For the Zoomies

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with Goldman Sachs investment banker Loyd Bradley Jr ‘14 to discuss his experience as a financial manager in the Air Force, and how he transitioned to enter the financial services industry.   The views expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of the DoD or its components.   Andrew Cormier Newsletter:  https://forthezoomies-...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with Equity Research Analyst Kristov George '16 to discuss the ins and outs of picking stocks for an investment management firm after spending time as a developmental engineer. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (04:45) Time at the Academy (10:30) Learning how to learn outside of the Academy (14:50) Role of a developmental engineer (20:15) Goals of going to a...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with founder of Military-Transition.org Brian Niswander '90 to discuss what it takes to have a successful transition from the military. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (08:20) Time in Active Duty (14:30) What is  Military-Transition.org  ? (17:00) What data do you collect? (24:20) Key learnings from collecting this data (29:00) Aspects of a successful tran...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with Col Rob Mishev '99 to discuss his time in uniform as a management instructor, ALO, and how as a reservist he utilizes skills from his civilian job. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (05:40) Harvard Business School (10:00) What’s so good about teaching at the Academy? (15:40) What categories of reservist can you be? (22:30) being an Admissions Liason Off...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with OSI Special Agent Tobiah Kroskob to discuss how to become an OSI agent and what it's like to be one. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (04:02) Washing out of pilot training (08:07) Switching from pilot training to OSI application (10:30) OSI origin story (13:35) Improving your chances while applying (16:45) What skills do you hone during training? (20:2...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with Acquisition professional Charles Prichard '11 to discuss maintaining gratitude and the intricacies of the 63A career field. Time Stamps (00:00) introduction (06:10) Going to Kenya for 60 days (09:55) USAFA vs. Kenya (13:32) Carrying gratitude into last pick assignment (17:12) Example of working on a program as an acquisitions officer (21:25) What AFSCs...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with Foreign Service Officer Maj Austin McKinney '10 to discuss his path to diplomacy within the US State Department. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (04:55) Time as a cadet (14:47) Active duty Service Commitment (multiple deployments as an Acquisitions officer) (32:55) Harvard Business School (34:43) What is a Foreign Service officer’s role in the State D...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with David Harris to discuss his journey from working during 60 days to attending Stanford Graduate School of Business. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (05:15) Be the Best (09:06) Setting sights on Private Equity (PE) (17:15) Similarities & differences between AF Acquisitions & PE (23:10) What is Defense Ventures? (30:35) How to pick an MBA program (44...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with OLEA member Maj Ian Macdonald to discuss his time as an FSS officer. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (06:54) What is FSS all about? (10:54) Force management (15:08) Importance of keeping track of your paperwork (17:46) What is MPF? (Military Personnel Flight) (21:18) Deployed to Afghanistan (28:59) Tax free deployment benefits (31:28) Wing Executive Assis...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with Investment Banker Brandon Mueller '13 to discuss his path from studying math and physics, training for the Olympics in the World Class Athlete program, to pivoting to Investment Banking with the help of Skill Bridge. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (06:50) Not going to World Class Athlete Program right away (08:20) Time at AFRL (14:05) Wrestling and i...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with AFSOC Pilot & Venture Capitalist Forrest Underwood to discuss how his operational experience lent himself allocating resources on behalf of the operators. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (08:40) Rundown of time in AFSOC (18:40) What is Defense Tech and its tie to ACOL? (22:45) Valley of Death (26:00) Investor & Advisor Roles (32:57) How do reservi...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with Dover AFB JAGs Maj Hannah and Capt McClurg to get a rundown of what an LT can expect as a new JAG officer. The views expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of the DoD or its components. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (11:46) Law School Application Process (16:26) Responsibilities as a junior officer and promotion p...

Host of FTZ sits down with Principal Applied Scientist at Amazon Jack FitzGerald '10 to discuss his time as a nuclear physicist and how he transitioned to work on Amazon's Alexa language models. The views expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of the DoD or its components. Furthermore, Jack was not speaking on behalf of Amazon, and all opinions given...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with CE/EOD officer Capt Jonathan Reasoner to discuss his experience as an engineer and the path to becoming an EOD officer. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (04:34) Breakdown of CE Squadron (08:50) How to become a CE officer (10:50) Will you do engineering design as an LT (15:45) End up at any base in CE (16:20) RED HORSE and CRG (18:23) What is the mission of...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with former AFRL commander and now CEO of the Space Foundation Maj Gen (Ret) Heather Pringle to discuss her career in systems engineering and leadership. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (03:52) 1991 Denied recognition for Marine 18 (07:55) Projects worked on as a Human Factors engineer (11:37) Combination of engineering, physiology and psychology (14:45) Impor...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with Harvard Business School Graduate and now admissions board member to discuss his path after the Academy, doing everything from investment banking to marketing and sales. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (04:35) Experience in satellite acquisition vs. maintenance (10:55) Importance of curiosity (16:23) What guided your separation? (24:30) Case method teachin...

The host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with the host of the BLUF Finance podcast Erik Baskin CFP to continue the conversation around how to be financially responsible as a cadet and young LT. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (05:15) Common cadet financial pitfalls (09:06) Why is whole life insurance bad? (12:22) Why are payday loans bad? (17:20) How to notice pyramid schemes (20:22) Should you s...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with Maj Jim Behnke to discuss his experience as a Combat Systems Officer (CSO). We break down the day in the life, what aircraft you can be in, and the future of the AFSC. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (03:12) ROTC commitment (04:56) What is a CSO and what do they do? (13:50) How do you interact with crew members? (18:28) Pipeline to become a CSO (23:40) Ma...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with Acquisitions officer and Founder of many start-up companies Maj Bryce Luken where we discuss his time as an acquisitions officer as well as the challenges of founding a start-up company. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (07:24) Experience in Acquisitions (14:42) Do big acquisitions bases mean high profile programs? (20:20) Start-up while at UCLA (22:54) Wh...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with Majs Zed and Sam Davies to discuss their experience being a mil-mil couple and raising happy kids in the Air Force. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (06:30) How did you meet at the Academy? (09:35) Challenges of marrying right after graduation (11:50) How to manage different assignments (13:42) When did kids enter the equation? (19:04) Don't have kids...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with representatives of the Office of Labor and Economic Analysis (OLEA) to dispel myths around the old method and explain the new method of matching cadets to AFSCs. Listen and figure out how to improve your chances of getting the AFSC you desire! Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (03:15) Dispelling myths around Legacy model AFSC matching (09:05) What is the On...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with MSgt Josh White to discuss leadership topics like the role of a First Shirt in a squadron and understanding what intangible factors go into being a good officer. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (02:54) Why did you enlist? (06:20) Sam Eckholm is an asset to the Air Force (09:20) Jobs held (10:50) What does a 1st shirt do? (17:10) WHy is being a 1st shirt d...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with Anders Chair of Economics Col (Ret) Marc Dippold to discuss some case studies of human factors in economics relating to acquisitions as well some life lessons like rebranding and utilizing your network. Time Stamps (08:18) Effects of constant movement on family (12:38) What is the Anders Chair? (18:12) Case study from class (25:36) Importance of utilizing...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier heads up to Harmon Hall to interview the United States Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt Gen Rich Clark to discuss his experience as a cadet in the 80s, command experience, and how he does it all exceptionally well. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (08:19) Time as a cadet, year book quote (14:57) Cadet troubles now vs. 1980s (19:25) His Supt helping him get a pilot slo...

Host of FTZ Andrew Cormier sits down with Cyber Intelligence Officer Capt Pete Smith to discuss his experience as an intelligence officer. Time Stamps (00:00) Introduction (05:15) Story of cadet integrity (09:45) Why was Intel interesting as a cadet and did it ring true? (14:05) Pilot training to Intelligence School (18:01) Different forms of Intel collection (22:05) ISIS UAS story (27:01) Collect...