Leadership is not about rank, it is about responsibility. On 22 February 2026 at 1900, 7PM CST, I will join Rich LaMonica on The MisFitNation for a conversation about life after the uniform. After 32 years of service, I have learned that discipline, faith, fitness, and fatherhood shape more than careers, they shape legacy. This conversation is about resilience. About raising strong kids. About leading with integrity long after the mission changes. I hope you will join us. 📅

22 February 2026 | 1900 CST On Sunday evening, 22 February at 1900 CST (that's 7PM), I’ll be joining The MisFitNation for a live fireside chat. No scripts. No performance. Just a real conversation. We’ll talk about service, fatherhood, leadership, identity after the uniform, and the internal battles that don’t make headlines. The fight for growth. The decision to choose purpose. The responsibility of being a dad while still carrying the weight of what you’ve seen and done. Th

Rebuilding is not about returning to who you were. It is about becoming stronger in who you are now. In the final installment of Reforged , I reflect on what it means to rise with clarity rather than pride. The fire does not define you. How you walk out of it does. This article closes the series by examining purpose beyond performance. Leadership shaped by perspective. Strength anchored in humility. Influence rooted in lived experience rather than title. Reforged is not about

The crucible does not destroy you. It reveals you. Part II takes the reader inside the process of rebuilding — the physical, mental, and emotional testing ground that strips away ego and forces clarity. When routine disappears and identity feels uncertain, leaders are faced with a choice: retreat into frustration or lean into transformation. This article explores that turning point. The discipline to stay present. The humility to accept help. The courage to rebuild differentl

Strength can become armor. And armor, worn too long, can become isolation. In Part I of the Reforged  series, I explore what happens when high-performing leaders continue carrying weight long after the mission changes. This piece confronts the quiet truth many seasoned professionals avoid — that endurance without reflection eventually fractures. This is not a story of weakness. It is a story of recognition. Recognition that even disciplined, mission-driven leaders must confro

On Veterans Trash Talk, we had an honest conversation about transition, identity, and the realities veterans face beyond the uniform. There is power in speaking openly about the challenges that come after service — rebuilding purpose, redefining identity, and finding new ways to lead. This episode is unfiltered and real. It’s for veterans navigating change and for leaders who understand that service does not end when the uniform comes off. Listen here: https://open.spotify.co

Serving as a senior enlisted leader inside Special Operations is not about visibility — it is about responsibility. On this episode of SOCOM SOFCAST, we discuss the realities of leading in formations where the margin for error is thin and the expectations are uncompromising. We talk about accountability at the highest levels, protecting culture inside elite organizations, and preparing Soldiers for missions that demand both physical dominance and moral clarity. Leadership in

CSM JoAnn Naumann and CSM (TJ) Thomas Baird Serving at the highest levels of the Army while protecting a marriage and raising a family requires more than time management — it requires intention. In this conversation, my Warrior Wife, CSM JoAnn Naumann, and I speak candidly about what it takes to lead in uniform while remaining anchored at home. We discuss communication under stress, shared sacrifice, career crossroads, and the discipline required to ensure neither mission nor

From PTSD to PTG: Choosing Growth as a Father   In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, I sit down to talk about the real battle that followed the battlefield. After 32 years in the Army and over 20 deployments, the fight didn’t end when I came home. In many ways, it was just beginning. I grew up with a father who was frequently deployed, and without realizing it, I found myself repeating that same pattern with my own daughter. Long absences, emotional distance, an