Moments in Leadership

HUGE THANKS TO JEREMY KOFSKY AND MIKE CIFUENTES FOR THEIR HELP PRODUCING THIS EPISODE . War is everchanging, but its nature is everlasting. Sergeant Major Troy Black, in one of his last speaking engagements as the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (and right before his selection as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman (SEAC), uses this mantra to guide the way he views Marines and the Marin...

‘The Enemy Doesn’t Care About Your Status’ - Upholding the Standard from the Front to Push Subordinates Forward. This episode is a unique and extremely rare look into what mentorship in the Marine Corps looks like and how Marines address each other and the issues facing the Marine Corps; head on. Lt Gen Bellon and SgtMaj Ruiz are the Command Element for both Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces...

This episode is a look towards the past and how the core of a good leader is timeless. Lt Gen Gregory Newbold, the Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) commander of Operation Restore Hope and later on the Director of Operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is a leader with an unwavering desire to be responsible to those he leads.   This episode provides a glimpse behind the curtain into a oft misunde...

In this episode of Moments in Leadership, host David B. Armstrong spends time with DUSN Victor Minella, otherwise referred to as “Dozen” where they spend time discussing various topics related to leadership from his enlisted time, his officer time, and finally in civilian leadership inside the Department of the Navy.   DUSN Minella covers the importance of leadership in making organizations succes...

In this episode of Moments in Leadership, host David B. Armstrong invites LtGen Dave Furness back to the show to discuss various topics related to leadership.   LtGen Furness covers the importance of leadership in making organizations successful and the difference in the interaction between the lieutenants and the captains. LtGen Furness emphasizes that leaders should be frequent in praising their...

This episode is filled with great "Moments in Leadership" with everything from becoming an aviator, transitioning to a new Type/Model/Series of aircraft, to a FAC tour with a ground unit   to leading a squadron. This episode is extremely valuable to all the leaders in the aviation community because he shares what it takes to perform and what you can expect from combat operations on the ground and...

1stSgt Shamus Flynn is currently the Inspector Instructor First Sergeant for Weapons Company 1st Bn 23rd Marines in Austin, Texas. Flynn is a prolific user of Social Media and has a considerable following on Instagram, where he shares not only his knowledge but the knowledge of others. What strikes me about him is that he is an early adopter of social media as a leadership tool, and he refuses to...

While the panel had a lot of different interesting conversations, one of the things that stuck out to me was a conversation halfway through where we talked about setting the conditions for efficiency and discovering the friction points that lead to those inefficiencies.   One of the recent reviews left about the podcast stated that they were amazed at how much actual connection there was between w...

Admiral James A. Winnefeld Jr. is a retired US Navy admiral who serves as the chair of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board. While on active duty, Winnefeld served as the ninth vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Listen in to hear valiant leadership stories from his military career, highlighting everything from Naval aviation to commanding Naval war ships.   James sheds light on wha...

Just a few hours before he packed up his home and set off to Georgia to retire, Major General Dale Alford sat down with me to offer his final thoughts on his 37-year-long career in the Marine Corps. Listen in as we discuss some of his most noteworthy lessons learned as well as the key things emerging leaders need to know to be successful in their career.   MajGen Alford reflects on the leadership...

Listen in as we discuss SgtMaj Black's experiences as a young Marine, a new NCO, and in leadership roles as a First Sergeant and a Sergeant Major. Hear him tell the stories of young PFC Black as well as his first experience leading his fellow Lance Corporal peers as a brand new Corporal. Hear about and learn what he did well and what he'd do differently. He sheds light on the importance of the dif...

Listen in as we discuss his most powerful moments of combat as a young lieutenant platoon commander, ambushed just moments after stepping out of friendly lines on his very first combat patrol. Hear him debrief himself and learn what he did well and what he'd do differently. He sheds light on how leadership is simple but never easy. He explains how he would adopt a more harmonious approach to compa...

This is a great episode with one of the most experienced combat leaders serving in the USMC today but also a leader with an incredibly diversified career spanning not only recruiting but also tours on Capitol Hill watching the sausage get made.  Listen in as we discuss the most powerful moments of leadership, pride, fear, and influence in David's Marine Corps career. He sheds light on how to make...

Listen in as we discuss leadership through the lens of Force Design 2030 as it continues to take shape and what this means for the future of the Marine Corps. Personally, I believe changing the Marine Corps to meet our pacing threats is imperative, but others think differently. So, we’re addressing both sides of the debate.    The U.S. Marine Corps’ updated Force Design 2030 plans continue to make...

Book mentioned in this episode (not an affiliate link) With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa by E. B. Sledge(2012-03-12): Books - Amazon Today, I have Major General Dale Alford, USMC on the podcast. He is currently the commanding general of Training Command in Quantico Virginia, which is not to be confused with training and education command or T com.  Training Command touches the entire mari...

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SEAC Colón-López’s only official social media is on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/seac.jcs or tag @SEAC.JCS    The SEAC’s hashtag is #SEAC4   The Joint Staff resources he mentioned can be found here: https://www.jcs.mil/About/The-Joint-Staff/Senior-Enlisted-Advisor/   The Bottom Line Up Front with SEAC podcast can be found on all major podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple, Audible, Google, etc....

Lieutenant General Bellon was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1989. Bellon began service as an Infantry Officer with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. He then served as a Judge Advocate with 1st Force Service Support Group. In 1997, he left active duty and joined the Selected Marine Corps Reserve serving six years with 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalion in a variety of posit...

Andy is a Marine infantry and special operations officer and has commanded in combat at every grade. As the commanding officer of the Marine Corps’ special operations regiment, he was selected to lead a multinational task force given the mission of defeating ISIS in Iraq. Andy retired in 2019 as the chief of staff of Special Operations Command Central, the headquarters responsible for the conduct...

Vice Admiral Boxall was commissioned in 1984 and went on to become a surface warfare officer whose time in the navy included the commander of carrier strike Group 3 aboard the USS John C Stennis. He had command of the USS Lake Erie the USS Carney and was the executive officer of the USS Hue city. He served tours as a combat systems officer aboard the USS Simpson and the USS Ramage and was a divisi...

Over his career LtGen Brilakis served in a wide range of assignments including artillery tours in 10th Marines, and several other leadership roles and command such as CG 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Deputy CG of III MEF and Commanding General 3rd Marine Division. In this interview, we discuss his time as a Lieutenant, his combat experience in Beruit, and how that moment shaped his leadership...

Retired US Army Brigadier General Craig Nixon discusses the leadership lessons he learned over a 29-year career through combat deployments during Operation Just Cause in December of 1989 where he participated in the airborne invasion of Panama as a Ranger, during the Battle of Mogadishu on October 3rd, 1993 (also popularly known as Black Hawk Down) as a member of Task Force Ranger where he led the...

In Part Two of a two-part interview, Retired Marine Corps Lieutenant General Bob 'Boomer' Milstead discusses concepts such as in baseball, a .400 hitter is considered for Cooperstown, while a 60% loser will be fired everywhere else. He discusses his "HEP" Principle (Humor, Enthusiasm, Patience), what he learned about giving second chances after some pilots in his command were involved in a fratric...

In Part One of a two-part interview, Retired Marine Corps Lieutenant General Bob 'Boomer' Milstead discusses the leadership lessons he learned over a full career as a Cobra Pilot, ANGLICO Marine, Squadron, and as an Air Group Commander. LtGen Milstead strings together lessons from several different experiences to give the listener insight into his personal leadership style which carried him throug...

In PART TWO, Major General Mel Spiese discusses the leadership lessons he learned as a Platoon Commander at OCS, his time as Commanding Officer of 2nd Force Recon, and as "Coyote 6" in 29 Palms. MajGen Spiese discusses the most impactful and crystalizing moments of his career through personal stories and reflections on his unique experiences.