Mission Critical: Defense Recruiting

What happens when calculated risks pay off? You're about to find out! This week, we welcome 'satellite queen', Suzi McBride, a true powerhouse and leading figure in the industry. As the COO and board member at Iridium, Suzi brings a wealth of technical expertise, having started her career building satellites at Motorola and making significant waves ever since. Join us as Suzi discusses her transit...

What drives a seasoned engineer to become a leader in private equity, and how can a company transform its identity to align with a new strategic vision? Join us as Rick Nagel, Managing Partner at Acorn Capital, shares his compelling journey from technology to leading a major rebranding effort in the aerospace and defense investment sector. Discover how Acorn Capital evolved from focusing on early-...

Buckle up as Jim Cantrell, the maverick uncle of the space industry, joins us to chart his extraordinary journey from tinkering with household gadgets to pioneering projects at NASA's JPL. Now at the helm of Phantom Space, Jim is on a mission to democratize space travel, inspired by Henry Ford's principles of mass production. Get ready to discover how Phantom Space aims to open up the final fronti...

Could the key to achieving gender diversity in your workplace lie in courageous leadership and male allyship? Join us for an inspiring conversation with Fiona McKay, a distinguished keynote speaker and expert in courageous leadership. From her tenure at Rolls-Royce to founding Leading Ladies during the pandemic, Fiona shares fascinating insights on the essential role of male allyship in empowering...

This week, Alex Krutz, the visionary founder of Patriot Industrial Partners, takes us on his unexpected military journey, inspired by honoring his parents' remarkable sacrifices. Hear how Alex funded his education, navigated pivotal career moments, and became an influential aerospace and defense advisory leader. From his early days in the military to working with industry giants, Alex's story is a...

Get ready to dive into leadership shake-ups and dealing with unprecedented 'Oh Crap' moments head-on with this week's special guest, Daniel Gizinski, Chief Strategy Officer at ComTech. In this episode, Dan shares insights into his deep family roots and early career choices, including a strategic move to gain independent experience and how his impactful work with major players like General Electric...

Strategic Secrets for Smooth Mergers & Acquisitions with Ryan Murphy Get ready to unlock the secrets to successful mergers and acquisitions with this week's expert guest, Ryan Murphy, partner at Kal Capital. Kal Capital is a leading investment banking firm known for advising on major transactions. Ryan, who has been pivotal to Kal's growth, share his insights on what sets a lower middle market sup...

Prepare to embark on a captivating journey into the heart of a cultural revolution under new leadership with Michael Murray, the visionary CEO propelling Kopin into an era of innovation. From his childhood experiments building his own radio to his pivotal role in leading teams towards cutting-edge solutions, Michael shares his remarkable journey with Katherine, unveiling the secrets of successful...

Ever wondered how to craft a team of champions and a culture of mutual respect? Well wonder no more as we welcome Matt Jones, the trailblazing President and CEO of Sigma Defense, recently recognized as one of Washington's top executives to watch in 2024. In this episode, Matt pee ls back the layers of his remarkable story of transformation from a soccer enthusiast to a respected Navy cryptologist...

Prepare to dive deep into the realms of aviation finance and cross-border investments as David Yu joins Katherine this week. With his extensive expertise and global influence at the helm of Asia Aviation Valuation Advisors and China Aviation Valuation Advisors, David is set to enlighten us on the dynamic evolution of space financing, offering insider secrets to scalability and indispensable pre-va...

This is your reminder never to let setbacks hinder your rise to success. This week, embark on a transformative journey with Katie Selbe, aerospace and defense virtuoso, as she narrates her climb to the C-suite of Eqlipse Technologies post an unexpected career twist. From navigating the aftermath of 9/11 to earning a life-changing scholarship, Katie shares the pivotal moments that shaped her career...

Dive into the cosmic connection of preparation, grit and passion with Daniel Warren, Vice President of Sales and Programs for the Americas and Japan at Latecoere . Daniel's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Daniel has propelled the aerospace sector to new heights with his strategic prowess, securing multimillion-dollar deals with industry giants like Boeing and fostering dynamic growth an...

The trajectory of a career in the space industry can be as unpredictable and exhilarating as a rocket launch, and Lee Rosen's journey is a prime example. Join us as we delve into the story of industry superstar Lee Rosen, CEO of Think Orbital, unveiling his pioneering vision poised to disrupt traditional constraints and discover how his experiences, from overseeing nuclear missiles to facilitating...

Are you ready to uncover how data innovation is propelling aerospace and defense into a dynamic future? Join Torsten Welte, Global VP and Head of Aerospace and Defense at SAP, as he navigates the transformative power of data in reshaping the industry. This conversation is a blueprint for future leadership as Torsten discusses the balancing act required to prepare tomorrow's leaders, bridging the g...

"I faced life and death situations half a dozen times throughout my journey. The difference between surviving and dying was 51% to 49%." –   Wahid Nawabi. Buckle up for a journey from the war-torn dusty streets of Afghanistan to the forefront of defense innovation with Wahid Nawabi, CEO of AeroVironment. Dive into Wahid's extraordinary ascent, uncovering how his early childhood trials have shaped...

People make a business, and for the first time on the podcast, we are shattering the ceiling on all things HR with Times Microwave Systems HR Director Ashley Anthony. When Ashley swapped her athletic training gear for the corporate battleground of HR in defense manufacturing, she didn't just change jobs - she transformed the recruitment game. Through Ashley's remarkable story, we uncover the strat...

Embark on a journey from the frontlines to finance this week with the formidable force, Mladen Brkic, as we journey from his days as a wartime translator to pioneering success from a young age, becoming the CFO of Ultra Intelligence and Communications. Mladen's life story reads like an epic tale of resilience, adaptability, and the triumph of the human spirit as he talks us through the synergy of...

Imagine stepping off the beaten path to forge a new one — that's exactly what female powerhouse Kelly Hennig of Stoke Space did. This week, Kelly unravels the story behind her audacious leap from the security of aerospace giants like Raytheon and Northrop to the exhilarating frontier of a startup. Tackling the contrasting corporate cultures and the quest for impactful, hands-on work, Kelly unpacks...

Buckle up as this week we are taking you on an exhilarating journey from the adrenaline-fueled tracks of NASCAR to the stratospheric heights of the aerospace industry with Eric Wightman, VP of Advanced Materials and Processes at Karman Space and Defense. In this episode, Eric recounts his unconventional career trajectory, fueled by determination and a passion for pushing boundaries. Eric shares in...

Have you ever considered how space innovations elevate our daily existence? This week, we hear from the inspirational Shelli Brunswick. From the day she swapped her high school cap and gown for Air Force blues, Shelli charted a course that would break boundaries and redefine the possibilities within the space industry. Shelli's journey from an enlisted airman to a trailblazing leader in space tech...

Have you ever wondered about the immeasurable impact of a family legacy on a person's life path? Neil Thurgood, a retired US Army Lieutenant General, gives us a rare glimpse into how his military upbringing sculpted a career that defined innovation in space technology, hypersonics, and rapid acquisition. Neil's legacy in the Army is complemented by his current contributions to national defense, wh...

Get ready to embark on an interstellar journey with serial entrepreneur and aerospace titan Robert Feierbach as we hear how he is reshaping aerospace through microgravity flights and cutting-edge air launch services. Robert is the president of Maritime Launch USA and CEO of Zero G Launch. With three decades of experience, this episode is a cosmic voyage diving deep into an astonishing career that...

Putting yourself out there and embracing discomfort can be tricky to navigate. However, the reward is undeniably worthwhile. Industry veteran, entrepreneur and t itan of finance Vince Monteparte serves as a shining testament to this. This week, Vince joins Katherine to discuss his transformative professional journey, starting with his early fascination with aerospace and progressing through each s...

The time for disruption in Aerospace is now, and joining Katherine this week is the visionary Alex Ramirez of Collinear Group, to share the trials and victories that come with injecting innovation into a sector ripe for change and the excitement of bridging the gap and driving innovation in the aerospace industry. In this episode, Alex opens up about his bakery roots, his recipe for innovation, th...

Join Nicole Robinson, the trailblazing Chief Growth Officer at Comtech, on an inspirational journey through the dynamic realms of space and defense. Nicole's remarkable career includes orchestrating historical milestones like the 60th D-Day anniversary and championing the Women in Space Engagement (WISE) initiative. In this episode, Nicole delves into the critical topic of breaking gender bias and...