The Unsung Veteran

Ron Cooper served 22 years in the Air Force as an F-4 Phantom pilot and commander, flying over 300 combat missions during 18 months in Vietnam. In this conversation, Ron walks John through what it actually looked like to fly fighters out of Udorn Royal Thai Air Base with the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron — the missions, the strategy, the frustrations of an undeclared war, and the teamwork that st...

Rich Lamonica spent 22 years in the U.S. Army as a Chemical Operations Specialist and Sergeant First Class. He led soldiers through deployments, built teams, and mastered the mission. Then he retired — and spent the next year not recognizing himself. In this episode, Rich breaks down the leadership philosophy that defined his service, the "Stacking Victories" framework he built to regain momentum...

enzkBwqA1UU2eKPDByOT Army National Guard combat medic Evan Poling spent 6 years in service, then built a business to fix how small businesses get bought and sold in America. Evan served alongside Heath Robinson — the soldier whose death helped pass the PACT Act for burn pit victims. He went on to investigate financial crimes and money laundering before founding BizRetire.com , a marketplace connec...

In this episode, John is joined by Tyler Muniz, a Marine Veteran and former Captain, to discuss the unfiltered reality of transitioning from a high-tempo military unit to a career in Big Tech. Tyler shares his "moment of awakening" when he realized that technical military expertise doesn't always translate immediately to civilian job descriptions. Whether you are currently in the TRS process or lo...

"I didn't realize I would be breaking a lot of barriers... you wake up and go, what am I going to do in this job today?" Meet Tina Irwin, a 20-year Navy veteran who went from climbing submarine ladders in a pencil skirt to becoming a top-tier security expert . Highlights of Tina’s Journey: Joined in 1972 before ROTC was open to women. Became the first female instructor at Navy Submarine School . M...

Army veteran and Nulu knife inventor Douglas M. Katz joins The Unsung Veteran to discuss the power of veteran unity and the importance of mentorship in the civilian world. Douglas Katz highlights that our strength lies in community and the willingness of experienced veterans to mentor those just starting their post-military careers. His story shows how collective action can safeguard the benefits...

Scottie Schneider did everything “right.” He graduated from West Point, served as a mortar platoon officer, and built businesses—but it didn’t stop the collapse. In this episode, Scottie joins John to discuss the dangerous gap between "looking successful" and actually having a stable life. After a severe injury in the Alaskan wilderness led to a medical retirement, Scottie’s life path shifted from...

“Leading your peers is the hardest thing to do.” Matt Lange served 22 years in the Marine Corps, retiring as a Master Gunnery Sergeant. In this unfiltered conversation, he reflects on leadership, MAWTS-1, deployments, Marine Air Traffic Control, and what it means to step away from the uniform after more than two decades of service. This is two Marines talking — no script, no production spin — just...

Omen Quelvog, a retired Marine officer, joins the show to discuss his transition from a 25-year military career to his new path in financial planning. He shares the reality of moving away from the military community and the "night and day" difference of life as a civilian professional. Topics Discussed: - The emotional impact of leaving the military community. - Transitioning from a technical Mari...

“The Marine Corps will always ask more.” Retired Marine LtCol Mark Murphy explains what surprised him most—and what carried him through. - How officer MOS selection works (and why the system exists) - Early setbacks that became long-term strengths - Deployments and what the job demanded day-to-day - Leadership: empathy, accountability, and taking care of your people - Work-life balance: what’s rea...

“I didn’t want a new chapter. I wanted a completely different book.” After 20 years in the Marine Corps — including deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve — Becca retired expecting clarity and calm. - Instead, she found loneliness. - In this episode of The Unsung Veteran, we talk about: - Serving over two decades as a Marine manpower officer (0102) - Deplo...

Marine air control isn’t just air traffic control—and the difference matters. Josh Pruett breaks down call signs, system mastery, and staying sharp under pressure. - Call sign tradition and identity in the community - Air control vs. ATC (what people get wrong) - Standardization, proficiency, and expanding responsibilities - Assistant controller skills: listening, teamwork, and digital actions - H...

In this episode of The Unsung Veteran, I sit down with Javier Rodriguez, a former Marine Corps Staff Sergeant, to talk honestly about life after the military, leadership, and the difficult process of rebuilding identity once the uniform comes off. Javier shares his journey from joining the Marine Corps as a young man determined to serve, through deployments, instructor duty, and leadership roles,...

“I was only gonna do four years… 28 years later, here we are.” “I’ll miss the clowns, but I won’t miss the circus.” - Joining at 17 and why the Marine Corps made sense - What a Marine meteorologist does—and why it matters - Leadership from enlisted ranks to warrant officer - Experiences that can “unpack” differently over time - Retirement identity: separating rank from self - Transition lessons: t...

“We walked into the recruiting doors together.” Two Marines look back on how it started, what it demanded, and what mattered most. In this episode, we cover: - Enlisting later and learning fast - MOS school, promotions, and leadership realities - Deployment-era “figure it out” moments - Why retirement ceremonies hit harder than expected - Marine identity, belonging, and life after service This sto...

He joined without a plan — and the Marine Corps changed everything. Retired Master Gunnery Sergeant Leroy Williams shares the moments that shaped him. In this episode, we talk about: - A recruiter conversation that turned into a real commitment - Boot camp humor, pressure, and accountability - The reality of training assignments (expectations vs reality) - Early-career overseas experiences and wha...