The High Ground

The High Ground Podcast - Episode 22 - John Foley, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command's Command Sergeant Major, and Master Sergeant Daniel Huddleston, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Center of Excellence Senior Enlisted Leader discuss the origin and details of the Army's recently announced 40D MOS (Space Operations Specialist). Released May 23, 2025. Produced by Ronald Bailey

The High Ground Podcast - Episode 21 - U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense School Commandant, COL(p) Donald Brooks, and Chief of the school’s Space Training Division, Rob Marquez, discuss the origin, changes, and scope of the recently released Army Space Training Strategy, and Army space training - in general. Far from a niche subject limited to Army space professionals, the ASTS and space trainin...

The High Ground podcast - Episode 20 - In recognition of his pending retirement after 36 years of military service and his fourth anniversary as the commanding general of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, and commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense, The High Ground podcast team had the opportunity to speak with Lt. Gen. Daniel L. Karbler. To begin, T...

The High Ground podcast - Episode 19 - Chief Warrant Officer 5 Wesley Dohogn, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command's Command chief warrant officer, talks about his his background and how he came to join the Army, his early career as a Short Range Air Defense Artillery - Soldier and NCO, and his decision to become a technical warrant officer. He also talks about the role warrant officers pla...

The High Ground Podcast - Episode 18 - U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command's 100th Missile Defense Brigade (Groundbased Midcourse Defense) celebrates their 20th anniversary, October, 2023. In recognition of this historic event The High Ground interviewed four of its earliest members and leaders to better understand the significance and complexity of standing up this one-of-a-kind unit, cha...

The High Ground podcast - Episode 17 - U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command's Dr. Keith Krapels, the recently appointed director of the USASMDC Technical Center, talks about his background and vision for the organization as they develop emerging space, missile defense, and high-altitude capabilities, and why what they do matters in defense of the nation. Released August 29, 2023. Produced b...

Short PSA about what the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club is about and the benefits of being selected.

Army Space Support Team 5 supports various U.S. Army Pacific exercises.

Welcome back to The High Ground, the official podcast of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. Kicking off Season 3 of the podcast, host Ayumi Davis talks with CSM Finis A. Dodson, USASMDC command sergeant major, about how and why he joined the military, his ‘loooooooong’ 35-year military career, and the special mentors who helped him become the person he is today. Released February 6, 2023...

The High Ground podcast - Episode 15 - U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command's Ronald "Beetle" Bailey goes back to his roots as a ground-based missile defense officer when he speaks with several Colorado Army National Guard Soldiers and long-time friends from the 100th Missile Defense Brigade - Operations Team to learn how they ensure readiness of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense crew memb...

The High Ground podcast - Episode 14 - Host Ronald "Beetle" Bailey and Mikayla Mast highlight the Army’s Space and Missile Defense School. School’s Director, Daryl Breitbach, talks about the school’s mission and relevance on the modern Multi-Domain battlefield. Later, four different Division Chiefs and Course Managers including: Robert Marquez, Brett Witherill, Dustin Lee, and Kale Murray provide...

The High Ground podcast - Episode 13 - Host Ronald "Beetle" Bailey and 1SG Steve Segin talk a brief history of the National Guard, followed by conversation with LTC David McDill, SMDC's Senior Guard Advisor, MAJ Andrew Schaaf, Commander, 1158th Space Support Company - 117th Space Battalion, and CW3 Andrew Knight, BMD Systems Integrator - 100th Missile Defense Brigade, to highlight SMDC National Gu...

The High Ground podcast - Episode 12 - Host Lira Frye talks with James B. Johnson, USASMDC deputy to the commanding general, about his 34-year civil service journey that took him from being a college graduate as an electrical engineer, all the way through becoming a member of the senior executive service and the command's highest ranking civilian. Johnson also provides recommendations to civilians...

The High Ground is the official podcast of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. In this Special Edition episode, released October 19, 2021, USASMDC Chief Information Security Officer Terry Carlson talks about the one year anniversary of the SUCCEED program, the many achievements of the program, and the direction of the program's future.

The High Ground Episode 11 contains several recent U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command news highlights and interviews, history and Cool Jobs segments, updates on changes to the podcast for season two beginning November 2021, and other topics of interest for the Army space and missile defense community. The High Ground is the official podcast of USASMDC. Episode 11, released Sept. 17, 2021,...

The High Ground is the official podcast of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. In this Special Edition episode recognizing the 20th anniversary of the attacks on 9/11, SMDC Technical Center Director Thomas Webber and William (Kip) At Lee of the Special Access Control Office recount what it was like for them on the ground in Washington DC, and how that experience effected them, then and no...

The High Ground is the official podcast of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. Episode 10 of the monthly flagship series, released August 9, 2021, is hosted by SMDC Public Affairs Specialist Ronald Bailey and Sergeant 1st Class Trenton Huntsinger, SMDC G3 NCOIC. The episode contains several recent SMDC news highlights and interviews, a special history and Cool Jobs segment, and upcoming e...

The High Ground is the official podcast of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. In this Special Edition episode celebrating the 246th birthday of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps, July 29, 2021, USASDC Public Affairs Specialist Ronald "Beetle" Bailey talks with SMDC Command Chaplain COL Mark Frederick. Chaplain Frederick discusses his personal journey as a Soldier and chaplain, Chaplain Corps...

The High Ground is the official podcast of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. In this Special Edition episode, USASMDC Public Affairs Specialist Ronald “Beetle” Bailey and Allen Meeks talk with Chief Warrant Officer 5 Wesley Klees, SMDC's Command Chief Warrant Officer, to highlight the Army Warrant Officer Birthday, July 9. During the interview Klees talks about the history of the Warran...

The High Ground is the official podcast of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. Episode 9 of the monthly flagship series, released July 6, 2021, is hosted by SMDC Director of Public Affairs Lira Frye and Public Affairs Specialist Ronald Bailey. The episode contains several recent SMDC news highlights and interviews, a special history and Cool Jobs segment, and upcoming events of interest f...

The High Ground is the official podcast of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. Episode 8 of the monthly flagship series, released June 7, 2021, is hosted by SMDC Public Affairs Specialist Ronald Bailey and Allen Meeks. The episode contains several recent SMDC news highlights and interviews, a special history and Cool Jobs segment, and upcoming events of interest for the Army space and mis...

The High Ground is the official podcast of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. In this Special Edition episode, released May 20, 2021, USASMDC Public Affairs NCO 1SG Steve Segin talks the history of the Vietnam War and the 53rd Signal Battalion (now part of SMDC's U.S. Army SATCOM Brigade) with special guest Bruce Henschel, who served with the 53rd during the Vietnam War.

The High Ground is the official podcast of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. Episode 7 of the monthly flagship series, released May 10, 2021, is hosted by SMDC Public Affairs Specialist Ronald Bailey and 1SG Steve Segin. The episode contains several recent SMDC news highlights and interviews, a special history and Cool Jobs segment, and upcoming events of interest for the Army space and...

The High Ground is the official Podcast of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. In this Special Edition episode USASMDC Public Affairs Specialist Ronald “Beetle” Bailey talks with the command’s G8 and senior comptroller, COL Samuel (Sam) Glover, and Farrah Eichwurtzle, an SMDC budget analyst. The interview discusses topics including: the robust “1-stop-shop” composition and structure of th...

The High Ground is the official podcast of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. In this Special Edition episode USASMDC Public Affairs Specialist Ronald “Beetle” Bailey talks with U.S. Army astronaut and Army NASA Detachment commander COL Andrew “Drew” Morgan. Recorded in early April 2021 to commemorate the 1-year anniversary of COL Morgan’s return to earth from the International Space Sta...