Episodes
31
Oct. 8, 2023
Colonel Stephen W. Davis, USMC (Ret) – You Can't Manage People Up a Hill, But it Can Help
In this episode of Moments in Leadership, host David B. Armstrong spends time with retired Marine Colonel Stephen Davis, a veteran of the post-Vietnam War Marine Corps, the Reconnaissance Community, Joint Special Operations, and multiple combat tours up to the Regimental Command level, where they spend time discussing various topics related to hard-won lessons from the front lines combined with a realist take on what command, leadership, and management means. From Colonel Davis’ initial trainin...
30
Aug. 12, 2023
Vice Admiral (Retired) William R. Merz, USN – At 1000 Feet, Leadership Can Crush You
SPECIAL THANKS TO MATT MIRANDA AND JEREMY KOFSKY FOR EDITING AND SHOW NOTES SUPPORT In this episode of Moments in Leadership, retired Vice Admiral William (Bill) Merz and host David B. Armstrong discuss how life can take strange turns to making capable leaders, oftentimes through hard times and rough seas. VADM Merz has seen the depths of the ocean and the heights of a superiorly led organization. His insights are valuable to all those who don’t want to be crushed under the everlasting burdens ...
29
July 14, 2023
SgtMaj Black, 19th SMMC, Episode Two: Being a Good Marine is About the Non-Negotiables
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 Marine Corps. This episode provides a unique look into how the Marine Corps is and will be in the future. ...
28
June 6, 2023
LtGen David Bellon and the 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, SgtMaj Carlos Ruiz – A Command Team Briefing to Alpha Company TBS 2022
‘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 Southern Command. Lt Gen Bellon is an active and violent supporter of engagement via social media ...
27
May 29, 2023
LtGen Greg Newbold USMC (Ret) – DILLICLAP & Competency are Never Out of Date
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 misunderstood, or even mysterious, selection process of being selected as a Marine Corps general and the gut...
26
April 19, 2023
Deputy Undersecretary of the Navy (DUSN) Mr. Victor Minella – Navy to Civilian Leadership through the “DUSN’s Dozen”
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 successful and the differences/similarities in leading civilians and military personnel. DUSN Minella empha...
25
March 18, 2023
LtGen David Furness, USMC – Rather than Yelling and Hazing, Try Focusing on Leadership Through Building Personal Connections, Rapport, and Culture
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 subordinates and building goodwill, loyalty, and commitment. He believes that the best Marine organi...
23
Feb. 3, 2023
LtCol Michael Perrottet, USMC – How Leaders Can Implement the Acronym Hacker into Leading at All Levels
LtCol Michael Perrottet is currently the Commanding Officer of HMLA 267 out of Camp Pendleton, California.
22
Dec. 5, 2022
1stSgt Shamus Flynn, USMC – From Motor T Mechanic to MARSOC – What Emerging Leaders Need to Know About Setting the Example, Admin, and Awards
This episode is filled with great "Moments in Leadership" with everything from preparing to go to combat to actual performance in battle. We discuss the influential leaders and the impact of losing senior leadership to combat operations. This episode is e
21
Nov. 7, 2022
The Hotwash – A Leadership Panel of Six Discuss their Opinions of the Past Episodes
This is the inaugural launch of The Hotwash. The idea of this is to ask a panel of young leaders to discuss some of the previous episodes of Moments in Leadership and joining me on this panel are six officers who all served together as staff platoon comma
20
Oct. 10, 2022
Admiral James A. Winnefeld Jr: Top Gun, Gender Equality, & The Best Parts of Commanding a Warship
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 l
19
Sept. 12, 2022
MajGen Dale Alford: "I Was a Student in AWS, Got Pulled Out, and Sent to Combat" - A Follow-up to Episode 14
With only a few hours remaining before he packs up his home and heads off to retire, Major General Dale Alford takes an hour to provide a few final thoughts on his career in the Marine Corps and to emphasize a few key things every emerging leader needs to
18
Aug. 22, 2022
How to Perform at Every Rank, Why Courage Can Be Seen More in Peacetime Than in Combat, and How Listening Is a Powerful Leadership Skill, With the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Troy Black
An insightful and empowering discussion with the Senior Enlisted Leader of the United States Marine Corps, Sergeant Major Troy Black.
17
Aug. 8, 2022
"No One Wants to Drink Tea With Me" - Leading a Platoon in Combat, Philosophy of Command AFTER Leading an Infantry Company, and His New Book 'Always Faithful' with Major Tom Schueman USMC
This is a great episode with Major Tom Schueman, author of the new book Always Faithful coming out Aug 8th 2022. Major Schueman is one of the last decade's most experienced company-level combat leaders and is also the force behind Patrol Base Abbate, a p
16
July 15, 2022
Navigating the Decline in Marine Discipline, Increasing Marine Corps Retention, the “Basic Daily Routine” and Post-Traumatic Winning, with LtGen David Furness, USMC
In this episode of Moments in Leadership, I’m joined by Lieutenant General David Furness, who currently serves as the Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policy and Operations for the United States Marine Corps. “Leadership is the most important element in ge
15
June 27, 2022
Addressing Force Design 2030, Death in Aviator/Combat Training, and Risk Assessment with LtGen Karsten S. Heckl, USMC
In this episode of Moments in Leadership, I’m joined by Lieutenant General Karsten S. “Hazel” Heckl, who currently serves as the Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, and the Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration.
14
May 17, 2022
Moments in Leadership - Major General Dale Alford, USMC
In this episode, we’re taking an in-depth look at MajGen Alford’s moments in leadership through his vignettes and stories which should give listeners some great insight into a leader who has lead in combat at every rank he has ever held and has four comba
13
March 14, 2022
Moments in Leadership - SgtMaj Don Reynolds, USMC
Today my guest is Sergeant Major Donald Reynolds, former 0331 Machine Gunner, 0369 Infantry Unit Leader, and 8999 SgtMaj. He's known to many on Instagram as @norseman_9 where he posts some of the best and most encouraging insights on both infantry trainin
12
Feb. 28, 2022
Moments in Leadership - SEAC Ramón Colón-López, USAF PJ
As the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman (SEAC) of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), General Mark Milley, SEAC Ramón Colón-López discusses his Moments in Leadership over a career that started in 1990 as a Transportation Specialist until 1994 when he
11
Feb. 18, 2022
Moments in Leadership - David G. Bellon, LtGen, USMC
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 acti
10
Oct. 24, 2021
Moments in Leadership - Andrew Milburn, Colonel, USMC (ret)
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 defeat
9
Oct. 11, 2021
Moments in Leadership - Ron Boxall, VADM, US Navy
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
8
Aug. 9, 2021
Moments in Leadership - Mark Brilakis, LtGen, USMC(ret)
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 Mar
7
May 30, 2021
Moments in Leadership - Craig Nixon, BGEN, USA
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