, including her significant contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project and West Point's initiatives.Kathleen Hildreth is West Point’s most commercially successful woman graduate to date. A member of the Glee Club and Protestant Chapel Choir as a cadet, Hildreth was commissioned as an Aviation officer. She flew VIPs in Korea and then served as a Maintenance Test Pilot at Hunter Army Airfield before choosing to remove the uniform in 1988 as a captain. While she left the Army, her service continued. After positions of increasing responsibility with Fortune 500 companies, Hildreth founded M1 Support Services in 2003. Through her leadership, M1, a nearly billion-dollar service company, has supported the DoD in over 43 CONUS locations and OCONUS in Iraq, Afghanistan, Chad, Djibouti, Japan, Korea, Germany, Lithuania, and 27 other countries. M1’s critical support earned the Army Aviation Association of America’s Material Readiness Award for Contributions by a Major Contractor in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. With her entrepreneurial success and exceptional leadership, Hildreth was the first veteran named to the Forbes list of “America’s Richest Self-Made Women” in 2019 and every year since. In 2023, Forbes also selected her to the prestigious “50 over 50” list.  Since 2020, she has served on the board of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). She was inducted into West Point’s Omar N. Bradley Lifetime Giving Society in 2023. Hildreth has addressed the West Point Entrepreneurs, cadet academic classes, and the Corbin ForumThe episode delves into her leadership style, the challenges and successes of being an entrepreneur, her philanthropic efforts, and her insights into government contracting and the future of innovation in this space. It also touches on the importance of culture, employee management, safety, and strategic risk mitigation in building a successful business. Key Quote:“Like any organization, having the right people in the right positions is one of the most challenging things that you can do, and hiring the right people. We're, we're fortunate that a lot of what we do is related to the military, so a lot of the people we hire are retired military, former military, they already have discipline. They already understand the mission. They're mission-focused focused and to a large degree, they're self-motivated and they don't require a lot of extra motivation. But, you know, we did something here, I was mentioning not liking the bureaucracy,  a lot of large companies will set up a, you know, a framework for this position is a You know, grade 10, step 3, you know, whatever, and it's very bureaucratic and you hire a person into that position that you try to fit in that box. Taking the entrepreneurial view to it. We said, ‘Okay, let's go find good people, and let's figure out what their skills are, and let's figure out the best way to deploy them in the organization, rather than to put them in this, you know, grade three-step, whatever.’ And that has really, I think, paid dividends for, for our management team.” -Kathy Hildreth, Managing Director & Principal for M1 Support Services;  Class of ’83 – Episode Timestamps:(00:27) Kathy’s career accomplishments(05:07) Kathy’s inspiration to attend West Point(11:03) Launching the M1 Support Services and springboarding into Gov’t contracts(20:35) Finding small business opportunities with the government (28:55) Recruiting high-end talent to your organization(31:50) Stepping into AI and Machine Learning(34:55) Keeping small businesses comfortable as small businesses (37:28) Engaging with contract officers(39:15) Learning to grow from failure (42:58) Mission first focused on culture–Links:Connect with KathyVisit M1 Support Services WebsiteSupport the Wounded Warrior Project

On this episode, join Sam Kazmer, Class of 2011, and Devin T. Adams, Class of 2013, as they reflect on their West Point legacies and how these experiences carved out their leadership roles.Sam Kazmer is a metro Atlanta native and West Point Class of '11. At West Point, Sam studied Economics and competed on the Nordic Ski Team. Upon graduation in 2011, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry and stationed in Vicenza, Italy, with the 173rd Airborne. Following service there, Sam was selected to serve with the 2d Ranger Battalion in Tacoma, WA. After sustaining training injuries during a parachuting crash while conducting an airfield seizure exercise, Sam was medically retired from the Army in 2017. Upon retirement, Sam and his wife, Sara, began their journey in entrepreneurship by traveling through North America, South America, and Europe to develop a concept for a craft brewery. In 2019, they returned to Atlanta, GA, and opened Elsewhere Brewing Co in October 2020. In September 2023, they opened a second location in Atlanta. Currently, Sam is the CEO of Elsewhere Brewing Co. as he continues to search for new and novel ways to grow Elsewhere as a business and a brand.Devin T. Adams, Class of '13 (D-1), is the CEO and Founder of What’s A Roadblock Beverage Company (WARBEVCO.), a portfolio of brands that currently owns two award-winning mezcal brands: Sigiloso and Mala Mía Mezcal. Devin T. is a Vanderbilt Law School graduate and studied Economics and Systems Engineering at West Point. Devin T. served as a Ranger qualified Fire Support Officer in the 173rd Airborne Brigade and as an enlisted Infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division, completing a deployment to Afghanistan in OEF XII.Join Sam and Devin as they discuss their time at West Point and how they developed an entrepreneurial spirit and strong leadership they use today in their small businesses.Key Quotes:“I'd say, you know, at West Point, I definitely,  what am I trying to figure out? I'm trying to figure out how to be a leader because I need to, I need to figure that out real fast because I guess I'm going to show up to the 173rd, and sure enough.  I show up to the 173rd, I'm there for two months, and we're in Afghanistan. And in the first month we're there two or three officers had gotten killed right off the bat. And I would say like four or five platoon leaders lost their jobs. So it was like I need to figure this out and the consequences are real.” -Sam Kazmer “There's just so much, so much care, like the sponsor system at West Point, I think is such a great idea. The professors, I couldn't really, I was being a hardheaded 19, 20-year-old when we were at school, but I'm just so thankful for all the, the professors that poured into me over the years.I think again, back to our economics degree, I'm fascinated by how advanced the level of understanding that they were pushing on us was because I really felt like I  understood a lot of things from a very like from an academic and theoretical level.” -Devin T. AdamsEpisode Timestamps:01:42 Reflecting on the Journey to West Point04:20 The Challenges and Lessons of West Point12:45 Transitioning into Entrepreneurship15:39 The Impact of Military Training on Business20:26 The Role of Perseverance in Entrepreneurship23:07 Preparation and Planning in Entrepreneurship37:37 Applying Military Principles in Business39:14 The Importance of Teamwork and Mentorship45:11 Overcoming Failure and Embracing Growth55:18 The Power of Community and Networking57:14 The Future of Elsewhere Brewing Company01:05:02 The Importance of Mental Health and WellnessLinks:Connect with SamConnect with DevinCheck out Elsewhere Brewing Co. Check out What’s a Roadblock Beverage Company

This episode spotlights an engaging conversation with Michelle Tumolo, the Head Coach of Women's Lacrosse at West Point. Join us as Tumolo shares insights into her coaching journey, delving into her passion for lacrosse, the transition from player to coach, and the immense pride she takes in leading the team at Army West Point.We explore the evolution of lacrosse at West Point and the strides made in developing women's sports programs. Tumolo sheds light on the remarkable balancing act her players undertake, managing academics, and military commitments, and excelling as Division 1 athletes.Tumolo opens up about her unique approach to team culture, emphasizing the significance of building strong relationships with her players and fostering a supportive environment. Discover the philosophy that propels her coaching style and contributes to the success of the team.In an exciting twist, Tumolo shares her anticipation as the newly appointed assistant coach for the Women's U 20 lacrosse team set to compete in Hong Kong in 2024. Additionally, she reflects on the potential inclusion of lacrosse in the 2028 Olympics, expressing her enthusiasm for the sport's global recognitionKey Quote:“ For these young women to be focused on academics and, it's not easy academics, right? And then their military obligations and then to be a D1 athlete on top of that and a successful team. it just makes me feel so honored to call them my players, to be able to lead them and learn from them. You know, obviously, they're all becoming leaders and they're constantly learning every single day as they lead and as they get older and have more responsibilities, it's been an honor of a lifetime for the past few years. I think I've learned the past few years how to become a better leader as well.” - Michelle TumoloEpisode Timestamps:(00:06) Michelle’s career highlights(05:55) Philosophy on teamwork(10:09) Revealing the new women’s lacrosse staff(14:30) Women’s lacrosse in the 2028 Olympics(16:11) Plans for the upcoming seasonLinks:Michelle Tumolo’s LinkedInArmy West Point Women’s Lacrosse  West Point Association of Graduates

This episode features an interview with 1LT Evan Walker ‘21 and 1LT Tyrese Bender ‘21, recipients of the Rhodes Scholarship, a graduate scholarship program.1LT Walker served as the Cadet Second Regimental Commander, Captain of the Army Boxing team, and co-President of the Elevation Initiative. In the first year of her Rhodes Scholarship, she completed a Master's of Sociology from the University of Oxford and will soon complete her candidacy as a Master of Public Policy. She looks forward to serving as a Military Intelligence Officer at Fort Liberty in North Carolina.1LT Bender served as the Cadet Deputy Brigade Commander, a team captain for Army Track and Field, and will soon conclude his master’s degree at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, earning a distinction-level award for his Sociology thesis. Outside of his graduate studies, he volunteers as a coach for young athletes and competes in multiple long-distance charity races, as he prepares for his next role as a Military Intelligence officer at Fort Eisenhower in Georgia.In this episode, 1LT Walker and 1LT Bender talk about their experience at West Point, what it took to receive the Rhodes Scholarship and attend the University of Oxford, and how they look to continue the legacy of the Long Gray Line in the future.**This episode does not imply Federal endorsement.Key Quotes:“ I think just being able to continue to open your mind to just collect all this information while also making sure you have the time to reflect on it, which the last two years with GSP at West Point really helps, the time that we've had at Oxford has really helped. And so taking in information, processing it so that you can better have the best actions or responses to those stimuli that you're encountering, I think has been the biggest thing.” - 1LT Evan Walker“It was a long four years at West Point, and it was a long two years, as well, at Oxford. But I think the lessons that those years really taught me was just to remember how important it was to, not only understand and communicate complexity, but also to do so in a matter that is interpretable and motivating for the people that's in your organization. Because, as Evan mentioned earlier in this episode, it all boils down to people. And I think that not only the four years at West Point taking, you know, philosophy classes, physics classes, engineering classes, but also going through GSP and reflecting. And then, again, at Oxford being challenged intellectually, being challenged in our interpersonal relationships to widen our perspective, just makes us confront complexities and contexts in their raw form and being able to communicate them in a tangible format to people whose lives that they impact, I think is the sticking point for me from the past six years.” - 1LT Tyrese BenderEpisode Timestamps:(02:18) Experiences at West Point(12:22) Rhodes Scholarship program experience(18:09) Writing retreat at Buckner(24:33) The final competition(33:33) Re-entering the Army(41:16) Maintaining relationships(47:18) Experiential learning outside of the classroom(52:18) Key takeawaysLinks:1LT Evan Walker’s LinkedIn1LT Tyrese Bender’s LinkedInMAJ Renee Sanjuan’s LinkedInWest Point Graduate Scholarship ProgramWest Point Association of Graduates

This episode features an interview with Janet Petro ‘81, Director at NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center.Janet began her professional career as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army after graduating in 1981 from West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering. She was in the second class of West Point graduates to include women. Prior to being named Director at the Kennedy Space Center, Janet served as the deputy director since April 2007. During her tenure, she served a 12-month appointment at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. as the deputy associate administrator and acting director for the Office of Evaluation. Prior to joining NASA, Janet served in various management positions for Science Applications International Corporation and McDonnell Douglas Aerospace Corporation.In this episode, Janet talks about her journey from West Point cadet to her current role as Director of the Kennedy Space Center, her fascinating conversation with Elon Musk and partnering with SpaceX, and what to expect from NASA in the near future.-----Key Quotes:“I think West Point was instrumental. I often talk about West Point as being sort of the foundational experience for who I am today. I was 17 years old when I went there. I had a, you know, handful of jobs, but nothing so immersive an experience as going to a place like West Point where, again, it's a very intensive training process. There's the academics, there's of course the military training, and of course all the stuff we go out in the field and learn to do. But what it did, you know, when you're young and you're 17, you're really not that confident, you really don't know what you can and you can't do. But going to West Point and learning 'cooperate and graduate', like nobody did anything on their own. You survived by cooperating together on how to get things done. And so I think that value of learning how to be a good teammate, a good team member, was one of the most important things I learned there.” - Janet Petro----Episode Timestamps:(02:09) Janet’s background and experience at West Point(10:04) Current role as Director of the Kennedy Space Center(17:40) Mentorship and advice for cadets(22:06) Graduation and becoming an aviator(37:20) Upcoming NASA missions(39:33) Partnering with SpaceX and speaking with Elon(46:55) Astronauts and traveling into space(52:09) Final thoughts----Links:Janet Petro’s LinkedInWest Point Association of Graduates

This episode features an interview with Sue Irons Beachler, West Point class of 1989, and Veterans Service Officer.Sue received her commission as a Signal Corps officer from West Point in 1989. She is a Desert Shield and Desert Storm veteran and has earned the Bronze Star Medal and Senior Parachutist Badge. Upon completion of company command in Germany, Sue returned to her hometown, Canton, S.D., and has served as the Lincoln County Veterans Service Officer since 2015. Sue has also served as a WPAOG volunteer in various positions supporting Classes, Societies, SIGs, and her Region since 2017.In this episode, Sue talks about the path to becoming a Veterans Service Officer, her involvement within the WPAOG, and the importance of claiming the VA benefits West Point graduates are entitled to.-----Key Quotes:“It's our duty to file a claim or to use our VA benefits which we have earned. We raised our right hand to support and defend the Constitution, and in turn we went where we were told to go, we did what we were told to do, and we did all of that. But the handshake that the government gave us was, ‘when you're all done, we're going to take care of you’. And so, by taking care of us, those are our VA benefits, which we have earned.” - Sue Irons Beachler“I think the most important reason why we need, and this is what our program is hoping to do, is to educate graduates and family members. If we can make a difference for one person, if we can save a life by getting somebody that's struggling access to benefits that will help them, then we've made a difference. And so we can do that one encounter at a time, one person, one conversation at a time, and that will spread. And that's how, again, connecting all of us, the long gray line, so that we can help each other. We can grip hands and do that.” - Sue Irons Beachler----Episode Timestamps:(01:52) Sue’s military career(04:03) Becoming a Veterans Service Officer(06:44) Getting involved with WPAOG(13:55) Next steps in the program(19:46) Final thoughts(23:00) Spreading the word----Links:Sue Irons Beachler’s LinkedInGreg Gadson’s LinkedInWest Point Association of Graduates

This episode features an interview with LTC McKinley Wood, West Point class of 2001, and recipient of the 2023 Alexander R. Nininger Award for Valor at Arms.LTC Wood most recently served as the Battalion Commander of the 3rd Battalion, 304th Regiment, with the responsibility of providing weapons, tactical employment of crew-served weapons, and physical confidence training to the United States Military Academy. LTC Wood earned a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from West Point in 2001 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in Armor. He has served as a Tank Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Battalion Maintenance Officer during three Middle East deployments, two National Training Center rotations, a Joint Readiness Training Center rotation, and more. He has civilian work experience as a Design Engineer at Caterpillar, Assistant Chief and Chief Engineer at Bank of America, and as Assistant University Engineer and Associate Director of Engineering Services at University of Richmond.In this episode, LTC Wood talks about how to lead in asymmetric warfare through moral, ethical, and fair leadership, and how West Point taught him the most important lesson of all, the value of teamwork.-----Key Quotes:“The Academy really brought to realization the value of teamwork to me, whether it's someone trying to help me through the studying for an exam, or me running next to someone on a PT test or practice saying, ‘Hey, here's how you breathe’, whatever it is. The value of teamwork and how much more you can accomplish. There's a saying that says, ‘if you want to go far, run as a group. If you want to go fast, go by yourself.’ And I prefer to go far, you know? Go fast, get tired quickly, be done with it, and get passed. So the academy really pushed on us, if you failed, it's not because you failed, it's because you all failed each other.” - LTC McKinley Wood----Episode Timestamps:(02:26) Attending West Point(06:57) Becoming an Armor Officer(13:50) Favorite memories as a cadet(17:20) How to lead in asymmetric warfare(24:32) Stories from the battlefield(26:46) Leveraging connections throughout his career(32:18) Experience as battalion commander(36:14) Advice for cadets----Links:LTC McKinley Wood’s LinkedInCOL James Enos’ LinkedInWest Point Association of Graduates

This episode features an interview with GEN (R) Austin Scott Miller ‘83.GEN (R) Miller recently retired after nearly 40 years in the United States Army. He supported, led, and shaped the most challenging national security issues at the highest levels of the United States government. Most recently, commanding all U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. As Commander of the Joint Special Operations Command, GEN (R) Miller directed U.S. operations in complex geopolitical regions including the Indo-Pacific, Africa, Middle East, and South Asia. As the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, he led the initiative to integrate women into the prestigious U.S. Army Ranger School. He also commanded Assault Forces in Mogadishu, Somalia during “Blackhawk Down”.In this episode, GEN (R) Miller talks about his experiences as a Task Force Ranger, as the Commander of the Maneuver Center of Excellence, as the final commander of NATO’s Resolute Support Mission and United States Forces in Afghanistan, and his continuous involvement in West Point after transitioning out of the military.-----Key Quotes:“First of all, I go with the mantra, ‘leaders have never arrived’. I just think that's got to be our mindset and that there's this opportunity to always get better, always learn more, always improve your craft, understand more, develop more. If you keep that in mind, you're continually learning, you're as ready as you can be. You don't get another chance of being more ready. But if you take that approach and you're always trying to learn, then you'll be okay.” - GEN Scott Miller----Episode Timestamps:(02:31) Attending West Point(07:57) Task Force Ranger experience(15:43) Commanding the Maneuver Center of Excellence(20:27) Entering the private sector(25:27) Life after retirement(31:57) Transitioning out of the military----Links:GEN (R) Scott MillerCOL Sean MorrowWest Point Association of Graduates

This episode features an interview with COL (R) Mark Bieger ’91, President & CEO of the West Point Association of Graduates.Mark graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and commissioned as an Infantry officer. For more than 28 years in the U.S. Army, he held leadership positions at the platoon, company, battalion, and brigade levels, deploying twice to Iraq and receiving the Silver Star for valorous actions. Mark also served in staff positions, including on the Army Staff at the Pentagon, with the U.S. Central Command in MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, and with the U.S. Army’s Pacific Command at Fort Shafter, Hawaii. Prior to his retirement from the Army in December 2019, he served as USMA chief of staff.In this episode, Mark talks about his West Point experience and the highlights of his Army career, his mission and goals for the WPAOG and the Margin of Excellence programs they have to offer, and the importance of recognizing and utilizing the benefits of the Long Gray Line.-----Key Quotes:“Every university has a development office. Most universities have alumni associations. Only West Point has the Long Gray Line. And there's other universities out there in the nation that would like to achieve that ideal or that group, but the Long Gray Line is a powerful force, and our graduates and their families are strong, connected, active, and passionate, I believe. And at the core of all of our graduates is a genuine love for their academy and maybe even more so a commitment to other grads.” - Mark Bieger----Episode Timestamps:(02:01) Mark’s background and West Point experience(08:03) Highlights of his Army career(16:50) Transitioning from the Army(23:44) Goals and mission for the WPAOG(40:07) The Ring Melt(42:02) Margin of Excellence programs(47:30) Final thoughts----Links:Mark Bieger’s LinkedInDave Siry’s LinkedInWest Point Association of Graduates

This episode features a conversation between LTG Steve Gilland ‘90 & BG Shane Reeves ‘96.LTG Gilland currently serves as the 61st Superintendent of the United States Military Academy. A career Infantry officer, he has served in a variety of tactical assignments in Air Assault, Armor, Mechanized Infantry, Ranger and Special Operations units. He most recently commanded 2nd ROK-U.S. Combined Division in Korea, and has participated in numerous operational deployments to the Middle East, Africa, and Afghanistan throughout his career. BG Reeves currently serves as the 15th Dean of the Academic Board at West Point. He commissioned into the Army in 1996 as an Armor Officer. After law school in 2003, he transitioned into the Judge Advocate General’s Corps with assignments including Senior Trial Counsel, International and Operational Law Professor, and Deputy Staff Judge Advocate of Joint Special Operations Command. He has written over 30 articles and book chapters on the Law of Armed Conflict and national security issues and co-founded the Lieber Institute for Law and Land Warfare. In this episode, LTG Steve Gilland and BG Shane Reeves talk about encouraging conversation and fostering innovation at the academy, the exciting expectations for West Point’s brand new Innovation Hub, and announce this year's intellectual theme: innovation, technology, and the future of national defense.**This episode does not imply Federal endorsement.-----Key Quotes:“And you mentioned the talent that we have here at the United States Military Academy, that doesn't just reside within our cadet population, it resides across the entire academy. And it lends to the term that you've coined as the intellectual capital of the United States Military Academy. And I think that's something that we've got to remember, is that there is intellectual capital residing across every academic discipline, both cadet in uniform, out of uniform, experts in their respective fields, that have some really creative minds and can come up with great solutions for complex problem sets.” - LTG Steve Gilland“Necessity drives innovation oftentimes. I mean, it's risky not to innovate. It's risky to stay ‘status quo’. This is something that West Point can really offer, and thinking about the counter drone example makes me think about the high energy laser work that we're doing in an interdisciplinary way. There's 2nd Lt. Ashley Clegg and Cadet Mackenzie Arnes, both working on this counter drone effort with our higher energy laser program. But what's interesting about it is, one is a physicist, right, a physics major, and the other one's a law major, trying to think about how this works together. And I think that's the power of this place. I think the power is an interdisciplinary approach to innovation to get ahead of what we're perceiving as a future threat.” - BG Shane Reeves----Episode Timestamps:(01:55) Defining innovation(05:05) Innovation at the academy(10:03) Encouraging conversation in the military(18:20) Fostering experiential learning(24:59) Cross functional teams at Futures Command(32:16) Encouraging innovation at West Point(41:39) The innovation hub(46:01) Research as a form of education----Links:LTG Steve GillandBG Shane ReevesWest Point Association of Graduates

This episode features an interview with Degas Wright, CEO at Decatur Capital Management, and West Point class of 1985.Degas served as Corporate Treasurer for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), managing its reserve funds. He studied econometrics and received a Master of Science in Economics from the University of Texas at El Paso. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army after earning a Bachelor of Science from West Point. Along with founding Decatur Capital, Degas is also currently a CNBC contributor and is featured on CNBC’s Fast Money Half Time Report.In this episode, Degas talks about his experience transitioning out of the military, founding Decatur Capital Management, and his philosophy behind becoming a successful leader of character.-----Key Quotes:“Service is where I start as a leader. And I know that this was something that was instilled in me when I watched my father during his military service. I learned that when I was at West Point, the example of the upperclassmen assisting me with the swim test. Service is so critical for our leadership, for a leader's journey. And if you don't have service, you're not going to be successful as a leader.” - Degas Wright----Episode Timestamps:(02:10) Degas’ West Point experience(08:40) Transitioning careers(19:21) Founding Decatur Capital Management(26:04) Degas’ leadership philosophy(33:18) Involvement in Do More Together and AOG----Links:Degas Wright’s LinkedInDecatur Capital WebsiteDegas’ ArtworkIan Faison’s LinkedInWest Point Association of Graduates

This episode features an interview with Jeff Monken, Head Coach of Army West Point Football.Coach Monken has an accomplished background in football, both as a coach and a player. Before joining Army West Point football, he was the head coach of the Georgia Southern Eagles football team, and prior to that served under Paul Johnson as a running back’s coach and special teams coordinator at Georgia Southern, Navy, and Georgia Tech. To date, Coach Monken has served nine seasons at the helm of Army West Point football, the 37th individual head coach in program history. His career coaching record stands at 102-65 as a head coach, with a 64-49 mark at Army.In this episode, Coach Monken talks about where the team stands pre-season, the importance of optimizing player safety, the impact of conference realignment for Army football, and leaving a legacy at West Point.-----Key Quotes:“This academy, it's way bigger than any individual that will ever work here, coach here, teach here, go to school here. This academy, West Point, that's the legacy. We all play our part and we all contribute to the legacy of this academy. And, I hope our nation is here for eternity. This is the greatest country in the world and we have the nation's premier service academy and a national treasure here. And this place, I hope, will be in existence as long as our country is a nation.” - Coach Jeff Monken“How incredibly proud we are as a program to represent the Long Gray Line, the United States Military Academy at West Point, and the US Army. It is with tremendous pride that we put those uniforms on every Saturday and our guys go out there and fight as hard as they can to win. And that's a representation of the Army, because winning matters. And so our guys go out there and give their very best with those same colors that they're going to wear, and you can be certain that the pride of the Army and the pride of West Point and the Long Gray Line are living in the hearts of those guys every time they play.” - Coach Jeff Monken----Episode Timestamps:(01:53) Preseason talk(04:34) Quarterbacks and team captains(08:37) Optimizing player safety(15:39) Conference realignment(24:31) Legacy at West Point(26:07) Final thoughts----Links:Jeff Monken’s TwitterRich Demarco's TwitterWest Point Association of Graduates

This episode features part two of an interview with LTG(R) Robert F. Foley,  recipient of the Medal of Honor, West Point class of 1963. LTG(R) Foley held numerous command and staff assignments during his 37 years on active duty. In this episode, LTG(R) Foley talks about his remarkable journey in the army, invaluable lessons from his career, and dynamic strategies to empower soldiers during combat.-----Key Quotes:(16:29) “Let me talk with what I think is the most important leadership lesson learned, and that is the importance of listening. I found that in my 37 years in active duty that we leaders just don't spend enough time on the issue of listening. And so I concluded that leaders at all levels, squad leaders, battalion commanders, corporate CEOs, need to carve out time daily, if they can, just to listen. And I don't mean to a one hour PowerPoint briefing in their office. I mean, getting out of their office, going to the motor pool, the training area, the dining facility, the workspace where the officers and the NCOs and the soldiers are working. And turn off the transmitter and go into the receipt mode and just listen and ask questions and find out things.”(33:34) “Intuitively, we know that leadership and discipline and training are all factors to ensure that you overcome fear. But I found the most compelling motivation was this intense regard which soldiers had for their fellow soldiers. These were their buddies, their friends, their comrades. They'd been with them 24 hours a day.They would do anything to prevent their buddies from being killed or wounded. And it was kind of an unwritten creed. Soldier would say, I'm never gonna let my buddy down. And so, you know, I leveraged that. I said, you know, that that's an important thing.”----Episode Timestamps:(01:00) Commandant of Cadets(11:36) Advice for aspiring young leaders(19:01) Changes over time at West Point(23:10) Similarities in the current West Point experience----Links:LTG Robert F. FoleyDavid Siry’s LinkedInWest Point Association of Graduates

This episode features part one of an interview with LTG(R) Robert F. Foley,  recipient of the Medal of Honor, West Point class of 1963. LTG(R) Foley held numerous command and staff assignments during his 37 years on active duty. In this episode, LTG(R) Foley talks about his remarkable journey in the army, invaluable lessons from his career, and dynamic strategies to empower soldiers during combat.-----Key Quotes:(16:29) “Let me talk with what I think is the most important leadership lesson learned, and that is the importance of listening. I found that in my 37 years in active duty that we leaders just don't spend enough time on the issue of listening. And so I concluded that leaders at all levels, squad leaders, battalion commanders, corporate CEOs, need to carve out time daily, if they can, just to listen. And I don't mean to a one hour PowerPoint briefing in their office. I mean, getting out of their office, going to the motor pool, the training area, the dining facility, the workspace where the officers and the NCOs and the soldiers are working. And turn off the transmitter and go into the receipt mode and just listen and ask questions and find out things.”(33:34) “Intuitively, we know that leadership and discipline and training are all factors to ensure that you overcome fear. But I found the most compelling motivation was this intense regard which soldiers had for their fellow soldiers. These were their buddies, their friends, their comrades. They'd been with them 24 hours a day.They would do anything to prevent their buddies from being killed or wounded. And it was kind of an unwritten creed. Soldier would say, I'm never gonna let my buddy down. And so, you know, I leveraged that. I said, you know, that that's an important thing.”----Episode Timestamps:(01:00) LTG Foley’s journey(06:08) Reliving the most vivid memory of R-Day(08:08) LTG Foley’s best assignments in the army(17:22) Invaluable lessons from LTG Foley's career (22:58) Significance of institutional values in leadership(30:27) Timeless lessons from history(32:53) Strategies to empower soldiers to conquer fear during combat(35:53) Story of the Medal of Honor recognition during tour in Vietnam----Links:LTG Robert F. FoleyDavid Siry’s LinkedInWest Point Association of Graduates

This episode features an interview with Kyle Maggard, West Point grad, class of 2012, CEO and Founder at Over Easy Foods, a healthy snack food company with the mission to help Americans live healthier and happier lives.Kyle served five years as an Army Engineer before enrolling at Harvard Business School to launch his career goal of becoming an entrepreneur. Now, his products are distributed nationally with grocery stores such as Whole Foods, Wegman's, Sprouts, and can be found on college campuses, hotels, airports, and professional locker rooms across the country.In this episode, Kyle talks about his dream of always serving the country, the trials and tribulations of creating his own startup, and the importance of eating a truly healthy breakfast.-----------Key Quote“If you think you're going to do anything alone, if you think you're going to come up with the next great idea alone, or just do things without guidance, you're just missing the point. And, I think, the benefit of West Point is that you have all of those people there ready to help you. The sad reality is when you get to the business world, that's not the case. You know, you can get investors, and I've been fortunate enough to get like a great network of investors and advisors, but you have to work to make those relationships. At West Point, you just look around and, like, everybody is there like, ‘yeah, I'll give you some help’. So, I think getting in a habit of utilizing the resources around you, building relationships, and asking for help when you need help is a great set of principles people who are already independent minded, who are already driven, right, who are willing to do things alone if they had to, but we don't have to. We can utilize help. And so, that's the thing that I think people, especially cadets at West Point, might not take full advantage of, but when you leave you will realize that there's no other place like it.” - Kyle Maggard-----------Episode Timestamps(02:39) Kyle’s background and experience West Point(07:28) The origin behind Over Easy(17:00) Creating the perfect product(24:01) Successes and failures in entrepreneurship(33:03) The single most impactful moment in his journey(35:36) Key takeaways and advice-----------LinksKyle Maggard LinkedInOver Easy Foods WebsiteJoseph Kopser’s LinkedInWest Point Association of Graduates

This episode features an interview with COL Nick Gist, Head of the Department of Physical Education at West Point, class of 1994, and Dr. Jesse Germain, Director of Kinesiology at West Point, class of 1987.COL Nick Gist is a bronze star recipient, serves as the Master of the Sword at West Point, and holds a PhD in Exercise Physiology. Dr. Jesse Germain is a retired Colonel. He holds a PhD in Health and Human Performance and is an Academy Professor.In this episode, COL Gist and COL(R) Dr. Germain talk about changes in the culture of physical education over time, the importance of the Physical Program Assessment Plan, and how cadets can manage dealing with mental toughness in servitude.-----------Key Quotes“We have five domains under the H2F concept that the Army's provided us now. And I'll leave physical readiness off to the side for a second. The other four non-physical domains are mental, nutritional, sleep, and spiritual. And so I think those form the foundation of our readiness. If that foundation is strong, then the physical readiness will follow. I hope that can make sense for folk, but if we can define our purpose through spiritual readiness and commit to our values, if we can commit to a strong nutritional plan that fuels us for what our requirements are, both cognitively and physically, if we can engage in activities in connectedness through relationships that enhance our mental readiness, that foundation. And of course now I’ve left out maybe the most important, sleep readiness. If we can commit to the discipline and the sleep hygiene that leads us to a proper recovery, then we can place on top of that a pretty intense physicality that leads us to a readiness and lethality across our force where we can achieve greater things across any formation of any size.” - COL Nick Gist“West Point remains a very, very special place with very, very special people. Like any organization or institution, we have our challenges, but I think your listeners can rest assured that their military academy continues to produce really, really strong, young leaders who are gonna go out to our army and do really special things.” - Dr. Jesse Germain-----------Episode Timestamps(01:19) USMA DPE’s mission, vision, and core values(06:42) About the kinesiology major at the academy(10:51) Changes in the culture of physical education(13:11) West Point H2F program(17:59) Dealing with mental toughness(21:00) Army Physical Program Assessment Plan(28:07) Fitness education culture at USMA(30:04) The future of the physical education at West Point(33:58) Reach out to the DPE!-----------LinksCOL Nicholas GistWest Point DPEDr. Jesse GermainKinesiology DraftMAJ Nargis KabiriWest Point Association of Graduates

This episode features an interview with Sean Mullin award-winning filmmaker and West Point grad, class of 1997.Sean’s feature film debut as a writer/director — AMIRA & SAM — won numerous film festivals and was distributed theatrically. Following that, Sean co-wrote and co-produced SEMPER FI, and wrote and directed KINGS OF BEER. Now, he’s happy to announce the release of IT AIN'T OVER, Sean’s feature-length documentary about baseball legend and American icon, Yogi Berra.Prior to his filmmaking career, Sean served in the military. He was stationed in Germany as an Army officer, but finished his time as a Captain in the New York Army National Guard — where he was a first responder on September 11th, 2001. For several months, he spent his days working as the Officer in Charge of the soldiers stationed at Ground Zero — and his nights performing stand-up comedy.In this episode, Sean talks about his time serving in the national guard, how he made the transition from Army officer to Hollywood director, and the release of his first independent feature-length documentary, “It Ain’t Over”.-----------Key Quotes“ I get this a lot of times I'm like, 'oh, you went to West Point, you're a director, those couldn't be more different'. I go, honestly, they couldn't be a better fit in a lot of ways. I mean, yes, you need the creative side, right? And, I was very fortunate. I had a very creative father and I had a very creative mother. My mother was in theater and a very, super creative writer and all these things that she's done in her life that have been really, truly incredible. So, I had a very creative upbringing, but the structure from West Point and the leadership, you know, when you're on set and you've got 80 people looking at you, and you're supposed to shoot this massive scene, and it starts the rain comes in unexpectedly. You've got to move, you've got to motivate, you've got to get people inside, you’ve got to switch things around, you’ve got to go on the fly, you’ve got to manage egos. I mean, it is so similar to being a commander of a unit that, I think those skills are really, extremely transferrable to the film business. And, I've found myself to be extremely fortunate to have had those at West Point.” - Sean Mullin-----------Episode Timestamps(01:44) Sean’s background and West Point experience(05:39) Military career and life after the academy(10:46) Resigning from active duty and attending film school(14:50) Writing and directing It Ain’t Over(18:30) Sean’s first independent film: Amira and Sam(21:01) The Long Gray Line in the film industry(23:09) Advice for aspiring filmmakers-----------LinksSean Mullin's LinkedInJamie Enos' LinkedInWest Point Association of Graduates

This episode features an interview with Carl Owens ‘78, and Kafi Joseph ‘03.Carl has over 30 years of experience as a proven Army leader with extensive management and hands-on experience gained by serving in numerous critical acquisition positions that provided direct support to the Warfighters. Kafi is currently the Chief of Staff for Metro DC at Accenture. Previously, she led sports, military, manufacturing, and strategy teams in four different countries. She’s an Army veteran, certified project management professional, an M.B.A. graduate from Georgetown University and an M.S. graduate in systems engineering from George Washington University.In this episode, Carl and Kafi talk about the changes in diversity overtime at the academy, the importance of cultivating community through clubs and programs, and the strong legacies they left behind at West Point.-----------Episode Timestamps(02:12) Backgrounds and introductions(05:47) Experiences attending West Point(22:29) Diversity over time at the academy(30:15) Community through programs and clubs (37:11) Leaving a lasting legacy at West Point(48:51) Last thoughts and parting advice-----------LinksCarl Owens’ LinkedInKafi Joseph’s LinkedInMaShon Wilson’s LinkedInWest Point Association of Graduates

This episode features an interview with Dave Alberga, West Point class of 1984, and Board Director of GovX and Citadel Defense.Dave has assisted in the launch of numerous start-up organizations, including their growth into large companies. He led The Active Network from pre-revenue to $480M in annual sales, and a $1 billion dollar exit for investors. Prior to Active, he served as COO of the CitySearch cityguide business, helping to lead it into a successful IPO and investor exit. Dave holds an M.B.A. and an M.A. from Stanford University.In this episode, Dave talks about his experience and training as an Infantry Officer, how he values his West Point education, and what it takes to build a billion dollar organization.-----------Key Quotes“I didn't really have a sense for the level of education or the quality of the education I got at West Point when I graduated because I really didn't have anything to compare it to. What's really an interesting observation for me is that the more time I spent in my career, the more time I spent at grad school or with other really smart people who had gone through really good undergraduate programs, the greater realization I had that I got a really terrific education at West Point. And that's not propaganda. Let's be clear, I wasn't the greatest student at West Point. There were some things I was really good at, right, and it was mostly once you threw a rifle in my hand. I did okay in the classroom, not great. Despite that, I have come to the realization that the education I got, and that rounded education you speak about, in the foundational kind of skillset across a wide variety of functions, was a really great place to start. I got a much better education than I even knew, and it's taken me a long time to wrap my arms around that and understand that.” - Dave Alberga-----------Episode Timestamps(02:01) Attending West Point and cadet experience(17:11) Experience at IOBC and diversity at the academy(22:25) Transitioning into the civilian world(25:16) Takeaways from graduate school(27:34) Value of the West Point network(30:57) Building a billion dollar organization(34:10) Final thoughts-----------LinksDave Alberga's LinkedInJoseph Kopser’s LinkedInWest Point Association of Graduates