In this episode of “Tipping Spears”, I sit down with LTG (Ret.) Milford H. “Beags” Beagle, Jr., a distinguished Army leader whose 35-year career took him from humble beginnings in South Carolina to commanding soldiers around the world and shaping the professional development of more than 1.5 million personnel. LTG Beagle shares a deeply personal leadership journey defined by resilience, purpose, and an unwavering belief in human potential.

Raleigh Smith Duttweiler, Chief Impact Officer at the National Military Family Association, joins Tipping Spears to discuss today’s top challenges facing military families, including financial stress, mental health, suicide prevention, childcare, healthcare access, and TRICARE. She shares insights on effective advocacy, evolving family needs, and how communities, schools, and employers can better support military families across the country.

This episode of Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker features an in-depth conversation with Nate Boaz, Marine Corps veteran, author of Running Toward Fire, and CEO of Prometheus Intelligence. Nate discusses his journey from combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan to Harvard Business School and senior roles at McKinsey, Accenture, and Microsoft. He explains the development of Prometheus Intelligence and its voice-AI technology designed to elevate investigative interviewing across industries. The episode explores military leadership, veterans’ transition challenges, entrepreneurship, and the practical implications of artificial intelligence for organizations and the workforce. Nate offers actionable guidance for veterans, emerging leaders, and professionals navigating an AI-driven world. This interview provides insights into purpose, identity, innovation, and building impactful technology in a rapidly evolving national security landscape.

Dr. Jeffrey Rogg, Senior Research Fellow at USF’s Global and National Security Institute and author of “The Spy and the State: The History of American Intelligence”, joins “Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker” for a deep dive into the evolution of U.S. intelligence, emerging national-security challenges, and how technology is reshaping modern intelligence work. We discuss what sparked his career, key themes from his new book, common public misconceptions about intelligence, the threats that concern him most, and his advice for the next generation pursuing careers in intelligence and national security.

Writer and military spouse advocate Joanna Guldin-Noll joins Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker to talk about the digital frontlines of the military community. From the rise of Jo, My Gosh! to the challenges of disinformation, AI, and deepfakes, Joanna shares insights on media literacy, online connection, and the future of military family storytelling in the digital age.

Marine infantry officer LtCol Tom Schueman joins Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker to discuss moral injury, leadership, and the legacy of Afghanistan. From the battlefields of Sangin to the withdrawal from Kabul, Schueman shares powerful reflections on service, sacrifice, and purpose beyond the uniform. We talk about the founding of Patrol Base Abbate, veteran suicide prevention, and the enduring bonds between Marines and their Afghan interpreters.

J.D. Maddox joins Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker to unpack how technology, influence operations, and trust intersect in today’s national security landscape. A former CIA analytic manager, diplomat, and Special Operations soldier, J.D. shares insights from his leadership of AI-enabled influence campaigns at the State Department and his work advising the Department of Defense on information operations. He discusses how societal trust has eroded, why that matters for national resilience, and how emerging technologies can both defend and endanger democratic institutions. This episode explores the evolving nature of cognitive warfare and the urgent need to rebuild confidence in truth, leadership, and technology.

From combat zones to disaster response, LTG Jeff Buchanan has spent his life leading teams through chaos. In this conversation, he reflects on the moral dimensions of leadership, lessons from national crises, and why clarity of purpose matters most when the situation is murky. His stories blend humility and hard-earned wisdom—reminding us that great leadership begins with character, not rank.

Colonel David Acosta – Army Reserve Brigade Commander, Naval Postgraduate School Professor, and publisher of The Ghost Post – joins Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker to explore the evolution of Information Operations and the cognitive dimension of modern conflict. Drawing on decades of service from Bosnia and Iraq to the Pentagon, Dave shares lessons on influence, deception, and leadership in the information environment. He also reflects on the intersection of academia, military practice, and emerging technologies shaping how the U.S. approaches information warfare today.

Boyd Brown – Army veteran, defense executive, entrepreneur, and one of the U.S. Army’s first Information Operations (IO) officers – joins Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker to discuss the evolution of influence, innovation, and leadership on the modern battlefield. From early IO missions in the Balkans and Iraq to his work in government contracting and national security, Boyd reflects on lessons learned across four decades of service. He shares insights on emerging technologies like AI and drones, the future of IO in defense strategy, and how leaders can adapt to complex, fast-changing environments.

Dr. Andrew Whiskeyman, retired U.S. Army Colonel and national security scholar, joins Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker for a thought-provoking conversation on trust, technology, and the cognitive battlefield. Drawing on decades of military and academic experience, Andrew explores how artificial intelligence, disinformation, and fractured media ecosystems are reshaping both warfare and daily life. He discusses the dangers of over-reliance on technology, the erosion of societal trust, and the moral questions emerging at the intersection of human and machine decision-making. Together, we unpack why all warfare is ultimately cognitive—and why the ability to discern truth has become a national defense imperative. This episode offers a candid, deeply reflective look at how leaders can navigate complexity, preserve trust, and defend meaning in the digital age.

Michelle Norman, Executive Director and Founder of Partners in PROMISE, shares her journey from Navy spouse and mother of a child with cerebral palsy to national advocate for exceptional military families. She discusses the challenges of navigating EFMP and special education systems, her experience testifying before Congress, and her vision for stronger support networks and policies that ensure military children with special needs can thrive.

With three decades in special operations aviation and leadership, Jim Cardoso brings hard-earned wisdom to the conversation on modern warfare and national security. From commanding the Air Force’s first CV-22 Osprey squadron to earning the Silver Star for a daring combat rescue, his career reflects both courage and innovation. In this episode of Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker, he shares the experiences that shaped his service, the evolving challenges of warfare, and how technology is redefining global security. Listeners will also gain practical advice for the next generation of defense professionals navigating today’s complex security landscape.

Warfare is evolving faster than ever, and few voices are better positioned to explain its trajectory than Dr. Amos C. Fox—Professor at Arizona State University’s Future Security Initiative, Managing Editor of Small Wars Journal, and host of the Revolution in Military Affairs podcast. In this episode of Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker, he reflects on his own journey of service, the experiences that shaped his perspective, and the challenges he’s overcome. We dive into how war has changed over the past two decades, the role of emerging technologies in defense, and the national security issues that keep him up at night, while also exploring his candid advice for the next generation of leaders preparing to navigate today’s complex security landscape.

In this episode of “Tipping Spears”, I sit down with Col. Nicole Malachowski (USAF, Ret.) - a trailblazing fighter pilot, combat veteran, squadron commander, and the first woman selected to fly with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. A 2019 National Women’s Hall of Fame inductee and former White House Fellow, Nicole’s career spans over two decades of service, leadership, and breaking barriers. Nicole opens up about her journey from aspiring aviator to Thunderbird pilot, insights for navigating a battle you didn’t choose, and the lessons learned from both triumphs and setbacks.

In this episode of Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker, I sit down with Dr. Kyleanne Hunter - CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). A former Marine Corps AH-1W Super Cobra attack pilot with multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Dr. Hunter has dedicated her career to service, leadership, and advancing policies that strengthen the post-9/11 veteran community. In this episode, Dr. Hunter shares her personal journey of military service, the challenges and triumphs of advocacy, and her insights on the future of our veteran community. We discuss misconceptions about post-9/11 veterans, the top issues facing Global War on Terror veterans, and IAVA’s legislative priorities shaping policies.

In this episode of Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker, I sit down with James Schmeling, President and CEO of the National Defense University Foundation and U.S. Air Force veteran. With more than 25 years of leadership in nonprofits and higher education, James shares his journey from military service to leading one of the nation’s premier defense education foundations. We discuss the mission and impact of the NDU Foundation, how philanthropy strengthens national security education, and the trends shaping today’s defense environment. James also offers insights on the transformative role of nonprofits in supporting veterans, the importance of cross-sector partnerships, and why he’s optimistic about the next generation of leaders.

In this episode of Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker, I sit down with Ben Connable, PhD—Executive Director of the Battle Research Group, adjunct professor at Georgetown, retired U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer, and former RAND senior political scientist. Drawing on decades of experience in combat operations, strategy, and research, Ben unpacks lessons from his book Ground Combat: Puncturing the Myths of Modern War, the founding of the Battle Research Group, and the role of counter-UAS technologies on today’s battlefield. He shares candid insights on defense innovation, the importance of field research, and how future national security leaders can cultivate the critical thinking skills needed to navigate the complexities of modern warfare.

In this episode of Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker, COL Chip Bircher, USA (Ret.)—Chief Technology Officer and Acting Head of Sales at SOFTwarfare®—joins me to discuss his journey from ROTC to 28 years of Army service and into the cybersecurity sector. As a former senior leader in strategic communication, information operations, and electronic warfare, Chip shares insights on the rise of cognitive warfare, lessons from commanding information campaigns in Afghanistan, and how technology is reshaping both national security and business. He also offers perspective on today’s most pressing cyber threats, emerging innovations, and the skills future leaders need to succeed in the evolving landscape of defense and cybersecurity.

In this gripping episode of Tipping Spears, Tanner Yackley—a former MQ-9 Reaper Sensor Operator turned mental health advocate—opens up about the invisible wounds of drone warfare. From flying combat missions in the Global War on Terror to pioneering trauma resources through his Remote Warrior initiative, Tanner shares his deeply personal and professionally informed insights on Complex PTSD, moral injury, and what we must do to support a generation of digital-era veterans.