Mission: San Diego Military

Holly Shaffner, the Vice Chairman and Director of PR for Honor Flight San Diego, joins the show to discuss their incredible life lifting program. Honor Flight takes senior veterans to Washington, D.C., at no cost to them, to honor their service. Each trip costs $300,000, with veterans and guardians traveling together. Holly shared stories of veterans like Dick Erickson and Tom Rice, who found new...

Michael Meyer, Professor at UC San Diego’s Rady School of Management, breaks down the latest defense economic impact report, showing how military spending drives jobs and opportunity for veterans. He joins the show to discuss military retirement pay, small business defense contracts, and why keeping veterans in California matters. Listen Where You Live! About SDMAC  The San Diego Military Advisory...

Rear Admiral Christopher J. Cavanaugh, Commander, Submarine Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet,  joins Mission San Diego Military to share inside stories from the “silent service,” submarine life, and warfighting in the Pacific. He discusses nuclear submarines, training pipelines, and high‑demand careers for veterans in America’s finest military city. Listen Where You Live! About SDMAC  The San Diego Mili...

David Hyman, Brigadier General and Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and the Western Recruiting Region, discusses recruit training, force design, and innovation in today’s Marine Corps. He joins Mission San Diego Military to talk eligibility, drill instructors, military families, SDMAC, and life in America’s finest military community for veterans and service members. Liste...

Welcome to a SPECIAL "fusion" episode created between "Spotlight" and "Mission: San Diego Mission" to discuss SB 1407, an initiative to exempt military pensions from California state taxation.  The episode took place on the USS Midway to support a press conference held by the San Diego Military Advisory Council and its CEO, David Boone.   In this episode, Charles Parisi, the CEO of Cloudcast Media...

Welcome to a SPECIAL "fusion" episode created between "Spotlight" and "Mission: San Diego Mission" to discuss SB 1407, an initiative to exempt military pensions from California state taxation.  The episode took place on the USS Midway to support a press conference held by the San Diego Military Advisory Council and its CEO, David Boone.   The special combined episode of two Cloudcast Media podcast...

Cpt. Henry Kim, Commodore Amphibious Squadron Five, shares powerful stories of Navy–Marine Corps teamwork, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and preparing for future conflict in the Pacific. He discusses expeditionary advanced base operations, unmanned systems, AI, and how his sailors serve the San Diego community through groups like Feeding San Diego. Listen Where You Live! About SDMAC...

Staci Reidinger, Co-Founder and Director of Cause San Diego, and Kevin Cortes, Co-Founder of Veterans Beer Club and Marine Corps veteran, discuss the real barriers of military transition, from losing purpose and camaraderie to navigating networking and employment. They share practical advice on finding community, leveraging mentorship, and staying in Southern California after service. Listen Where...

Maggie Meza, Executive Director of Blue Star Families' San Diego Chapter, and Chris Thorne, CEO of The North San Diego Business Chamber, discuss how Blue Star Families and business leaders create real careers, community, and belonging after the DD‑214. Learn about jobs, small business, and staying in California as a Veteran. Thank you for listening. About SDMAC  The San Diego Military Advisory Cou...

This episode of the "Mission San Diego Military" podcast, hosted by David Boone and Drew Schlosberg, features discussions on the challenges faced by transitioning military and veterans in California. They highlight the need to retain veterans, noting a decline from 1.3 million to 600,000 over 20 years. Jeff Forbes from The Patriot Group emphasizes the importance of veteran-friendly businesses and...

The conversation is a wrap-up of the 18th annual Achievement Awards hosted by the San Diego Military Advisory Council (SDMAC) and co-hosted by Drew Schlosberg of Cloudcast Media and David Boone, CEO of SDMAC. The event included a reception and auction to benefit the SDMAC Foundation. The podcast, Mission San Diego Military, was launched with the first episode, and the hosts expressed excitement fo...

In this special episode recorded at SDMAC's Achievement Awards, co-host Drew Schlosberg interviews Ron Stark. Ron discusses the Veterans Coalition's efforts, which involve over 150 organizations focusing on physical and emotional health for veterans. He emphasizes the importance of military spouses in supporting veterans and the need for employment opportunities. Ron highlights the significant eco...

In this special episode recorded at SDMAC's Achievement Awards, co-host Drew Schlosberg interviews Melody Scott, a Master at Arms in the Navy. Melody, originally from American Samoa, has served for 11 years and is being honored at the 18th annual SDMAC Achievement Awards. She discusses her journey, including her deployment to Bahrain, Japan, and the USS Ronald Reagan, and her community involvement...

In this special episode recorded at SDMAC's Achievement Awards, co-host Drew Schlosberg interviews retired MCRD Colonel Jim Grooney and Funeral Honors coordinator Moses Vercha Koski. Moses discusses his role in coordinating Funeral Honors for veterans and his transition to the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Jim, the Community Liaison at MCRD, highlights his work with external organizations and upcoming p...

In this special episode recorded at SDMAC's Achievement Awards, hosted by Drew Schlosberg and Rear Admiral David Boone, features an interview with Terry McCurney, President of the SD Mac Foundation. The event, the 18th annual SD Mac Achievement Awards, serves as a major fundraiser for the foundation, which supports transitioning military personnel in San Diego by providing scholarships and certifi...

In this special episode recorded at SDMAC's Achievement Awards, co-host Drew Schlosberg interviews Admiral Richard Jarrett, the Navy Region Southwest Commander, who discussed his role in managing 10 installations across six states, including California, Nevada, and Arizona. He emphasized the Navy's commitment to environmental stewardship, citing efforts like tagging turtles and preserving endanger...

In this special episode recorded at SDMAC's Achievement Awards, co-host Drew Schlosberg interviews Ed Musgrove, a longtime community leader and veteran. Musgrove discusses his transition from the Army to a career with the sheriff's department and his ongoing involvement with military-affiliated nonprofits. He emphasizes the importance of SD MAC in bridging the military and civilian worlds, highlig...

In this special episode recorded at SDMAC's Achievement Awards, hosts Drew Schlosberg and retired Rear Admiral David Boone highlight the San Diego military community's contributions and achievements. The 18th annual SD Mac Achievement Awards, a major fundraiser for the SD Mac Foundation, honors junior enlisted personnel and nonprofits. The event, held at MCRD Bay View Club, underscores the importa...

This episode of the "Mission San Diego Military" podcast, hosted by David Boone and Drew Schlosberg, features discussions on military innovation and community support in San Diego. Guests Peter Mirisola from Saab and Jake Windle from Harpoon Ventures discuss the creation of a defense innovation ecosystem in San Diego, leveraging world-class universities, military presence, and entrepreneurial inve...

This episode of the "Mission San Diego Military" podcast, hosted by Drew Schlosberg with Cloudcast Media and David Boone, the CEO of the San Diego Military Advisory Council, features Natasha Bliss, Chief of Staff at SDSU's Division of Research and Innovation, and Rachel Costello, Director of Innovating for National Security at UCSD. They discuss the innovation ecosystem in San Diego, emphasizing t...

In this episode, hosts Drew Schlosberg and David Boone discuss San Diego's military and innovation ecosystem. Guests include Captain Newt McKissick from the Defense Innovation Unit and Ellen Chang from Cap Zone. They discuss the importance of rapid innovation in defense, leveraging commercial technology, and the role of venture capital in defense tech. Challenges include supply chain issues, workf...

In this episode, hosts Drew Schlosberg and David Boone discuss the San Diego Military Advisory Council's (SDMAC) Emergency Action Group (EAG) and its collaboration with Feeding San Diego and the Armed Services YMCA, which are respectively led by guests Bob Kamensky and Frank Martin. The EAG was formed to address potential government shutdowns and emergencies, exemplified by the 2025 Murphy Canyon...

In this episode, hosts Drew Schlosberg and David Boone discuss the San Diego military community's resilience and support systems. The episode features Ashley Camac and Tracy Owens from Zero8Hundred and STEP, respectively, who detail their roles in the Emergency Action Group (EAG) formed to support military families during crises. They highlight their efforts during the 2025 plane crash and the ong...

It is RELAUNCH time for "Mission: San Diego Military"!  We are pleased to announce a new sponsor for the show, American Military University.   In this "preview" episode, Drew Schlosberg, the co-host of  Mission: San Diego Military since its inception, sits down with the new co-host, David Boone, a retired Rear Admiral and the CEO of the San Diego Military Advisory Council.  Drew and David discuss...